In 2019 the town of Tulbagh marked the 50th year since it experienced the most destructive earthquake in South Africa’s history.
The town was rebuilt and restored and feels like a meeting place of the old and the new. On Church Street you’ll find traditional Cape Dutch houses with green shuttered windows and at the end of the road you’ll be able to enjoy Bootlegger coffee and contemporary art at Makers Mark.
If you love being immersed in nature, but still enjoy those small luxuries (like fresh linen and your own loo), glamping is the perfect solution. Don’t worry about pitching tents, setting up a mobile kitchen or dragging along your toolbox with outdoor gadgets – it’s been taken care of.
You can just rock up, start the braai, pour a glass of wine and relax at any of these glamorous camping spots in South Africa’s winelands.
The new year has heralded the arrival of several new wine experiences. Check out this list of fresh attractions in Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Elgin and the Swartland.
Stanford has always been a popular break-away destination thanks to a combination of factors. It’s a mix of well-preserved historical buildings, lush gardens, muted CBD, diversity of activities on surrounding farms and distance from the city all conspire to make it so. This month we visit the relatively young Stanford Wine Route and explore what its members have to offer visitors on the look for a country retreat.
Drinks with friends used to be such a complicated affair. Bars were for some, and even those people couldn’t use just any bar. It was the ugly side of Cheers, Where Everybody Knows Your Name™. You had to be sure these were your people, once your eyes had adjusted to the smoke and dim interior.
Everywhere, the world is re-discovering The Beatles wisdom that “all you need is love, love is all you need”.
This transformation amid tragedy that sees us draw loved ones closer may even conceivably consign the traditional day or month of love to the history books.
Nonetheless, it’s worth reflecting on a few of the many wineland love stories because after all, wine will continue to be love’s most faithful companion.
Quality time away with your partner probably doesn’t happen often, so when it does, make sure it’s a memorable experience. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the most romantic and unique getaways across 20 different wine routes in South Africa.
Whether it’s for your honeymoon, anniversary, proposal or just some time away to reconnect, you’ll find something special to suit your budget and taste.
South Africa’s winelands have always professed to welcome all. An initiative focused on language rather than tourism or wine, however, promises to take this hospitality and the wine industry in general to new heights.
A series of workshops with mother-tongue speakers of Shona, Zulu and Xhosa that lay the groundwork to make wine appreciation more widely accessible, has just been concluded. Led by the South African Chenin Blanc Association, a sector interest group, and several industry stakeholders, the project involves a re-interpretation of traditional wine descriptions.
A good pursuit has always been part of the gastronomy game. Based on the recent launch of the new Wortelgat Restaurant, however, the bumpy dirt road and distance that customers must travel to get there will be a small price to pay. After all, we’re talking about the double Michelin-starred father-and-son team of De Kromme Watergang in the Netherlands taking pop-up residency at Springfontein wine farm near Stanford.
The schedule of public events of recent years has been topsy turvy, putting paid to the traditional hosting of harvest festivals. This year, however, several wine farms, routes and organisations have put measures in place for safe enjoyment. What follows, is a list of wine events – confirmed at the time of writing in mid-January – that celebrate the SA Wine Harvest 2022.
The tree-lined path leading to the manor house at Boschendal must rank among the most Instagrammed of the Cape Winelands. These days, however, stepping through the door of that historic Cape Dutch building brings an unexpected scene.
Inside, visitors are greeted by a dramatic visual display of art and a gift shop.
The past year has been challenging for most enterprises, but also a time of planning. This holds true for wineries, many of which have launched new offerings in recent months. Check out this list of a few of the new experiences on offer across the region.