Gastronomic
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Cape Town International Airport where you are met by your Fairfield Tours tourguide. Transfer to Paarl. Huge granite outcrops, the largest of which is Paarl Rock, dwarf the attractive town of Paarl, which lies between the mountain and the Berg River. Many of its beautiful historic monuments can be seen along the oak-shaded Main Street, and the 1787 Oude Pastorie, now housing a cultural museum, and Strooidak Church, completed in 1805, are among the more notable national monuments.
On top of the Paarl Mountains lies the 1 900-hectare Paarlberg Nature Reserve dominated by the granite outcrops of Paarl Rock, Gordon’s Rock and Bretagne Rock. The reserve protects fynbos, proteas, wild olives, aloes and silver trees.
Pay a visit to the “Afrikaans Taal Monument”, the only monument in the world dedicated to a language. Learn about the origin of this beautiful and dynamic young language, so dear to the hearts of the Afrikaans community.
Continue to your guest house, Pontac Manor, where you check in and freshen up before dinner. Pontac Manor was formerly the manor house on Pontac Estate, a wine estate founded in 1723 by Pierre Labuschagne and named after his home town of origin in the south of France. "The Restaurant at Pontac" is housed in the fully renovated former estate store room and outbuildings and offers fine dining with a New World flair.
Decorated in warm earthy colours, the historic character of the building has been retained with its original wooden floors and restored brick work elements. Antique window frames and deep-set window ledges lend an air of nostalgia. Table settings are elegant and the service impeccable. The restaurant patio with its Koi fish pond and gardens, offers a unique view of Paarl Rock. In winter the fireplace adds warmth and glow to this cosy venue.
The menu offers a variety of unique dishes specially prepared by talented young South African born chef Abie Conradie who trained in restaurants locally as well as in a Michelin Star restaurant in Europe. Abie's speciality is sauces and he effortlessly combines contrasting flavours to impress the most discerning of palates.
Overnight: Pontac Manor, Paarl (DBB)
Day 2: Paarl Winelands
Enjoy breakfast. First visit for today is the KWV Cellar in Paarl for a wine tasting and cellar tour. This internationally famous cellar complex is one of the largest in the world, covering an area of 22 hectares. Yet, the top-of-the-range wines are all individually created as if in a small cellar. More than a hundred natural wines, as well as an impressive range of brandies and fortified wines are produced here for the diverse needs of international markets.
Continue to Seidelberg Estate, elevated high on the south western slopes of the Paarl mountain, the farm has one of the most scenic and magnificent views of the Cape Winelands and Table Mountain.
Seidelberg is 420 ha in size of which 105 ha, is currently under vine. This is being extended at the moment to a target of around 200ha. The farm was established in 1680, granted by Simon van der Stel, as De Leuwen Jagt. The meaning of the original name in Dutch was “The Lion Hunt”.
According to the winemaker, Cerina de Jongh, meticulous and loving care of the vineyards and an intimate understanding of the “terroir” ensures that the marriage between centuries old tradition and modern techniques combine the magic that is Seidelberg wine.
You are taken on a guided cellar tour which will provide you with a better insight into the winemaking process. Afterwards, enjoy a wine tasting in the cosy underground tasting room.
Enjoy lunch at the De Leuwen Jagt Restaurant. The restaurant has a very relaxed ambience and the fireplace makes it a very cozy venue for those cold winter days. For the warm, lazy summer days there is outside seating with an amazing view of vineyards, mountains and clear blue skies.
Continue to Nelson Creek Estate. The cellar door manager and events co-ordinator, will keep you spellbound as he shares with you their dreams and aspirations and takes you on a cellar tour and a wine tasting that is unlike any that you have ever experienced.
Take a trip to New Beginnings, their workers empowerment initiative, and see their magnificent vineyards. One of the most frequently asked questions is why Alan Nelson donated a part of his farm to his farm labourers. He conceived of the idea as one of many to inspire his farm laborers to help him realise his dream of producing South Africa's best wine. All that he could offer in exchange when he bought the land on a shoestring was a promise to share in the fruits of any success that their dedication in the vineyard would bring.
The laborers took him up on this offer and in 1996, when Nelson's Creek won the Trophy for South Africa's Best Chardonnay and was adjudged the Champion Wine Producer in this region, it was time for Alan to deliver. In 1998, New Beginnings produced the first wine ever to be made by people of colour from grapes grown on their own land. As they say: “On this land, we do it like Frank Sinatra – our way!” Currently they export wine to Europe, Asia and America. All revenue derived from the sale of their wine accrues to the laborers.
