WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2020 -- SOUTH AFRICA
What to do with a gap between two travel adventures - the end of our thrilling Kenyan safari and the start of an exotic cruise from Cape Town? What else but explore another of the world’s iconic wine regions. Since we met three decades ago, whenever possible, my husband and I seek out wine country pleasures - bucolic views, charming inns, leisurely tastings and casual fine dining. If trips bring us near vineyards - Virginia to Oregon, France to Australia, we visit for an afternoon or several days. This time our wine country destination was South Africa, one of the oldest wine-making regions outside of Europe, where Dutch and French settlers began tending vines in the mid-1600s. For a week, including Valentine’s Day when we celebrated our 31st anniversary, we explored the stunningly beautiful Winelands of the western cape, less than an hour drive from Cape Town.
What to do with a gap between two travel adventures - the end of our thrilling Kenyan safari and the start of an exotic cruise from Cape Town? What else but explore another of the world’s iconic wine regions. Since we met three decades ago, whenever possible, my husband and I seek out wine country pleasures - bucolic views, charming inns, leisurely tastings and casual fine dining. If trips bring us near vineyards - Virginia to Oregon, France to Australia, we visit for an afternoon or several days. This time our wine country destination was South Africa, one of the oldest wine-making regions outside of Europe, where Dutch and French settlers began tending vines in the mid-1600s. For a week, including Valentine’s Day when we celebrated our 31st anniversary, we explored the stunningly beautiful Winelands of the western cape, less than an hour drive from Cape Town.
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Our Uber (an ideal way to get around if you
don’t drive British-style on the left) quickly left
behind freeways for two-lane highways through
verdant valleys crowned by jagged granite peaks.
More than 300 wineries thrive here in the moderate
Mediterranean climate cooled by breezes from
the Atlantic and Indian oceans, but they aren’t
lined up, Napa Valley-like, on the main roads, preserving
an appealing farm-country vibe.
Our arrival in February coincided with harvest -
and some of the area’s warmest weather. From our
first base, the charming Plumwood Inn, we would
explore Franschhoek and neighboring Stellenbosch,
historic small towns considered by many to
be South Africa’s wine and culinary capitals. Some
of the country’s top 100 restaurants delight gourmands
here, and their presence sparks inspired
dining all around, as we discovered during our
stay.
For Valentine’s weekend, we moved to the boutique
Steenberg Hotel and Spa, a history-rich retreat
on the grounds of the Cape’s first farm.
Surrounded by vines and home to its own winery
and two top-rated restaurants, Steenberg is nestled
in the heart of Constantia where top-rated
vintners and restaurateurs draw daytrippers from
Cape Town as well as knowing visitors from across
the globe.
During our stay there, romance was in the air. At
lunch one day, gazing out at the garden, we
watched a man fall on one knee to propose. At a
nearby table, another couple hugged and kissed as
they shared champagne toasts with friends. Bubbles
- one of the hallmarks of Steenberg Winery -
spread joy everywhere.
More toasts - along with chocolates and rose
petals - were to come. By the end of our
Winelands stay, we were totally smitten. You’ll
likely be too as you follow our footsteps through
this bewitching place.
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WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020
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