The Darling Wine Shop, an unexpected highlight on the West Coast Way Culture Route.
2026 – Carmen Lerm, the Weskus Guru and founder of West Coast Way, sat down with the new owner of The Darling Wine Shop, Christelle van der Vyver, to find out what makes this wine shop on the Main Road of Darling so special.
The Darling Wine Shop is Darling Positive
Christelle describes it as a boutique wine shop, a hub for Cape Brandy, a venue for the Gastro Gang and a stockist of a selection of lekker local treats.
While her focus is always on the wine, she believes in the ripple effect and the role she can play in promoting tourism in Darling.
“We all represent Darling! By supporting each other, if one of us does well, we all do well” says Christelle van der Vyver, new owner of The Darling Wine Shop.
The Wine Experience
Christelle’s enthusiasm, friendliness and expertise are at the heart of the business.
She greets each visitor in her native tongue, Afrikaans. If necessary, she gracefully transitions to English, ensuring everyone feels included. Her warm and friendly conversation begins with a simple question: “Have you been to Darling or the shop before?” This approach immediately draws people into a warm and friendly conversation.
She is quite happy for people to browse but is ready to give expert advice on wine, or tourism information and recommendations.
The Darling Wine Shop stocks Darling Wines of Origin, all local producers, as well as what Christelle refers to as “family friends” producers, with whom there is a personal connection. Christelle hosts regular in-store promotions by local wineries.
Showcasing some 15 to 20 estates, the wines are displayed by varietal, not by estate, and Christelle is on hand to discuss the merits and tell the stories behind each wine.
Who Are the Gastro Gang and What is Cape Brandy?
The Gastro Gang is a WhatsApp group of local Chefs and people who love to cook.
During summer, they have a monthly event, where they pick a theme, do the food prep at home and invite everyone to join them at The Darling Wine Shop. Sit on the stoep and pair good food with great wine, or come and collect a takeaway.
This is the epitome of the community ethos of West Coast towns.
Cape Brandy is South Africa’s cognac equivalent. The Darling Wine Shop is affiliated with SA Brandy and Cape Brandy. They offer brandy tastings, that include Voorkamer VSOP (a blend of 5 and 7-year-old brandy) produced by Charles Withington, the founder of the wine shop.
A Strong Sense of Place
You walk in for a bottle of wine, and leave with an exciting collection of new wines, a list of recommended local attractions, and a charming insight into the area through Christelle’s stories and anecdotes.
The greater Darling area has many attractions and reasons to visit, including six outstanding wineries, and Christelle highly recommends going for the full experience.
For visitors with time constraints, The Darling Wine Shop offers the convenience of all local wines in one place, the full local wine experience, and frees up time to explore the other delights of the West Coast Way Culture Route.
Christelle charges the same price as the cellar door for all her wines and offers a courier delivery service.
The Darling Wine Shop gets plenty of repeat visitors because the experience is always so personal. As Christelle says, “Friendliness costs nothing, and usually leads to a proper human connection.”
Add her expert wine service, and it’s a win for everyone.
Looking Ahead
Christelle brims with enthusiasm and plans.
She aims to increase awareness of the high quality of South African wines, include more lesser-known wines in the shop and grow the Darling Wine Shop through interactive experiences and innovative events.
Planned future events include a Harvest Table on the Main Road and a Mini Wine Festival with tastings, pairings, and food by the Gastro Gang.
A Taste of Darling, which is a highly personalised, private tasting, can even be booked with The Darling Wine Shop at your accommodation while you’re staying in delightful Darling.
She will be expanding her Private Tastings for functions and actively promoting her Blind Tastings because “ they are very interactive, stimulate conversation and an immersive experience, and are so much fun.”
Christelle is very flexible and says, “Let’s have a conversation”.
She encourages Tour Operators with large groups, companies seeking options for a private function or visitors wanting a personalised tasting to get in touch.
The Darling Wine Shop has outdoor seating for up to 36 people. Groups of six or more can pre-book a tasting of six curated wines paired with charcuterie and cheese platters.
If you belong to a wine club or guild, why not host a Darling-themed tasting for your next meeting? The Darling Wine Shop caters to enthusiasts as well as more serious wine fundis, offering specially curated wine selections and unique experiences.
Who is Christelle van der Vyver?
Christelle is the epitome of the warm heart of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. This bubbly, shiraz-loving lady is extremely knowledgeable about wine, and her default setting is enthusiastically promoting local wines and the town of Darling.
She was born and raised in Moorreesburg, a town some 40 kilometres inland from Darling. Moorreesburg is a rural town, agricultural hub and known as the breadbasket of South Africa, due to its wheat, wine and olive production. The Swartland is definitely in Christelle’s blood.
After studying Tourism and qualifying as a Tour Guide, she had a brief stint with Harvey’s Travel before getting a position at the historic Groote Post, where her passion for wine was ignited.
She went on to run a boutique winery in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (Meander Fine Wines) before returning to the Swartland, working at Cloof Wines and then back to Groote Post vineyards.
Four years ago, she joined founder Charles Withington at The Darling Wine Shop, and on his retirement, she took ownership on 14 April 2026.
Christelle has lived in Darling for the last 13 years and is a big fan of this charming West Coast town. Some of her favourite attractions are the Darling Museum, where the Victorian history of the town is so beautifully displayed, and the walkable Darling Mystery Tour and Darling History Tour. They can be booked at the Tourism Office and are self-guided walks that involve exploring the town by finding markers and scanning QR codes to activate audio stories that provide clues to the next location. Lots of fun for all ages.
On the West Coast Way Tractor Route
Embarking on the West Coast Way Tractor Route is a journey into the heart of the Cape West Coast countryside. Winding through rolling wheat fields, olive groves, vineyards, and charming farming towns, this scenic route celebrates the region’s rich agricultural heritage and slower pace of life. Along the way, tractors move steadily across fields, country roads stretch towards distant horizons. From the salty ocean air of the coast to the fertile farmlands inland, the Tractor Route invites travellers to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the authentic beauty of the Cape West Coast of South Africa.
The Darling Wine Shop is proudly part of the West Coast Way.
The Darling Wine Shop is open Monday to Saturday and is located at 5 Main Street, in the town of Darling in South Africa. Phone: 068 851 7525 Email: [email protected]
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Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve.
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