Return to your guest house for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Pontac Manor, Paarl (DBB & Lunch)
Day 3: Paarl to Tulbagh Winelands to Montagu
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Travel to Tulbagh where you pay a visit to Theuniskraal Estate for a wine tasting. The estate is situated between two mountain ranges, the Witzenberg and the Winterhoek, guarding over the tranquil flow of the Klein Berg River.
Theuniskraal is a prime example of how natural farming methods and high technology can work hand in hand to bring out the best in the vineyards. Visit the estate during the growing season and you'll be delighted by the sight of a dapper duck brigade patrolling the vineyards to combat snails. At the same time a sophisticated irrigation system supplements the natural rainfall. Fertilisation is computer-controlled, and the estate was one of the first in the Cape to introduce mechanical harvesting.
Continue to Twee Jonge Gezellen Estate for a wine tasting. The notion that fine, bottle fermented sparkling wine, produced by what is termed Method Cap Classique in South Africa, might hail from the small village of Tulbagh, in the outer winelands seems unlikely. However, at this 200 year old estate, just north of town, they've been producing a fresh racy bubbly since 1987 from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The estate boasts the first underground sparkling wine cellar in Africa, where Nicky Krone's Methode Cap Classique, Krone Borealis, is matured for 2 years and more.
Twee Jonge Gezellen is the oldest family farm in the pioneer district of Tulbagh and the second oldest family-owned wine estate in South Africa. Twee Jonge Gezellen was named after two young bachelors, in Dutch; Twee Jonge Gezellen. The pioneering spirit, handed down from generation to generation, led to the planting of the first vines on the estate in 1710.
At Twee Jonge Gezellen, grapes are hand picked under the stars in the cool of the night to retain flavour and aroma. A little poetic licence used to describe this sparkling wine which is full of "stars". Pay a visit to Paddagang Restaurant & Wine House for lunch. The restaurant provides authentic Boland Cuisine and is World renowned for dishes such as Smoor Snoek, Waterblommetjiebredie and Bobotie.
Continue to Montagu via Worcester where you pay a visit to the KWV Brandy Cellar. This modern complex is the largest distillery of its kind in the world. Experience at first-hand the art of brandy making. The tour includes an audio visual presentation, viewing of 120 copper potstills, a visit to the operational cooperage and the maturation cellars where brandy mellows to perfection in oak barrels. The tour concludes with a tasting which demonstrates the versatility of brandy.
Check into your hotel furnished in the art deco style. The rooms are decorated, with colours to suit that fun period in the history of this joyous 193040’s Charleston mood. Enjoy dinner at the “Wild Apricot Restaurant”, specializing in traditional Cape fare.
Overnight: Montagu Country Hotel, Montagu (DBB & Lunch)
Day 4: Montagu to Calitzdorp
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Travel on the "Route 62", one of the most beautiful travel routes in South Africa from Montagu to Calitzdorp. The country road meanders through the fertile valleys of the Klein Karoo, past rugged rock formations. Time and again the road leads over steep passes, which open up to spectacular views of wide land.
Visit the Joubert-Tradauw Private Cellar, a boutique cellar on a working farm situated 11 km before Barrydale. Sixty-one years ago Schalk-Willem Joubert left Wellington for the fertile Tradouw Valley to farm mainly with fruit and wine grapes. His son, Jacobus Joubert, realized the potential of growing premium grape cultivars for the production of wine. The first premium cultivars were planted in 1982 on the farm - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The first grapes were sold to the Barrydale Wine Cellar.
A dream was fulfilled when an old building on the farm was restored into a maturation cellar. A fermentation cellar was built in 1998 out of the stone from the rocky soils, characteristic of the farm. The first grapes were harvested and crushed in 1999. The R62 Merlot/Cabernet (50/50) blend was released after a twelve month ageing period in French and American oak barrels. The production is currently just below 2000 cases. Four hundred cases of Chardonnay were released in 2001.
Enjoy lunch and use this opportunity to absorb the beauty of the magical Tradouw Valley, with a glass of quality wine and fresh, home-made produce all locally made.
Continue to Calitzdorp, known as the Port-Wine Capital of South Africa. This area is renowned for its superb quality fruit and excellent dessert and table wines.
Continue to the Portwine Guest House, member of the Good Cooks & Their Country Houses establishment, where you check in and enjoy dinner.
