It’s been exactly one year since our unforgettable 2018 Winter Winelands adventure with six of Johannesburg’s most dynamic storytellers.
For three jam-packed, beautiful days Asanda Maku, Kabelo Thathe, Ayanda Nhlapo, Enock Predestine, Sthandiwe Msomi-Kgoroge and Thapelo Mokoena joined us on a whirlwind trip through three different regions of the Western Cape’s Winelands.
Wine tourism is a key component of the Joburg Wine Club’s mission. The idea was to bring Joburg to the Winelands to experience the various regions’ wine at source, where it tastes better and where visitors can meet the people behind the wine.
Setting the tone for an adventure filled with taste sensations, we enjoyed an exquisite meal at Delaire Graff Estate’s Indochine on our first evening together.
While we’re all for cheese and charcuterie platters, Indochine offers a complete alternative to familiar wine farm fare. The Asian-inspired cuisine made for an evocative, fine dining food theatre.
Day One
The next day, we set out bright and early for the Durbanville Wine Valley, where we enjoyed a mid-morning wine tasting and some delicious tapas at the delightful Nitida. The crew got to spend time with winemaker, Danie Keulder, and learn all about the region’s unique terroir and why it produces such beautiful Sauvignon Blanc.
From here, it was off to a next batch of feasting at Diemersdal (tough life, we know). Sitting down for lunch at Diemersdal Eatery was a treat of note!
Blending his classical French training with the flavours of Provencal France, Spain and a sprinkling of Asia, Chef Martin De Kock has carved a niche for himself in the winelands food offering. All meals are made with locally-grown and regionally-sourced produce.
Our last stop of the day was De Grendel with its magnificent panoramic view of Table Mountain and - Bay. We started off with a scenic drive through the vineyards and then enjoyed a beautiful bubbly-fuelled sunset from De Grendel’s best-kept secret, the Kliphuis right on top of Tygerberg.
Day Two
After a gorgeous night’s sleep and delicious breakfast at Lanzerac Hotel & Spa, where the crew were staying for the duration of our trip, we set out for Wellington Wine Valley to visit Bosman Family Wines.
The Bosman family have long believed in and implemented social, economic and environmental practices that develop the community and promote sustainable farming. The good relationship between the family and their team is evident in the fact that many of the 260 full-time workers on the estate are 5th generation families that have as deep a passion for winemaking as the Bosmans themselves. With an ownership of a full 26% of the business, a solid skills transfer system and numerous social projects, the workers are invested in every aspect of Bosman Family Vineyards.
They have also set up a school on the farm for the workers’ children, which we had the opportunity of visiting during our day with them. It was amazing to see how confident and cheerful these little children were!
We ended our visit off with a beautiful lunch at Petrus and Carla Bosman’s house. This couple are currently in charge of Bosman Family Wines and hosted us so generously. It was really hard to leave!
Day Three
The final day of our adventure took us just more than 100km out of Cape Town to the magnificent Hemel and Aarde Valley just outside of Hermanus.
More than just being a particularly beautiful patch of earth, this valley is also home to some of South Africa’s most exclusive boutique wineries and award-winning restaurants.
And among all of these, Creation Wines can undoubtedly be considered a gem in the crown of the Hemel and Aarde Valley.
During our visit, we were hosted by the wonderful Carolyn Martin herself. Martin and her husband, Jean Claude are co-owners of the property and have a delightful hands-on approach to their venture.
We started off with a glass of welcome bubbly on the lawn and then proceeded to enjoy a perfectly curated tasting menu in the restaurant.
As the name suggests, Creation wines are made with the utmost respect and awe for Mother Nature. They are a member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) and committed to conserving their natural heritage by implementing long-term biodiversity as well as sustainability programmes.
Party time
In true Joburg Wine Club form, the trip culminated in a stylish soiree at the newly rebuilt Lanzerac Hotel on Saturday, 21 July. As usual, guests were treated to a joyous celebration of food, superb wine, beautiful people and dope beats by DJ Thabo.
A range of wine estates - Lanzerac Wine Estate, De Grendel Wine, La Motte, Lourensford Estate and Alto - were also in attendance for the evening, generously offering guests the opportunity to taste their wines.
Travel partner
Of course, an adventure of this nature just wouldn’t have been the same without safe and reliable transport. We were extremely lucky to have Adventure Shop Stellenbosch on board as our official travel partner. More than just being the official transport partner for our winelands road trip, however, Adventure Shop offers a range of carefully crafted wine tours of their own.
Come experience the winelands for yourself
If you’re craving a break just like the one we enjoyed with the #JoburgLovesWine winter winelands adventure crew, you’re in luck!
You can book the ULTIMATE three-day winelands adventure through us!
Click HERE to find out more.
