Ooh la la! 24 hours in fabulous Franschhoek

I fell in love with Franschhoek a long time ago. My first visit was back in 2003 while we were living in the Cayman Islands and in South Africa on holiday. Having been to many wine valleys since then, Franschhoek still captures my heart and I have a constant yearning to return to this magnificent valley that has created special memories over the years.

The centuries old town was founded in 1688, with French settlers arriving in the 17th and 18th centuries.  Not only does Franschhoek have a fascinating past, it is also the wine and culinary capital of South Africa. Majestic mountains and spectacular views will take your breath away. Combine this with warm hospitality, amazing experiences that cater for everyone and world-class accommodation, this gorgeous valley will have you coming back for more.

Franschhoek is a year round destination and perhaps even more so during the winter months. There are fewer tourists so you don’t waste precious time standing in queues or waiting for tables at restaurants. Many establishments offer great deals on accommodation, wine and meals that make a stay here even more affordable.

I was kindly invited by Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism to join them and an illustrious group of media personalities to explore and enjoy the heavenly food and wine delights at various eateries and estates throughout the valley. You may think that 24 hours isn’t nearly enough time to see and do it all. And you’d be quite right. Fortunately for us, a night’s stay was included so we didn’t have to rush too much.

But first – coffee! Our first stop saw us visiting the recently opened and already popular Big Dog Café, the home of Terbodore Coffee Roasters and was the perfect way to start the day. A family’s dream to produce the finest blends in the land began in 2004 in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands by Marian Macaskill. The passion for their artisan craft is clearly evident when Michael Macaskill, her son, talks about their coffee brand and how much love and care is put into every roast.

The spacious, modern café is filled with the heavenly and aromatic scent of roasting coffee.  Natural light streams in from the large patio doors and the décor is a delightful mix of wood, metal and glass, yet it maintains a cosy feel. The beautiful veranda and tree-filled garden with a maze will be a winner in summer. Kids will have so much fun as there is plenty of space for them to run around in a safe environment while parents enjoy a cuppa.

Besides being treated to our choice of coffee (my Café Latte was so good and how cute is that little doggie biscuit?), we feasted on a tasty Ricotta Hotcake, served on a hazelnut crumble and topped with fresh berries and a super-smooth beetroot parfait – simply sublime!

Whether you pop in for breakfast, brunch or lunch, you are sure to find something delectable to tuck into. And don’t forget to buy some roasted coffee beans to take home.

As it was wine o’clock somewhere in the world, we took a scenic drive to Haut Espoir, a boutique wine estate that recently opened their new Tasting Shed. Before tasting their amazing range of wines, we took a short walk through the vineyards with Rob Armstrong, the farm custodian, who kept us entertained with his witty storytelling and the journey that Haut Espoir has made towards biodiversity.

Once back at The Tasting Shed, their winemaker Marozanne, took us through a tasting of their distinctive, handcrafted wines. Their main focus is on producing red wines, but they also have a selection of whites including Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz Rose from various vintages. A particular favourite of mine, a red blend called The Gentle Giant, was inspired by the grand and peaceful Olifantshoek and has proven to be incredibly popular.

Sipping on fine wines with stunning views of Franschhoek and the surrounding mountains, it was tough to leave this lovely wine estate. Fortunately, our next stop was lunch so off to La Petite Ferme we went!

Those of you that have had the good fortune to visit this exquisite corner of the Valley will know that the breathtaking views are arguably the best in all of Franschhoek.

Greeted warmly by the wait staff and offered a drink, we were joined by Ruan Olivier, the Communications Manager for the luxurious and world-renowned property. They have a brand new kitchen team so I was very interested to see and taste what they had prepared for us. I’m sure my taste buds went into orbit as I found myself in foodie heaven!

Our Starter was a sublime combination of Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi with Smoked Butter, Pickled Mushrooms and Miso Mushroom Puree. The Main Course was a perfectly seared Duck breast with Honey and Wild pepper Roasted Parsnips and Butternut Mash, a wonderful and hearty winter dish.

The only negative was that the duck skin wasn’t properly rendered down, so it was chewy instead of crispy. Our sweet ending was a very yummy Valrohna Chocolate Torte, Mocha Panna Cotta, Orange Gel and Roasted Fennel Ice-Cream. What I especially loved about this dessert was that it wasn’t too sweet. Chocolate, orange and fennel are great flavour combinations and were balanced beautifully. Delicious art on a plate!

Before we knew it, it was time to goodbye and we were on to our next culinary adventure (yes, there was more eating to be done that afternoon!) before checking into our accommodation for the night. The De Villiers Chocolate Café is a chocoholic’s dream come true!

Offering everything from coffee, chocolate and ice-cream, this sweet hot spot will tantalize your taste buds. You can be assured of ethically certified UTZ cocoa which means sustainable farming practices with better opportunities for farmers, their families and our planet.

De Villiers make all of their products themselves using only authentic ingredients: It’s “GOOD” in every way – GMO free, Gluten free, and free from any artificial colourants, flavourings or stabilisers.

Master chocolatier Nicolette took us through the process of chocolate-making while we sampled some of their products during a delicious chocolate tasting.

We were fortunate to receive a bag filled with their sweet goodies to take home. Their entire product range is available at the café so take some home for yourself or as a gift for someone. Make this a definite stop when you visit Franschhoek.

