Firstly Cape winelands is a haven for wine enthusiast, with over 400 wine estates in the area Stellenbosch, Paarl and lovely Fransschoek, from small vineyards to big ones, and if you really want to enjoy the atmosphere, plan a visit during harvest time in March, when Cape town is pleasant in many ways, weather is still sunny, but it is not too crowded.
Here a few tips for wine estates in Stellenbosch: Vergelegen , it is a historical estate dating back o the 1700´s. Another one next to Vergelegen is Morgenster, known for its very good Bordeaux Blends and award winning olive oil. Grangerhurst Winery, a small family owned estate and a hidden gem. Meerlust , one of South Africas top wine estates. That is just a few picks from what is available in the area.
Then wine estates in Fransschoek area: Lynx wines, a small boutiqe wine farm. La motte ,a must do wine fram, Boekenhoutskloof, one of the best in the Fransschoek valley....and I could carry on for a long long time.
Besides tasting and visiting wineyards, next to Fairview, a wine estate situated in Paarl, which also is a must visit with its goat cheese, you have to also visit DV Choclate, one of the few `bean to Bar´ chocolate makers in the world.
Besides the wines, the wine area is also well known for its top class restaurants, the finest restaurants Cape Town has to offer, here a few examples: La Petite Ferme, Le Quartier Francais, voted as South Africa´s Top restaurant by Eating out Magazine, Grande Provence , a dress up fine dine restaurant, and then Bread& wine, on Moreson estate, a more relaxed venu on a wine farm at reasonable prices. All these above restaurants are situated in Fransschoek, keep in mind that there is many more, this was just a few picks again from the area. Lets move over to Stellenbosch, Overture restaurant , great view and offers a menu from 3 to 7 courses, chefs cooks in open plan kitchen, Rust en Vrede, located on the wine estate,fien dining in a wine cellar, only open at night, Middlelvlei Boere Braai, an absolut must if you want to try a local experinence. Besides enjoying a great lunch or dinner, you can also take part in coking classes in the winelands or elsewhere in Cape Town.
And then I just have to mention, if you do want a special dinner occasion during your visit in Cape Town, you do have to experience a visit at Chef Bruce Robertson Boat House, he opens up his home for you and here he will , on his bear feet , prepare an unforgettable dinner for you and your friends.
And about DREAMS,for some people it is a dream come trough to visit this beautiful part of the world, and it is wonderful to be part of that by planning and guiding them.
But the dream for me is a bit different, One day I hope I can run a guest house in the wine lands and offer my guest the best the area has to offer, both wine and food experiences and a guest house with personal touch and making guest feel at home, and of course give suggestion and still plan and guide `dream come trough´ tours for my guest all over southern africa. That is a dream and can one day become reality, Im almost half way there, I know the area, I arrange tours, I have a south african husband that I can convince, only a guest house is missing( and a loan from the bank...:) !
I will write another day about guest houses and accommodation in the wine area.
Love to you all!
Jannika
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