cape winelands

Our last couple days were spent in the Cape Winelands. But before we headed out of the Cape Town’s city center, we stopped by Table Mountain again - this time the cable cars were open and we actually got to go up to the top. The morning views were fantastic and aside from the yelling Chinese tourist and clingy, lone Dutch traveler, it was a pleasant experience. We took excessive amounts of pictures and then headed out.

On the way to our hotels, we stopped by the first house for tasting - Boschendal, which has been around since 1699 and is one of the biggest houses in the Winelands. So, as you’d expect, it’s wine were just ok - not bad, but the vineyard property itself was more a reason to visit than the vino (much like Sterling at home). Even still, we enjoyed our five tastings and cheese platters under a huge sappy tree (I thought I was again a toilet to a bird) before we moved on. Once we got into Franschoek, I randomly chose a house and it turned out to be a great choice - Chamonix has yummy reds and a cozy lil tasting room.

We then checked into our hotels and Pete and Maria joined us at ours, Klien Genot (also a vineyard but we didn’t get to taste as they were closed for a wedding while we were there), for High Tea. Huge coffees with yummy sandwiches - tuna & cucumber/cheese, and this amazing custard cake that was slightly caramelized on the top (crème brulee style) with passion fruit and kiwi on the side. This was one of my favorite parts of the day. We then took a stroll around the vineyard grounds as the sun prepared the set - very pretty. Dinner the first night was at Reuben’s and it was fantastic! We slept very well that night with very full bellies.

Then next day we continued wine tasting in Franschoek at Le Petite Ferme, where the patriarch (the original owner, father and farmer of the vineyard), John, gave us a tour and little lessons on the romance of wine-making. John let us barrel taste their Sauv Blanc, barrel fermented Chard and their Shiraz - all delicious pre-filtered. Then we moved to the tasting room to try the bottled stuff. It’s unfortunate the US doesn’t allow the importation of these wines, but if you ever see this house on a wine list or in the store - grab it!

We then drove to Stellenbosch to visit Delaire (which had mediocre wines but fantastic views), Muratie (very nice reds and friendly staff) and Delhiem (not the best, but not the worst either). Then naptime was necessary before another yummy dinner at Le Quartier François’s Bistro.

The next morning, we met up for coffee at Essence before shopping for African curios and saying goodbye to Pete and Maria. It’s crazy to think we’ve already been traveling now for a month!

Next up - Iceland! Can’t believe how lucky we are with the timing on this one - but KEF airport in Reykjavik just reopened two days ago. Lucky duckies indeed.