Stony Brook Wine Estate

Stony Brook Vineyards: Boutique Tasting and Platters in Franschhoek's Bo-Hoek

Stony Brook Vineyards is a family boutique winery on Green Valley Road in Franschhoek's tranquil Bo-Hoek region—about a five-minute drive from the village. The McNaught family purchased land here in the late 1980s; Nigel and Joy McNaught replanted the farm, built a small cellar, and focused on premium wines that reflected the site, with particular attention to Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Chardonnay. Son Craig McNaught joined as winemaker in 2011 and, after Joy and Nigel's retirement in 2023, remains firmly at the helm. For travellers who prefer an unhurried, intimate tasting over a polished mega-estate circuit, Stony Brook is a classic Franschhoek back-road stop—closed Sundays, open for walk-ins most other days, with cheese and charcuterie platters to share.

Philosophy: Old-World Inspiration, Franschhoek Place

Estate messaging roots the cellar in an old-world winemaking philosophy inspired by revered European regions, while planting and assemblage remain exploratory enough to express Franschhoek soils, climate and site. Small-batch, handcrafted wines shaped by a unique Bo-Hoek micro-climate sit at the centre of the offer—from bold reds to refined whites. The tasting room experience is designed to be informative and intimate, highlighting quality and tradition against vineyard and mountain views: sunny deck or shady courtyard in warm weather; indoor fire when it cools. That sense of place—quiet valley pocket rather than high-street terrace—is why many repeat visitors schedule Stony Brook away from peak tram hours. On a Western Cape wine portal day list, it sits naturally with other Robertsvlei and Green Valley neighbours rather than with village-square tasting rooms.

Wine Tasting: Five Wines of Your Choice

Official tasting fee: R150 per person for five wines of your choice. Walk-ins are welcome; bookings are requested for groups of six or more. Contact info@stonybrook.co.za or +27 21 876 2182.

Tasting Room hours (official):

• Monday–Thursday: 10:00–16:30
• Friday: 10:00–16:00
• Saturday: 10:00–15:00
• Sunday: Closed
• Last seating 45 minutes before closing

Upcoming holiday closures listed on the tastings page have included 24–27 December CLOSED and 1 January CLOSED—always recheck before a festive-season visit.

While tasting, guests can explore the Vinoteque Cellar, a shop of carefully cellared vintage, limited-release and cellar-aged wines that tell the story of the vineyards through the years. Choosing your own five-wine flight rewards visitors who already know Franschhoek styles and want to compare Cabernet, Semillon or Chardonnay expressions side by side. Staff can guide first-time guests through the range without forcing a fixed sequence—useful when you want to focus on reds, whites, or a mixed flight.

Platters and Slow Afternoons

Stony Brook offers carefully curated cheese and charcuterie platters, ideal for sharing alongside a tasting or a glass of wine. Platter prices were not published on the official tastings page at time of research—ask when booking or on arrival. The mood is deliberately unhurried: this is a farm where afternoon light on the mountains matters as much as the flight list. Couples and small groups often treat the platter as lunch, then browse the Vinoteque before returning toward the village for dinner. Bring a light jacket for deck seating outside peak summer; Franschhoek mountain breezes cool quickly after mid-afternoon.

Stay: Cottages, Vineyard Villa and Farm Dam

For overnight guests, the estate publishes five country-style self-catering cottages (kitchenette, linen and towels, ceiling fans, fireplace; no TVs; Wi-Fi not intended for streaming or work) plus a larger Vineyard Villa (four en-suite bedrooms, solar, smart TV, braai patio). A communal pool and farm dam support swimming, picnicking and fishing; farm walking is encouraged. Nightly rates were not listed on the stay page at research time—enquire via the same email and phone. The stay positioning is slow living: vineyard and mountain views a short drive from Franschhoek restaurants and galleries. Guests who want digital detox will appreciate the no-TV cottages and limited streaming Wi-Fi guidance; the villa suits families or friends who need more space and a braai patio.

Practical Tips

• Address: Stony Brook Vineyards, Green Valley Road, Franschhoek, 7690
• Phone / email: +27 21 876 2182 · info@stonybrook.co.za
• Website: https://www.stonybrook.co.za/
• Closed Sundays—plan Monday–Saturday; Saturdays end earlier (15:00)
• Book groups of six or more; solo travellers and couples can usually walk in during hours
• Combine with other Robertsvlei / Bo-Hoek or Green Valley neighbours rather than forcing a Sunday Franschhoek tram day that lands here closed

Older search snippets sometimes claimed a tasting-fee refund on wine purchase; that wording was not present on the live tastings page fetch in October 2026—do not promise a refund without asking the estate.

Why Visit Stony Brook Vineyards

Visit for boutique Franschhoek authenticity: a McNaught-family cellar in the Bo-Hoek, a simple R150 flight of five wines you choose, cheese and charcuterie to share, a Vinoteque of aged bottles, and optional cottages or villa beside a farm dam. It is not a flashy tasting theatre and it does not open on Sundays—and that restraint is part of the appeal for travellers who want place, family continuity and mountain quiet on the Franschhoek wine route.