April 2026

Sipping through Franschhoek on a Wine Tram

Spending a full day on the famous Wine Tram sounded like the perfect ending to our visit of the beautiful valley of Franschhoek.

There are five different tram lines on the wine tram that you can book. This can be done either directly at the Wine Tram ticket office in Franschhoek or online. We booked the pink route online with the option to be first on the tram and then take the bus later in the afternoon to the rest of the wineries. If you want more information about the different routes, feel free to click here.

There were eight wineries on our route, but be warned – it will be difficult to visit all these wineries without feeling rushed. We ended up visiting only five wineries. On another day, we will have to go back again to visit the rest.

We started our visit at the Franschhoek Terminal just outside Franschhoek. From here we visited three wineries with the wine tram, before taking the bus to two more wineries. Everything is very well organised; everyone is friendly and happy to help if you have any inquiries.

We had time for a cup of coffee before our wine tram arrived at the Franschhoek Terminal

Arrival of the wine tram

While we were boarding the wine tram, one of the wine tram conductors gave us complimentary glasses of wine from Rickety Bridge, the first wine estate we were going to visit. This put everyone in a cheerful mood and we enjoyed sipping our wine as we slowly made our way through the vineyards.

In the wine tram enjoying a glass of wine

Tram tracks

Rickety Bridge:

If the farm is a fair distance from the wine tram platform, there are wine buses or tractors that transport tourists to and from the farm. This was the case at our first farm, Rickety Bridge, and we were transported in the wine bus through the vineyards to the restaurant.

Wine bus at Rickety Bridge

Beautiful lavender garden at Rickety Bridge

Stunning view over the vineyards and mountains

Wine cellar at Rickety Bridge

Restaurant at Rickety Bridge

Rickety Bridge was established in 1797 and we kicked off our wine tasting session with their popular Foundation Stone tasting. The Sauvignon Blanc was our favourite, and after our purchases of a few bottles, it was time to move on to the next vineyard.

Foundation Stone tasting

Autumn colours at Rickety Bridge

Waiting for the wine tram at the Rickety Bridge platform

Grande Provence:

Grande Provence, founded in 1694, is probably one of the most popular wineries in the Franschhoek Valley. Here you can relax under the old oak trees, eat delicious food, enjoy a picnic on the grass, and view beautiful artwork.

Wine tram platform at Grande Provence

A tractor transported us through the vineyards on Grande Provence

Relaxing under old oak trees

Artwork in the garden

More artwork

Art gallery

Visitor enjoying art at Grande Provence

We decided on the Cape Heritage Pairing – for Berto it was Biltong and Droëwors (dried sausage) and for me Golgappas filled with Snoek, Biltong & Milk Tart. The Grande Provence Muscat de Alexandrie was a favourite and is a good dessert wine (it’s probably needless to say that we also bought a few bottles of this wine).

My selection of the Cape Heritage Pairing

After this treat, it was time again to find the tractor that would take us back to the wine tram.

On the tractor through the vineyards

The views from the wine tram are incredibly beautiful. It was wonderful to watch the trees and mountains as we slowly drove from farm to farm.

The views from the wine tram

Franschhoek Cellar & Old Road Wine Co:

The wine tram’s last stop, before we would transfer to the wine bus, was Franschhoek Cellar and Old Road Wine Co, which are located at the same platform. We strolled around a bit and paused for a moment at the Gin bar, but eventually opted for a light lunch at Old Road Wine Co.

Franschhoek Cellar and Gin bar

Old Road Wine Co

Wine tram tracks next to Old Road Wine Co’ restaurant

Light lunch (and wine)

We got onto the wine tram for the last time to ride back to the Franschhoek Terminal. Here a wine bus was waiting for us to take us to the last few wineries.

Wine tram waiting for us

View of the vineyards from the wine tram

We had such a great time at the different wineries that we didn’t realise how quickly the day had passed. We only had time for two more wineries and quickly hopped on the bus for our last two visits.

Dieu Donné:

Dieu Donné is situated high on the steep south-west facing slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains – it must have one of the best views over the Franschhoek Valley.

The wine bus dropped us off at Dieu Donné

Impressive entrance to Dieu Donné

Look at THAT view

We ordered a cheese platter (and a glass of wine) while we enjoyed the views over the valley.

Cheese platter with a view

Waiting for the wine bus

Pigcasso:

Now, the thing is that Pigcasso is not really a winery, but rather a sanctuary. Yet it felt right to end our wine tram tour here, because it’s such a heartwarming story.

The entrance (barn) to Pigcasso

Pigcasso was rescued just before slaughter in 2016 by Joanne Lefson and taken to Farm Sanctuary SA in Franschhoek. Joanne noticed quickly that Pigcasso ate or destroyed everything except some old paint brushes that were laying in her stall and so she decided to nurture the pig’s potential talent. It didn’t take long before Pigcasso started to paint.

Pigcasso and Joanne

Joanne would select the colours while Pigcasso takes the brush into her mouth and creates her magic across the canvas. She then watched from afar, able to stop Pigcasso if she observes an interesting form developing that is relatable to the human eye. Every original paintwork is signed by Pigcasso’s nose-tip, countersigned by Joanne and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.

Pigcasso at work

Pigcasso has unfortunately died of old age, but her artwork continues to live on. Here at the sanctuary, her paintings are for sale as well as all kinds of other items (such as wine).

Pigcasso merchandise on sale

In 2022, a week-old lamb was picked up by the roadside in the Karoo and brought to the sanctuary. The rescued lamb always grazed near Pigcasso while she was painting. One day in 2024, after the lamb was sheared, a brush was used to clean the shearers. The sheep, now two years old, picked up the brush with its mouth and miraculously tried to ‘paint’ against the wall. And that is how Baanksy was born.

Baanksy busy painting

Unfortunately, Baanksy was stolen in 2025 and even after a reward of R1.2 million was offered, Baanksy was never found.

Poster for reward for Baanksy

Visitors have the opportunity to buy baskets of food and feed the animals that live in the sanctuary. There are goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and peacocks.

Goats at sanctuary

Feeding the animals

More animals

Sanctuary at Pigcasso

We ordered coffee and wondered in amazement how we ended up at a sanctuary on our wine tram trip. Still, we enjoyed walking among the animals and feeding them. On the way out, I looked at one of Pigcasso’s paintings and thought that she could draw a better penguin than I could!

Whose penguin looks better? Pigcasso or Pablo Picasso?

Eventually, it was time to call an end to an amazing day. Franschhoek poured us more than wine – it gave us laughter and great memories. And ending at Pigcasso’s sanctuary was the sweetest reminder that life, like art, is best enjoyed with a splash of colour and a generous pour.