In order to sum-up my wine experiences during my trip to Stellenbosch and the Cape Region of South Africa, here’s a list of white and red wines I enjoyed most. Some of these were already mentioned in previous postings, some others make their first appearance here.

White Wines

2010 Iona Sauvignon Blanc from Elgin. Very crisp and dry. Not much exotic fruit here which is due to the slightly cooler climate of Elgin. But still vibrant and with substance with grass and gooseberry on the fore. One that you could put away for a year. We had it at Ernie Els’ (the famous golfer) restaurant Big Easy, which I can recommend for its beautiful premises and relaxed atmosphere but also for their quality food. Especially the oysters we indulged there went perfectly with the Iona. Read the rest of this entry »

On the road from Stellenbosch to the Cape of Good Hope, when driving along the coastline, one passes through the small town of Kalke Bay. When we stopped there to take a walk on the pier we were lucky to find an awesome place for lunch just next to it: The Harbour House Restaurant. We actually enjoyed it so much, that we instantly reserved a table for the next day. And then it was equally as satisfying. Check these pictures and find out why. Read the rest of this entry »

Within the dramatically beautiful mountain landscape of the Cape winelands the travelling gourmet can find many “adequate” destinations.

Besides the countless wineries that are welcoming visitors, also a good amount of restaurants are supplying patrons with memorable dining experiences.

The small town of Franschoek, only 15 minutes away from Stellenbosch holds a particular place in the gastronomic scene of South Africa. Here, the country’s probably most acclaimed chef, Margot Janse has build up her small culinary universe, the  “Quartier Francais” which comprises a hotel and 3 restaurants. Read the rest of this entry »

Again 2 winery visits where I didn’t take many tasting notes.. But both were already worthwile for the beauty of the facilities and friendliness of the people working there, so I’m gonna post a couple of pictures at least. I guess this friendly atmosphere also distracts one from taking propper notes. Read the rest of this entry »

Rust en Vrede, which doesn’t actually mean “Rest in Peace” as I first thought (silly me :P) but rather “calm and peace” as someone suggested, (Well, correct me if I’m wrong please, don’t want to google everything) was the next winery we visited.

They are exclusively focussing on red wines and received a truckload of awards for their achievements in that field so far. Knowing this, of course, sharpened our senses and our concentration as we were eager to find out about wines that are supposedly part of the spearhead of the South African wine industry. Here are the quick notes I wrote. Read the rest of this entry »

Being based in Stellenbosch, we didn’t have a long way to the various wineries. Our first visit brought us to Dornier estate which is actually linked to the former German airplane constructors. In fact, quite a few estates in the winelands are owned by industrial families which reminded me a bit of Bordeaux but with a more romantic side of corporate ownership. Read the rest of this entry »