South African wineries are mostly located close to Cape Town and many have been established for more than 300 years. So one of the great experiences in a visit to Cape Town is a side trip to one or more wineries. Who are we to deviate from this well established practice?
Saturday's weather was very good, quite warm but some cloud. We four had been invited to visit and stay the night with Lee's sister Este, her husband Dieter and their young children Annabel and Rainer who live in Paarl, close to the heart of the wine region. We got away mid morning and set off for the craggy mountain range which dominates the skyline to the east of Cape Town.
The first item on the agenda, after the obligatory impromptu shopping stop in Stellenbosch, was a wine tasting at the Boschendal winery. Here, for 20 Rand per head (about $3 Aust), tasters can choose five wines from the wide selection for tasting, in glorious outdoor surroundings.
We had an excuse to buy some of the wines, to take to Este's home, so left for phase 3, a picnic lunch, with several bottles in the boot. Accomplished without hassle at a picnic table in the main street of the picturesque village of Franschoek, this planned brief sojourn was extended by yet another impromptu shopping expedition successfully conducted by Mary and Lee. Nick and I visited the Hugenot Museum which included mention of Lee's distant relation, the guy who left France in 1723 and became the founder of the Blignaut family's presence in South Africa.
After lunch and shopping in Franschoek it was time to head for Paarl where Mary and I renewed our acquaintance with Este, Dieter and Annabel, who stayed with us in Australia a couple of years ago. A Braai (BBQ) was on the agenda with the meat being wild Kudu killed during a hunting expedition. It was a wonderful meal, the meat cooked in the backyard, and all washed down with quite a few glasses of South African wine.
And so to Sunday, another sparkling clear blue sky day, much warmer than it deserves to be in mid winter. After breakfast we drove and walked up the granite-capped mountain which dominates Paarl.
South Africa has outstanding food available at unbelievably reasonable prices. This was demonstrated to us once again when we lunched at Fairview Winery, near Paarl. Our party consisted of seven adults and one child. The place was packed but Este had thoughtfully made a reservation. The winery and its restaurant sit in beautiful gardens amid the vineyard, whose vines today were adorned with only the most stubborn red leaves and even these will be gone soon to make way for the new growth to come in a few months.
The a la carte food included grilled springbok, carpaccio beef, fresh salads and vegetables, multiple cheese varieties, snook paté, and a couple of different types of fresh-baked bread. Drinks were draught beers, various wines from the vineyard, coffees and soft drinks. All agreed that the meal was superb. The bill came to around $100 Aust, for everything. Coming to South Africa for the food alone would be worthwhile.
So now we're back in Kommetjie, near Cape Town at Lee and Nick's cottage. We have only two more full days left before we leave for home, with two nights in Singapore on the way.
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