“Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures.”
— Michael Broadbent
On my South Africa Journey, 24 March 2011 found my illustrious group and me visiting the gorgeous town of Stellenbosch, in the Heart of the Cape Winelands. Only a half hour’s drive from Cape Town, the “Town of Oaks” is surrounded by some of the most beautiful wine estates in the world.
Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest in the country, and is truly a paradise for any gastronomy- lover! The scenery is breath-taking and the choices are endless, with something for every budget. Stellenbosch is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, only second to Cape Town, and is filled with stunning architecture, with many buildings dating back to the 1700’s, rich history, museums, as well as many lovely B&B’s, hotels and restaurants.
It is also home of Stellenbosch University, from whence a number of the beloved Rugby Springboks have emerged. There are beautiful boutiques, galleries, and many street vendors featuring their personal African crafts like hand-carved animals, beaded work, hand-made clothing, and more. I met a wonderfully talented artist who makes plaques representing the townships- a very authentic South African art form. I cherish my piece of real African memorabilia, as well as my hand-carved Giraffe I purchased from another special vendor.
Back to the subject at hand- Wine and Food!
We had the pleasure of partaking in a special lunch at the Bread and Wine Restaurant, part of the Moreson Wine Farm, and it was awe-inspiring! Chef Neil Jewell, the “Charcuterie Guru” prepared an astonishing array of his meats, along with cheeses, olives and breads, topped off with the lovely “Hoity Toity” white wine, named after the family pet! Here is an excerpt from the Moreson Vineyard website,
http://www.moreson.co.za – all I can say is, Go Visit This Place!! And buy wine!
“Miss Molly, the beautiful Môreson Weimaraner, is the love of our lives. During the afternoon Miss Molly is most often found sunning
herself in our finest leather wingback chair. Here she devotes her time
to relaxing – receiving visitors, love and adoration at her leisure. Hoity Toity is designed to capture the taste of our beloved Miss Molly’s lazy, sun-filled afternoons.”
More from the website:
“Miss Molly, the Môreson Weimaraner, is such a huge presence in
our lives that we felt she deserved her own range of wines. Her larger
than life personality, her unique quirks and her naughty nature ensure
that she is a love magnet. When food goes missing, from the kitchen, or the farm starts to
look like it’s being remodeled by a landscaper – with a love of
meter-deep holes – you can be sure that Miss Molly is somehow involved.
All the Miss Molly wines have been designed to capture the fun,
and good-natured naughtiness, that we believe makes our Miss Molly so
incredibly easy to love. A portion of the money made from every bottle of Miss Molly sold – in South Africa – is donated to the
South African Guide Dogs association for the blind.”
What can I say that is good enough about people like this?? Anyway, the wine, food and atmosphere is superb and memorable… especially when shared with friends, as we did, and the time spent there was wonderful.
We then moved on down the road to Franschhoek, founded in 1688 by the French Huguenots, and another beautiful village nestled in the fertile wine valley of the Cape Winelands. We were guests at Le Quartier Francais, listed as one of “The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 – Restaurant Magazine UK”. Enough said? We toured the property, enjoyed mouth-watering deserts and the ambiance of this stunning and intimate piece of Heaven before heading back to town for another full evening of delight!
This day satisfied, right down to the ground, every fiber that makes us want to be one with nature, and all things sensuous and beautiful. I am counting the days until I can return to this God-kissed country. Bless you, all my new friends…
Tamyra Nash
My Savvy Vacation
[email protected]
I LOVE SOUTH AFRICA!
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