South African wines are becoming an up and coming trend as a new wine on the circuit. They've been around since approximately 1659, but they're just starting to fill the shelves of liquor stores in the United States. And just outside of Capetown, there is a region called the Stellenbosch Mountains - which is responsible for some of those delicious Cabernet Sauvignons hitting shelves.
And, as we were in Capetown, we couldn't help but head about 30 miles east to go on part of the Stellenbosch Wine Route. Now, as we are all avid wine lovers (not spitters), we opted to hire a private mini-bus to take us around the region. (Best decision ever as you NEED to taste all the wines).
Going on the wine tour, sure, I expected great wine - but was not ready for the unexpected delight of breathtaking scenery and stunning architecture. Each winery had it's own, unique feel that transported you to another place and time.
There are two stops that I would tell absolutely anyone visiting the region that are a "MUST-SEE":
Waterford Wine Estate
It's like being transported away to the chateaus of France. When you arrive, you drive through a citrus grove lined path towards the towering stone entrance. Peeking inside through the gates, you can peek into the center courtyard, where the iconic Waterford Fountain stands.
Where better to have your tasting then in the courtyard? With water trickling in the background from the fountain, the warm sun rays shining down on you, the smell of crisp mountain air, sipping on some delectable wines.
We chose to do one of their tastings - the Wine and Chocolate Pairing! You have the opportunity to taste their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Natural Sweet Wine- which are each paired with a specialty produced chocolate to enhance the flavor. Honestly, at first I thought our waiter was pulling our leg about how well the chocolates would enhance the wine, but now I can't imagine having these wines without chocolate!
After our tasting, we were given a tour of their cellar. We started in what I would call the more modern production area - filled with stainless steel vats, which my Dad and Brother were huge fans of (hello, engineers). They literally had to touch everything. But, the best part of the tour was going into the room where the barrels of wine are kept as they age. It had the perfect ambience, cool, dark, featuring large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I could have stayed in there all day sipping on the rest of their wine collection!
If you want to learn more about the Waterford Wine Estate, check out their website, here.
Delaire Graff Estate
OMG heavenly views. I literally felt like I was looking into a postcard. I didn't expect it to get much more beautiful after visiting Waterford Wine Estate, but these views were just breathtaking. So much so, that maybe I didn't look inside as much as I should have.
This is not only a great spot for wine tasting - it also is great for lunching or lodging. This was our lunch stop on the day's journey, and really couldn't have asked for a better place. We had a warm winter day, so we enjoyed their patio. Their menu is seasonal, sourced from locally grown ingredients - constantly changing. But I can assure you, whatever the menu is when you're there, it will be delicious. My food was heavenly, but that didn't stop me from trying all my family's plates just to be sure theirs was just as good!
We split a bottle of their Sauvignon Blanc with lunch - crisp and refreshing. I wished that we had enough time to try them all! I could imagine spending a week just at this estate, lounging out to enjoy the views, hiking through the mountains, and of course, trying a different wine everyday.
If you want to learn more about the Delaire Graff Estate, check out their website, here.
