Hillcrest Berry Orchards, Pniel, Winelands: Shop Review

Hillcrest Berry Orchards
R310 (Pniel Road), between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek | Map

Specialty: Fresh berries and preserves; lunches and tea; self-catering accommodation
Contact: Tel: +27 (0) 21 885 1629, Fax: +27 (0) 21 885 1624
info@hillcrestberries.co.za
www.hillcrestberries.co.za

SA Blog recommends a look inside? Don’t miss it!

Further Insight & Opinion
Hillcrest Berry Orchards is the best place to stop for lunch during a tour of the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek winelands – provided that you haven’t booked a picnic on a wine estate, of course.

On a still day, sit outside and enjoy the view of the Helshoogte, the beautiful mountains of the Banhoek Valley. If the wind’s blowing, there’s limited seating inside – take away a punnet of berries and a slice of cheesecake for “palate cleansing” during the next tasting.

The cafe (open till 5 p.m.) serves light meals and ridiculously rich desserts (made with the products of the orchards); the berry deli sells fresh and frozen berries and figs, a large range of home-canned preserves, and other assorted “berriana”; and there are several self-catering cottages on the farm, in case you concur with local sentiment that Hillcrest is close to paradise, and want to stay the night.

Sadly, you can’t pick your own fruit here, meaning Hillcrest isn’t a destination in and of itself; but as a place of recouperation between bouts of wine tasting, it can’t be beat. It makes the SA Blog “Best of Franschhoek” list without any hesitation from the judges, erm, judge.