D'Aria Winery — Attraction in Cape Town Ward 70

**UPDATE 14 March 2025 (3 Months after my initial review): THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED MY UNHAPPINESS, THEY HAVE THREATENED ME WITH LAWYERS IF I DO NOT REMOVE MY VERY TRUE DISSATISFACTION AND THEY HAVE REMOVED ME OR DELETED ME FROM THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE. IS THIS SOMEWHERE YOU WANT TO EAT?

WHAT A DISGRACE TO THE INDUSTRY AND SO VERY DISRESPECTFUL! NEVER WASTE YOUR MONEY SUPPORTING THIS BUSINESS!**

Dear D'Aria Wine Farm Management,

I am writing to express my absolute disgust with the appalling experience my best friend, two toddlers, and I had during our visit to your establishment on Sunday, 01 December 2024.

From the moment we arrived, your staff’s complete disregard for customer service set the tone for an entirely unpleasant outing.

We stood in the tasting area for nearly 20 minutes without a single staff member acknowledging us or offering assistance, despite several waiters walking past. I had to approach someone myself to ask where we could sit.

The service was atrocious. Your waiters were unprofessional, unfriendly, and dismissive of our complaints.

The food was an absolute insult. We ordered two chicken strips and chips for our toddlers, and what we received was utterly inedible. The chicken was dry, the chips tasted old and bland—completely unacceptable.

The Caprese open sandwiches were no better—burnt, flavourless, and a clear indication of carelessness in the kitchen.

We came hungry and expecting a great afternoon out with the kids but left still hungry and totally disappointed. When we mentioned the food was burnt, your waiter gave a vague, insincere apology and nothing more. No effort was made to rectify the situation. As someone who has worked in the wine industry for years with an extensive wine and tasting room background, I know that any competent establishment would treat such feedback as a red flag and immediately address it. We are paying customers, not charity cases!

To make matters worse, our bill came to R1,111. Like any customer, we were contributing to the growth of your business, but it seems there is no personal character or touch from D’Aria as a whole toward its customers. What kind of culture are you putting out there? Because this experience was downright terrible!

We could have gone to McDonald’s for half the price and had a 1000% better experience. The fact that a manager, who we assume was present, chose to ignore our dissatisfaction instead of stepping in is appalling and demonstrates an utter lack of care or respect for your patrons. Don't mock paying customers!

I have attached a photo of the food we received as evidence of the shocking quality we were served. This picture was taken at the end of our experience, barely touched!

Your establishment clearly needs a crash course on customer service, basic hospitality, and food preparation. The utter disregard we experienced will not be forgotten, and I will make it a point to share this experience with others to ensure they think twice before wasting their time and money at D’Aria Wine Farm.

Whether I will get a response and a plan of action to ensure no other customers have to endure the same pathetic excuse for a dining experience, is yet to be...

I'm writing this review in the car, on our way home from what was meant to be a joyful celebration of our wedding anniversary. Sadly, our visit to D'Aria Winery’s tasting room left us feeling disappointed and disheartened.

We had planned to start our day with their seasonal wine pairing. I called early in the morning to inquire about the experience and was informed that they do not take bookings and operate on a first-come, first-served basis — fair enough. I was also told that a large group was currently seated, so we might have to wait for a table. Again, completely understandable.

Upon arrival, there were no available tables, so we waited patiently at the counter. Our waiter, Nico, assured us that we would be seated at the next available table. While we waited, we ordered hot chocolate, which was delicious, and were offered a complimentary glass of wine — a thoughtful touch that we appreciated.

However, this is where our experience took a disappointing turn.

As a person of colour who has lived in Cape Town for many years, I’ve often heard of subtle or overt racial undertones at certain establishments. But today was the first time I personally experienced it.

We were the only people of colour present that morning — which is never an issue in itself. But after nearly two hours of waiting, a table finally opened up. Nico began clearing it, and as promised, we expected to be seated there. To our dismay, a group of about five white women walked in and were immediately shown to that same table. My heart sank.

Despite Nico's efforts to explain and apologise, the damage was done. It was clear that his explanation was overridden by a colleague who appeared to disregard the fairness of the situation — and, frankly, disregarded us.

We were left feeling ignored, sidelined, and racially profiled. It’s a feeling no person should experience — especially not while trying to enjoy a special day. Instead of celebrating, we left D'Aria without trying their pairing and with heavy hearts, choosing to return home rather than risk similar treatment elsewhere.

To D'Aria: We were deeply disappointed by how we were treated. No apology can undo the sense of exclusion and disrespect we felt today. We hope that you reflect on this experience and take meaningful steps to ensure that all guests, regardless of race, feel equally seen, valued,...

…This venue was so full it was almost unbelievable for words. The Wine Tasting Room was full as was the verandah near the water-spring and also the picnic-benches around the outside under the tree and palm-trees. When you walked in and Q’d to wait your turn, the attendant will hand you a order-form which offers two choices one side has a choice of 5 tastings out of 10 different wines including some sparkling-wines for the price of just R 40.00 and the other side was a choice of 3 tastings out of 5 Premium range wines and a choice of a distilled brandy as the gin is not on the tasting list. We want for the 5 tastings which was almost on a self-help scheme as the attendants were snowed under so you showed your order-form and indicated what wine you are having at that moment. You had your first then you would come back do the same and collected you next tasting until you were done. Only then did you pay. You could also order a cheese & meat platter for R 180.00 or cheese only for R 100.00, Gourmet burgers for R 80.00, Oysters for R 12.00 each which would be delivered to your table in the seating area. Today the weather is magical to be in the outdoors sipping wines or drinking bubbly. The gardens are lashes-lii green and the mood and vibe is festive with everyone doing his or her own thing and been happy. This is one time an amazing venue and place to come to and as the saying goes “good wine, good food and good company at a good venue” is the way to chill and grow old graceful-lii………NB! Toilets are available and so is a large Jungle-Jim structure for the children to play on under watchful eyes of their parents or guardians...A must visit venue when in this area on holiday or if you are...