Make your way to Wellington’s wine cellars and expect to be welcomed by a soon-to-be familiar scene. A cosy fireplace, friendly faces and an assortment of wines to warm the heart. Add to this epic mountain views, good food and a short drive from Cape Town and you have the perfect weekend break ahead of you.
Try a Pomula tasting at Imbuko
Pomula is the refreshing Cape wine spritzer affectionately described as ‘summer in a bottle’. It’s light and sweet and has a fizzy quality to it. Enjoy a tasting of four flavours: Exotic Pomegranate and Marula, Passion Fruit, Berry Vanilla and Moscato Spumante. They have indoor seating and a large veranda overlooking the mountains.
There’s also a big garden and with a jungle gym and play area for kids. If you’re in the mood for more food and wine, you can also try their gourmet pie and wine pairing, milkshakes, or farmhouse toasties.
They are open from 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, until 13:00 on Saturdays but are closed on Sundays.
For more information visit www.imbuko.co.za
Taste Coffee Pinotage at Diemersfontein
Get the best of both worlds at Diemersfontein with their elegant Coffee Pinotage that has a rich and chocolatey taste to it.
“Wine is a personal experience,” says their newly appointed sommelier Johann Olivier, and we couldn’t agree more. His passion and love for wine is contagious and he will guide you through a tasting of some of Diemersfontein’s exceptional wines. Try the award-winning Thokozani range, which is dedicated to helping farmworkers become shareholders, and the Flagship Carpe Diem range with which they’ve pulled out all the stops for an ultra-premium offering.
They are open seven days a week from 10:00 until 17:00 and after a tasting you can make your way to the Aan Tafel restaurant for a hearty meal and more wine.
For more information check out www.diemersfontein.co.za
Feast on a traditional meal with a modern twist at Aan Tafel
Keep enjoying delicious Diemersfontein wine, perfectly paired with local cuisine, at the estate restaurant Aan Tafel. The restaurant has a beautiful view of the farm and they’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.
On Sundays they serve breakfast and lunch. Think gourmet braaibroodjies, smoorsnoek or bunny chow with a glass of Diemersfontein’s finest. We particularly enjoyed the bobotie springroll.
For dessert, try a doughnut and wine pairing at Bovlei
Bovlei is the official tasting room for Wellington Wines and it’s a must for those who love a good dose of fun with their wine. They’ve paired their easy drinking Duke wines with doughnuts as well as pancakes. The friendly sommelier, Stephanie Beerwinkle, was there with us every step of the way to answer all of our questions about the wines, pairing and region. They also offer platters for two and Bain’s Café next door serves up snacks and platters you can enjoy in the picnic area of Bain’s Park.
For more info visit www.wellingtonwines.com
Enjoy a slice of history and Shiraz at Andreas Wine Estate
A few minutes’ drive from Wellington Wines you’ll find a little piece of heaven at Andreas Wine Estate. The manor house was built in 1799 and has been restored with great care to retain the historical character. With its white walls, high ceilings and oversized wooden-framed windows this house transports you to a different time. The upstairs area has been refurbished as a guesthouse perfect for honeymooners and romantics. The estate specialises in Shiraz and we tried their 2015 vintage that is balanced, elegant and powerful. Take a walk in the garden or a dip in the pool during your stay.
For more info visit www.andreas.co.za
Take a scenic drive to Doolhof Wine Estate
You’ll feel like you’re somewhere very far away from the city when you drive to Doolhof located between Bain’s Kloof and the Groenberg Mountain Range. ‘Glamp’ onsite with Africamps Boutique Camping to make the most of the beautiful setting and the exceptional range of wines available for tasting.
We really liked their Dark Lady Pinotage, of the Legends of the Labyrinth range, with its fruity and chocolatey taste, and the rich single vineyard Malbec. On sunny days you can enjoy a tasting outside and on rainy days you can bundle up inside where the large windows still afford you a great view of the countryside.
For more info please visit www.doolhof.com
Sip, explore and help save the rhinos at Linton Park
This impressive estate is owned by a British company called Camellia that employs over 80,000 people around the world. Conservation and sustainability are two of the values that they hold dear.
At Linton Park they are protecting two different kinds of rhino or ‘renosters’. The first is the critically endangered and indigenous Renosterveld vegetation found on the farm. The proceeds of the Rhino range of wines goes to Rhinos Without Borders toward efforts to conserve these beautiful animals that are near extinction in the wild in Africa. Last year they managed to donate more than R100,000 to this cause. It’s a win-win for you as their wine also happens to be delicious.
On the farm they experience a cooler climate than the rest of Wellington with their altitude ranging from 200m to over 550m which influences the wines. They also have delicious platters to nibble on, so be sure to stop by on weekdays between 09:00 and 16:30 or on Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00 and 14:30.
Find out more here: www.lintonparkwines.co.za
Visit a 260-year-old cellar at Bosman Family Vineyards
Bosman Family Vineyards has one of the leading vine nurseries in the Southern Hemisphere. Innovation in winemaking is born from the access that they have on the farm to a wide range of cultivars. Bosman is the only farm allowed to make Nero wine from the Sicilian grape Nero d’Avola in South Africa.
Petrus Bosman brought 50 cuttings of this variety from Italy and only two survived and thrived in the hot and dry climate of Wellington. The result is a medium-bodied wine with berry flavours and spicy notes. They also have a fantastic selection of white, red, Rosé and dessert wines. When you visit the farm be sure to check out the picture perfect view.
For more information visit www.bosmanwines.com