Overnight: Portwine Guest House, Calitzdorp
Day 5: Calitzdorp to Swellendam
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Visit “Die Krans Estate”, situated between the vineyards at the upper reaches of the picturesque Gamka River Valley. To the people here, port is a passion. The history of the Estate dates back to 1890, when the farm Die Krans was bought by the Nel Family.
The present cellar was built in 1964 and in 1979 it became an estate wine cellar. A whole range of quality wines are made on the Estate according to the most advanced techniques. Cultivars such as Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürtztraminer, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, White Muscadel, Fernao Pires and Harslevelü are grown on the Estate.
Visit Boplaas Estate for a port tasting. Ports are the flagship wines of Boplaas and has on various occasions been crowned as SA Champion port. It has been chosen twice as the best port in South Africa. Although port and brandy made a name for Boplaas, a modern cellar operates which produces a range of outstanding table wines. For the last ten years Boplaas was the champion cellar at the Southern Cape Bottled Wine Show.
Continue to Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa. This charming town, nestling at the foot of the Langeberg Mountain, is famous not only for its youngberries (braambessies), but also for its eclectic architecture, fascinating past and great outdoor life.
Visit the Drostdy Museum Complex. Known as one of the best in the country, the museum comprises a collection of buildings with characteristic Cape Dutch architecture, period furniture, beautiful gardens, an ambagswerf (trades yard) and a restaurant. A stroll around the complex will include indoor as well as outdoor areas and some of the most picturesque streets in the town.
Continue to your guest house, Roosje van de Kaap, a charming, small ‘herberg’ in the heart of picturesque Swellendam. Enjoy dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Roosje van de Kaap, Swellendam (DBB)
Day 6: Swellendam to Hermanus
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Travel to Stanford where you visit the Birkenhead Brewery, the first brewing estate in the Southern Hemisphere. You are taken on a guided tour and are given the opportunity to taste the Birkenhead Premium Lager, Birkenhead Black & Tan and the Birkenhead Honey Blonde Ale. Contine to Hermanus, a charming seaside village, built along the shores of Walker Bay. Magnificent mountains watch over the town, which is home to the Southern Right Whale, between the months of June and November when whales frequent the waters, courting, mating and calving. Nature lovers from all over the world visit Hermanus to view these magnificent creatures from the best land based whale watching destination in the world. The world's first Whale Crier strides the streets of Hermanus with a sandwich board and maps, sounding his kelp horn to announce where whales have been sighted. Pay a visit to the Old Harbour Museum.
Enjoy a special seafood lunch at Bientang’s Cave Restaurant, situated not even 10 metres from the waters edge in a historical cave. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Browse the many quaint shops and stalls while enjoying the unique atmosphere of this beautiful seaside town.
Overnight: Whale Rock Lodge, Hermanus (BB & Lunch)
Day 7: Hermanus to Stellenbosch
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Visit the Hamilton Russell Vineyards located in the cool, southerly, maritime Walker Bay appellation, in the beautiful Hemel en Aarde (Heaven and Earth) valley behind the old fishing village of Hermanus, Hamilton Russell Vineyards specialises in producing internationally acclaimed, terroir driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Continue to the Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard and Winery, a small cellar dedicated to the making of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines of outstanding quality. The 160-hectare property currently has 19 hectares under vine; the rest is mountain land, covered by indigenous Fynbos flora of the Western Cape. Winemaker, Peter Finlayson, is a graduate oenologist from Stellenbosch University. He furthered his studies at Geisenheim in the Rheingau in 1975. A period (between 1976 and 1979) at the fledgling Boschendal winery was followed by the challenge of setting up and running the first winery in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley. His success at this cellar became legendary culminating in the 1989 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award for his achievements with the Pinot noir grape.
Travel to Stellenbosch via the coastal route and the coastal resort Betty’s Bay. Visit the Harold Porter Botanical Garden. This beautiful, secluded garden is set between mountain and sea, in the heart of the Cape fynbos region and encompasses 10 hectares of cultivated fynbos garden and 190.5 hectares of pristine natural fynbos. The garden is renowned for its waterfalls and amber pools.
The main fynbos families (proteas, ericas and restios) are present as well as other important families such as irises, daisies and orchids. The garden boasts Disa uniflora in its natural habitat as well as the national flower, the king protea (Protea cynaroides). There are approximately 88 species of birds, including the Orange-Breasted Sunbird and the rare Protea Canary, found only in the fynbos, present in the garden. Other wildlife, including mongoose, porcupines and genets are common but shy.
Continue to Vergelegen Estate situated in Somerset West for a wine tasting and cellar tour. On arrival at Vergelegen Heritage Area, you pass throughout the old stables, converted into a reception area. The adjacent stable building was converted into an interpretative centre with an illustrated history and development of Vergelegen.
