Everybody knows South Africa’s wine is amazing. I just did not know how awesome this amazing means. I literally liked every wine I tried, although with time I choose some favourites. 🙂
My first experience was getting a glass of wine in the hostel bar in Cape Town. They only had two red varieties so my expectations were low. They poured me a full glass of cabernet sauvignon and it costed me around 32 rands, which is equivalent to only 2 euros. I was surprised by the great taste that wine had. Later, getting a glass of wine with lunch always meant getting full glass and paying small prices.
But of course, visiting South Africa I could not miss a wine tour to Stellenbosch, one of the most important wine regions in the country. I took an organized wine tasting tour with amazing Wine Flies Wine Tours. We visited five vineries in Stellenbosch, however, all the vineries gladly accept guests that arrive on their own and you can have quite cheap and amazing wine tastings. They produce many varieties of wine here, but I was looking forward to try pinotage, which is South Africa’s own grape variety. It did not disappoint.
So, let’s remember the basic steps of wine tasting: sight, swirl, smell, sip, savour and let’s take a wine tour of Stellenbosch!
Lovane Botique Wine Estate
This young vinery planted its grape vine in 2003 and produced first wine in 2006. We visited their wine cellar and did a wine tasting where we paired wine with chocolate. Quite amazing!
What did we try?
2017 Sauvignon Blanc + white chocolate with lemon grass
2011 Cabernet Sauvignon + milk chocolate with strawberries and coco beans
2011 Bordeaux Blend = Isikhati + chai infused chocolate
2011 Petit Verdot limited edition + no chocolate
2015 Cape Vintage Port + bitter chocolate with cardamom and citrus
Annandale Wines
From young to vintage, the second vinery we visited dates its wine production to 1688 and only serves at least 8 years old wine. Between glasses we snacked on kudu antelope dried sausages and warmed ourselves up by the fireplace.
What did we try?
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Cavalier
2005 Shiraz
2006 Cape Vintage Port
Middelvlei Wines
We learned about the wine production at this beautiful wine estate and poured wine ourselves directly from the barrel with a special device. Then we took our ful glasses to the garden and had a delicious braai for lunch.
What did we try?
2017 Shiraz
2016 Pinotage 10 months old
2016 Pinotage 12 months old
2016 Merlot
2016 Free run Pinotage
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Mitre’s Edge Boutique Vinery
In this eco friendly vinery it was time to learn which wine goes best with which type of cheese. Then we put the newly gained knowledge into practice.
What did we try?
2015 Chenin Blanc + feta cheese
Non vintage red blend (Shiraz, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) + cheddar cheese
2014 Cabernet Franc + gouda
2011 Cabernet Sauvignon + camembert
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon + blue cheese
Uitkyk Wine Estate
Uitkyk means “look out” and you should definitely look around this gorgeous estate with an 18th century neo-classical manor house. After you’ve done looking, taste some of their wine, they also have nice sparking wine.
What did we try?
Sparkling wine
2016 Pinot Grigio
2015 Chenin Blanc + apricot & white pepper chocolate
2011 Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon + beef sausages
Visited: July 2017