Last autumn at Sterrekopje Healing FarmA regenerative farm in the countryside of South AfricaIn the Cape Winelands I crossed damp fields, walked through tranquil gardens and passed a floating Yoga Pavilion tethered by a dam before I reached a Mongolian yurt. I was here for a breathwork session. This is one of many wellness options available, including reflexology, Reiki and hypnotherapy. In this part of the globe, you can expect to find wine. But there’s also a tea and tincture apothecary, which uses lemon verbena from the garden, along with sage and wild mint. “People enjoy the alternatives to alcohol so much,” cofounder Nicole Boekhoorn told me as we returned to the main house for a lunch of miso soup, sea bream with labneh, and rosemary bread from the adjacent bakery; the meal was paired with cordials in vivifying blends like passion fruit–marigold, lemon-buchu, and lavender-juniper. “Guests say, ‘I was coming here for wine, and I came with all these plans’—then they cancel them.”
Boekhoorn, along with Fleur Huijskens and their partner, opened this lush oasis in 2022. They decided to focus on alternative options. They ripped out the vines on the 125-acre former estate to reimagine it as a space for women’s retreats and yoga classes. Similar stories are being told in many viticulture areas around the world. Wine regions are trying to create experiences that appeal to non-drinkers, as more than half Gen Z claim to be alcohol free and 49 percent of Americans have reportedly tried to reduce their drinking. These areas are famous for their rolling landscapes, temperate climate, delicious cuisine and outdoor activities. But you don’t necessarily have to drink to enjoy them. This could lead to a stronger focus on culinary experiences in BordeauxFamilies can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities. MendozaWellness or a. Rioja.
You can see the “If you look” Sonoma “You’ll notice that the sales numbers are down but the visits are up,” says County. Condé Nast Traveler Travel Specialist Ania Gatti of Wine Country Concierge. “People are still interested in experiencing it, but may not be purchasing wine.” Next door, Napa Calistoga Wellness Week is a great example of how the county, once synonymous with grape growing, now focuses on its history as a destination for health and healing. This heritage predates even the beginnings of the grape-growing industry.
In the Cape Winelands, dirt paths cut through vineyards on the stylish wine estate Babylonstoren Families are more and more taking these routes, which lead to places like a distillery of essential oils and a gelateria. Last year Babylonstoren opened a new attraction geared specifically toward families, Soetmelksvlei. It is a 19th-century farmhouse complete with blacksmith workshops and milking sheds. The wine tasting room, with its views of the Simonsberg Mountain and Banghoek Mountains is still a popular attraction. But now, the 12 acres that are working farms offer sybaritic delights.
You could even spend your entire vacation at Babylonstoren and never drink a drop of wine. On my most recent visit, I didn’t care about the notes of peach or vanilla in the Chenin Blanc of the farm, but rather enjoyed the aromas of rooibos and persimmon in the crisp fall air. The garden manager was a regular visitor at Babel restaurant during lunch, offering guavas and green apples pierced onto sticks. It looked like a giant lollipops. The prickly-pear maze was busier than I remembered from previous visits. The sensory experiences were richer than ever.
