South African vineyards

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LinekersLegs said:
not sure on current cost though as when we were there the Rand was very weak which made everything incredibly cheap.
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I've been going regularly for two decades and it's been ever thus , it fluctuates occasionally and Brexit had an effect but zuma and his actions have ensured it's still around 17 .

Because of the countries resources and it's history so much is produced domestically meaning , as you'll know , that your money goes as further than you could expect in what is the often exceptional surroundings .
 

Stellenbosch / Helderberg wineries


Vergelegen – simply stunning even just to walk around. If you can, book a picnic lunch which they serve in the woods . It's not anything like you'd expect . The have also refurbed the restaurant there – used to be amazing, suspect it probably still is but haven't been since .

Tokara – wines are good but go for brunch in their DeliCatessen. Great surrounding and you can pop into Thelma next door to try their wines too which are superb.

Delaire Graff – an absolute must! It's expensive (again, by SA standards not U.K. ) as you pay per tasting but you sit out on their terrace and look out over the valleys - the view is simply spectacular and you'll struggle to find anywhere as impressive.

Meerlust – purely for the wine,

Uva Mira – great place for lunch. Just meat and cheese platters that you can order with your wine tasting but good for a light lunch and it’s quality sitting out on their terrace looking back over the valley. You can go next door to Hidden Valley , good restaurant there too called Overture for dinner or the Ernie Els on your way back .

Fort Simon – requires a bit of a drive to get to but worth the trip when you arrive. The winery building is like a fort and the wine tasting room needs you to cross a small lagoon via a drawbridge. Only go if you are in the area – the wines are great but there’s not much nearby but very different .

Jordan – great wine, also a restaurant

Warwick – great for a lazy afternoon, good picnics and rosè; they are seem to cater for families and children as well .

Guardian Peak – nice restaurant if you fancy a steak (for a change !) and some red wine

Rust en Vrede – beautiful little winery which has a courtyard to have a drink. Bit pricey by local tasting comparisons (still really cheap U.K. Wise ) but there are a couple of other wineries next door that you can do at the same time .

96 winery Road – reliable little restaurant , Never had a bad meal and cheap.

Eikendal – good spot for a lunch, nice simple food.
 

Franschhoek / Paarl –


Le Quartier Français – The Tasting Room. Fantastic ! Its expensive though, about the only place where you pay close to London prices in the U.K. It would be mega expensive . Also has accommodation but again, towards the top end of pricing. Some people think it's too much but I loved it it's a real experience, booking is a nightmare . Deffo pm over that . It's obviously a tasting menu with wine pairings ,about 12 courses (i'm not exaggerating )


Maison Chablis – lovely little B&B if you want somewhere to stay there.


Le Bon Vivant – really nice place for dinner. Doesn’t rank as highly as Foliage in most of the guides but reckon it is better ( Foliage gets a decent write ups but not for me if I'm honest )


Reuben's – if you want a steak in this area , this is the place to go


Tuck tuck - micro brewery ,in the town just nice for a few beers and a relax


Winery's


La Petite Ferme – lunch out on the veranda is beautiful and the food is great. The view is fantastic


La Motte wine estate – great wine and the restaurant, (Pierneef à La Motte) serves really good food. Ideal for lunch.


Moreson – another winery good venue for lunch (Bread & Wine), can sit outside and their wine is lovely too.


Chamonix – heading up the hill, restaurant sits out over a small creek, in the shade. Not much of a view but a nice setting and a good spot for lunch.


Stony Brook – excellent wine. You need to ‘book’ (basically just call and tell them when you want to come).Very relaxed and personal


My Wyn – tiny little winery in this woman's basement. You drive (off road) up the side of several vineyards to get there but it's so worth it! Had plenty with no charge and they were all excellent. Great view back down over Franschhoek.


Fairview – over in Paarl, does a great wine and goats cheese tasting.


If you don't want to drive or even get a driver , try the wine tram . It's an experience , half bus half tram it takes you around a selection of winery's.
 
Last one and sorry if I've gone on



Cape Town –


The Test Kitchen – probably the best restaurant in South Africa, certainly on a par with Le Qtr Francais and much cheaper. Located in an old biscuit mill, you will definitely have to book well in advance.

Pot Luck Club – sister restaurant to The Test Kitchen. More of a relaxed feel, all small sharing plates but equally as good. Again, make sure you book.

La Colombe – haven’t been since it moved to its new location at the Silvermist Wine Estate but it was fantastic , a really nice restaurant in Constantia (other side of Table Mt).

Paranga – down in Camps Bay, great for a lunch sitting by the road and looking out over the beach. The sushi here is excellent.

The Bungalow – another good restaurant for sunset view, located in Clifton

The Retreat – best place for breakfast with a view, sit out on the terrace and get a fantastic view all across Camps Bay and the coast.

The codfather - a fish restaurant in camps bay , you pick your own fish from display . Nothing flashy but it's brilliant , they only have two sittings each evening . You've got to book but the seafood is brilliant


If you find yourselves down in the V&A around lunch time and don't want to head over to Camps, rather than paying over the odds for mediocre food in the tourist traps, if you head into the Market on the Wharf (behind the aquarium, over towards the V&A Hotel). There is a lovely little food market inside selling all kinds of hot and cold options, breads, meats and cheeses, beers, etc.



The accommodation in camps bay isn't cheap but pay extra , you'll get something that would cost you ridiculous money elsewhere for standard holiday prices. Pay extra and get some fantastic surroundings.

The Mountain and robben island both on most tourists must see places .
 

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