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A wonderful piece from Food Travel Wine – Blogger, Food Lover, Wine Drinker, Explorer. See there original article here.
Let’s be honest, there are so many incredible wine farms in and around this city, where do you start? Here is my list of favourites, and the top reasons to visit.
Where: Constantia
This Constantia Valley gem has been on my list for years.
Nothing goes better with wine and a view quite like a cheese and charcuterie board.
They now have more to offer, from homemade Flammkuchen to the newly released ‘Justin Van Wyk Family wines’.
BREAKFAST! (who doesn’t love breakfast?) They make a delicious Breakfast Croissant with scrambled egg and a choice of Alpen Speck or Smoked Trout. This is served until noon.
CHOCOLATE (Come on!) For those with a sweet tooth, they offer a chocolate and wine pairing too!
For all the Sauvignon blanc drinkers. You’ll be pleased to know that their 2017 was one of only two South African Sauvignon Blancs to get a gold at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.
Where: Stellenbosch
Hidden at the top of Helshoogte pass, this boutique farm is the perfect escape.
Not only do they have one of the most scenic tasting rooms around, but they also offer cheese and charcuterie boards to enjoy whilst you take in the charm of the beautiful Simonsberg mountains.
They are well known for their unique Cape Fynbos and wine pairings. This happens daily at the Tasting shed on the farm.
For something new, they have recently launched their very first, limited release Hourglass Chardonnay and Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon.
On Fridays, they are open late and the Tasting Shed hosts their much-loved ‘Under the Stars’ and ‘Under the Roof’ live acoustic music evenings, where like-minded wine lovers celebrate the Friday ‘wine down’ in true style. Every now and again, there is also a vinyl night.
SLEEPOVER (Don’t drink and drive!) Best part! The beautifully restored self-catering vineyard guesthouses are the perfect Wineland getaway. So why not stay for the weekend?
Where: Somerset West/Sir Lowery’s pass Village
With sweeping views of False bay and the peninsula, this unique spot sits in a large glass cube atop of the hill just outside Sir Lowery’s pass village.
GOURMET GRUB. Chef Gregory Czarnecki is at the helm of their fantastic restaurant offering elegant seasonal food for both lunch and dinner.
CHEESE. (Oh yes!)They also have a new (ish) cheesery, Healey’s Cheesery and Deli, at the bottom of the hill with a more informal dining space.
There is a wine to suit everyone’s pallet and pocket with the more prestigious ‘Circumstance’ range producing my favourite white blend, the Circle of life, and the more accessible ‘Seriously Cool’ range producing one of my favourite reds, the Seriously Cool Cinsault.
SO MUCH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES. You can go horse riding, for a guided walk, or even take a helicopter ride to the farm from the Waterfront. All followed by wine tasting of course.
Note: If it’s the food you are coming for, book at the restaurant ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Where: Tokai/Constantia
GIRL POWER. The history of this farm, with the story of the fascinating and feisty Catharina Ras, is enough to draw a crowd in the tasting room. Now you’ll have to go and find out what I am talking about. It’s a pleasure.
You can relax and enjoy a tasting either outdoors in the sunshine, or in the beautifully curated lounge space with floor to ceiling glass doors that open out onto the water. Bliss.
Bistro Sixteen82 is right next door to the tasting room. With Breakfast, Lunch and late-afternoon Tapas menus to choose from, the Bistro provides fine dining without all the fuss.
RELAX. There is a SPA. Make a day of it and pamper yourself.
Where: Franschhoek
SPACE. This farm has the best outside area for kids to play and adults to relax and enjoy their wine.
The Rotisserie Restaurant. The menu includes a variety of tender, juicy meats from a state-of-the-art Rotisol spit, complemented by a selection of side dishes from the Harvest Table that features seasonal salads and roasted vegetables straight from the farm’s biologic garden on site.
The ‘Family table” is perfect for big groups or families. Available on the weekends for 10 or more, with your own dedicated waiter, the idea is to share big platters from the harvest table. (R375 per person).
All of their wines are served by the glass at the restaurant. This means you can taste them all and create your own pairings.
EXPERIENCE. There is so much to do here, from cooking demonstrations to food and wine pairings. Booking essential.
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