The estate has been a gardeners paradise from the time the land was first tamed by Willem Adriaan van der Stel in 1700. Evidence of his skills are still visible on Vergelegen - the five camphor trees gracing the front of the Homestead, the oldest oak tree in South Africa and an ancient mulberry. To the sunny north of the homestead, sheltered by Liquid Amber trees and overlooking the croquet lawn, is the Lady Phillips Restaurant, where you will enjoy lunch. The beauty that surrounds visitors to Vergelegen today is, in large measure, due to the effort and foresight of Lady Florence Phillips. Continue to the Spier Estate where you check into your hotel and freshen up before dinner. Tonight you enjoy dinner at the Moyo Restaurant. This is an unforgettable outdoor dining experience that captures the essence of our unique Cape African culture. A fusion of modern sophisticated décor and distinctly African flavoured dishes create an inspiring culinary affair. Relax and enjoy the spectacular vistas while you are treated to our own colourful brand of Cape African hospitality. The outdoor restaurant serves an extensive buffet menu as rich and exciting as the many diverse cultures we draw from.
Overnight: The Village at Spier, Stellebosch or Batavia Boutique Hotel (DBB & Lunch)
Day 8: Stellenbosch Winelands
First stop for today is the beautiful Lanzerac Manor & Winery for a wine tasting. One of the region's most distinguished examples of Cape Dutch architecture endures on this 300-year old country estate, preserving the elegant atmosphere of a gracious age. The Lanzerac tradition is a powerful melding of earth, vine and sun, producing in its wake wines of the highest order.
Continue to Thelema Estate situated at the top of the Helshoogte Pass. Enjoy a wine tasting in the winery overlooking the Drakenstein Mountains. In July 1983 the McLean Family Trust bought the old fruit farm Thelema, situated on the top of the Helshoogte Pass about 6 kilometers outside of Stellenbosch. This purchase was the culmination of a long search by Gyles and Barbara Webb for that rare location where exceptional wines could be made, for this is their sole intention. Thelema is a family-run team. Gyles Webb directs all farming and winery operations, his wife Barbara is director of marketing, mother-in-law Edna manages the tasting area.
Enjoy lunch at Tokara Restaurant situated on the Tokara Wine Estate at the top of the Helshoogte pass between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. The spacious stone, steel and glass buildings look down over the vast valley, with sweeping views from the wooden restaurant deck. On arrival, one’s focus immediately falls behind the gigantic glass wall that separates the restaurant’s lobby from the ultramodern kitchen, where the expansive view and the activities in the kitchen vie for your attention. The food is best described as modern South African with a heavy French influence. The exclusive combination of Tokara’s Restaurant’s illustrious cuisine, breathtaking views and avant-garde architecture, promises guests a unique and memorable culinary experience.
You'll find JC Le Roux, South African's only Champagne House, tucked away in the Devon Valley just outside Stellenbosch. Enjoy a tasting of these exclusive sparkling wines and view the entire Méthode Cap Classique process - from the creation to the completion of each masterpiece.
Return to your hotel where you freshen up before dinner (own account).
Overnight: The Village at Spier, Stellenbosch or Batavia Boutique Hotel (BB & Lunch)
Day 9: Franschhoek Winelands
Offering an extraordinary blend of natural beauty and the finest wines, L’Ormarins promises its visitors a memorable experience. The tasting venue creates the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed appreciation of L’Ormarins wines. There is a distinctive old-world complexity in L'Ormarins wines, as befits a farm with such typically French influences – a great inspiration to L’Ormarins’s young wine-maker, Riaan van der Spuy.
Continue to the Haute Cabrière Estate where two great Winelands talents; cellarmaster Achim von Arnim and chef patron Matthew Gordon are the pioneers of the true marriage of food and wine. Enjoy lunch in this award winning restaurant built in an underground cellar on the Franschhoek pass, named one of South Africa’s “Top Ten” restaurants!
Travel to the beautiful town centre of Franschhoek, a village with real French charm, originated in 1688 when land was allocated to some 200 Huguenots who fled persecution in France. It was originally known as 'Olifantshoek', after elephants took to calving in the sheltered valley of plentiful food and water. Most of the farms in the area still carry the original French names. Spend some time in this charming village, browsing through the many art, craft and antique stores and visit the Huguenot Museum & Monument, depicting the history of the French Huguenots.
Continue to Cape Town where you check into your hotel and freshen up before dinner. Transfer to the V&A Waterfront for dinner at Emily’s Restaurant – an informal experience in laid back elegance. Now in its twelfth year, Emily’s is as young and vibrant as ever. The restaurant achieved an enviable reputation having been nominated on many occasions as one of South Africa’s top ten restaurants.
Owner Peter Veldsman & Executive Chef Johan Odendaal will do an exhilarating presentation which will impact your view on dining. Peter is one of the founders of the South African branch of the Chaine de Rotisseurs and was a former Bailli (Chairman) of the society. He is also a former Chairman of the Culinary Circle of South Africa and was food editor of SARIE magazine for more than 16 years. In 1988 he was awarded an honorary Cordon Bleu. In 1990 he became the first recipient of the Galliova Award as South Africa’s best food writer (magazines) and again in 1996 (newspapers). He is currently one of the judges for the Galliova Award. In 1993 he received the prestigious Gold Medal of the South African Brandy Foundation, and in December 1997 a Monument from the South African Agricultural Union. He is also the author of ten Books. Johan Odendaal, the Executive Chef of Emily’s contributed greatly to Emily’s success, in particular with his dedicated teaching and innovative cuisine, which lead to Emily’s receiving numerous awards.
Overnight: Welgelegen Guest House, Cape Town (DBB & Lunch)
Day 10: Constantia Valley Wine Route
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before you depart to explore the Constantia Valley Wine Route. Buitenverwachting Wine Farm is situated in the heart of the historical Constantia Valley. This beautiful farm boasts an exceptional range of wines and has been part of the rich history of the Cape since 1796.
Continue to Groot Constantia Estate, where the roots of the South African wine industry lie and it is the oldest wine estate in South Africa. It was developed by Simon van der Stel in 1685. Since then, Groot Constantia has had an uninterrupted record of being a wine farm and its name is forever linked to the most famous wines that were made in South Africa. Today, Groot Constantia is a museum, which exhibits a great insight into the social life of the first Cape settlers. The manor house is a magnificent example of Cape Dutch architecture and the wine museum pediment is one of the sculptor Anton Anreith's masterpieces. The wine cellar houses a Wine Museum exhibiting wine making equipment, especially wine storage and wine drinking vessels. You are taken on a guided cellar tour after which you enjoy a wine tasting at the tasting cellar at the entrance of the Estate, also known locally as the Bertrams Cellar.
Enjoy lunch at Jonkershuis Restaurant. Designer fabrics and contemporary touches sit easily alongside antique furniture and interesting objects from a number of different countries and eras. With its peaceful setting and serving staff in period costume, Jonkershuis provides unrivalled atmosphere to complement the superb food & local wines.
Next visit is Steenberg Estate. Pay a visit to the winery, where you can taste some of Steenberg vineyards choice wines. Wine has always been a part of life at Steenberg since the first vintage was produced here in 1695. Vineyards surround a state of the art wine cellar with cultivars selected to suit the chemical nature of the soils, microclimate and altitude of the slopes of Steenberg. Vines planted include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Nebbiolo and Table Grapes.
Return to your hotel to freshen up before you meet in the hotel foyer for an evening transfer to Constantia Uitsig for a superior dining experience at La Colombe Restaurant. Tuked away under gigantic palm and oak trees, La Colombe Restaurant exudes a rustic charm and offers French Provencal cuisine. This multi-award winning restaurant is twice winner of the Restaurant of the Year, voted by the top national newspaper, The Business Day. The exquisite service creates a relaxed ambience, where guests enjoy the mouth watering cuisine and superb wine selection.
Overnight: Welgelegen Guest House, Cape Town (DBB & Lunch)
Day 11: Peninsula Tour
Enjoy breakfast before you depart on a full day Peninsula Tour. Travel to the cable station at the base of Table Mountain. Enjoy a trip up Table Mountain in a revolving cable car for spectacular views of "the fairest Cape in all the circumference of the earth" - quote Sir Francis Drake. (Weather permitting)
Proceed to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, forming part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which encloses more than 4500 plant species (fynbos) (the highest concentration of different species in such a small area anywhere in the world). As the funicular take you to the Lighthouse at Cape Point, imagine for a moment what it must have been like to sail round this point in the days of Dutch and Portuguese seafarers, in their small sailing ships, bringing spices and silk to Europe from the Far East. This is where the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean supposedly meet.
The tour then takes you to Simon's Town to visit the Jackass Penguin colony (also known as African Penguins), one of the only two breeding colonies on the mainland.
Contact Us for a quotation or to tailor make this tour.
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