The opulent Aztec Room at the chic Franschhoek Boutique Hotel offered a calm respite after spending much of the day indulging in amazing food and wines. Situated in the heart of the village with fabulous mountain views, I wasted no time in opening a bottle of Dieu Donne Shiraz and sipping a glass whilst taking in the breathtaking views. It isn’t often that one gets to take a moment to just breathe, relax and enjoy your surroundings.

The Aztec Room is luxuriously appointed with the very best linen, furnishings and amenities that one expects from a 4-star boutique hotel. The highlights – the incredibly comfortable bed fit for a queen, fireplace, large bathtub and the views – pure bliss!

I know for certain that we were all feeling rather full from our day of wining and dining, but this didn’t stop us from enjoying all that Tuk Tuk Microbrewery had to offer us. It must be all that fresh country air that makes it possible to keep on eating and drinking!

Situated on the Main Road and only a short walk from Franschhoek Boutique Hotel, this microbrewery is the epitome of uber-cool with it’s industrial style décor. One can either sit outdoors watching the world go by or indoors around the microbrewery and watch while fine craft beer is being brewed. Their bespoke brews are made from carefully selected local and imported hops and malts, specially cultured yeasts and crystal clear spring water, regularly sourced from the mountain spring at Leeu Estates.

We tasted a selection of four of their Tuk Tuk beers – Lager, Dunkel, Weizen, and Pale Ale. These craft beers are highly recommended and I’m sure you’ll soon find your favourite one.  Mine happened to be the Pale Ale.

Feeling hungry? Fear not as they have a great selection of freshly prepared snacks from their Mexican-style tasting menu. They offered us a few to taste and they were amazing – definitely a cut above usual pub food.

I really enjoyed the Seared Tuna Tacos with guacamole, pico de gallo and cabbage, along with the Chilli lime buffalo wings that were simply mind-blowing. The Fresh Corn Nachos with cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream was another hit but when they brought out the deep-fried cheese balls, I thought I’d died and gone to foodie heaven. It seems to happen a lot in Franschhoek! It’s not a dish I usually get excited about, but these were so good that we couldn’t stop eating them.

I was so busy eating that I only managed one foodie pic! Eventually, there were all devoured and it was time to move on to our dinner venue for the evening, Marigold Restaurant just across from Tuk Tuk. I’ve no doubt I will return to this awesome little microbrewery with my beer-loving hubby in tow.

Dinner was a gloriously fragrant and spicy affair at Marigold Restaurant, part of the prestigious Leeu Collection hospitality portfolio. Marigold is housed in Heritage Square opposite De Villiers Chocolate Café.

Greeting you at the entrance of the courtyard is a statue of a lion (leeu in Afrikaans) by acclaimed sculptor Jop Kunneke. Along with a crackling fire, I found the interior very cosy and inviting.

I enjoy trying different types of food, but Indian cuisine is not something I eat often. I was curious to see and taste what seasoned Chef Vanie Padayachee, who hails from Durban, had prepared for us. The small plates menu is inspired by aromatic and spicy North Indian cuisine and various dishes include fragrant curries and flavourful biryanis. We were treated to a delicious sensory feast and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed it all.

I can’t handle hot spices or curries, but everything I tasted was well seasoned and balanced. If you wanted to up the heat level, you simply added more chilli to your meal. I think that besides her obvious talent for blending and tempering spices, Chef Vanie cooks from the heart and with a lot of love! Do give Marigold a try when you’re in Franschhoek.

We woke up to a calm and sunny winter’s day and travelled to our final destination, the Mont Rochelle Hotel. This exquisite property is owned by Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Limited Edition. We were treated to a delicious buffet breakfast at Miko.

Elizma Stone, the Deputy General Manager, took us on a guided tour of the luxury hotel rooms and beautifully manicured grounds.

It was all so beautiful – from the chic hotel décor and stunning rooms to the inviting swimming pool and tennis court, not to mention the breathtaking mountain views that can be seen from just about everywhere.

The Country Kitchen is open for wine tastings, wine purchases and a great spot for a bite to eat. The divine Manor House is available for group bookings and is Sir Branson’s residence when he stays at Mont Rochelle. It certainly is an exceptional place and the perfect venue to celebrate special occasions with loved ones.

 

After being wined and dined and treated to some of the very best that Franschhoek has to offer, it was time to hit the road for the short drive back to Cape Town. Having met some great people, sharing loads of laughs and chats, we said our goodbyes at the V & A Waterfront.

When you find yourself daydreaming about your next road trip, remember that the lush Franschhoek Valley is most definitely #OpenForWinter. In fact, winter is possibly the best time to visit as it’s not as busy as the summer months. Being only a short drive from Cape Town, it makes for an ideal weekend getaway. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and experience all that fabulous Franschhoek has to offer! And please do let me know about your stay. I’d love to hear all about it.

Please note: This trip was sponsored by Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism and enjoyed at no cost for review purposes. All views and images are my own.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. JetSet

    What a fabulous and inspiring write-up. So much to be done in Franschhoek.

    1. Living It Up CT

      Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed it! What we did only touches the surface of what there is to see and do in Franschhoek. A definite must visit, not just for wine lovers, but for those that enjoy fine food, experiences and the great outdoors. I can’t wait to return!

  2. Shona

    We had a couple of days in Franschhoek in June and had an absolute ball. The hospitality, gourmet produce, innovative chefs and winemakers made our stay one we will always want to repeat. The stunning views, architecture and history top it off. Franschhoek was certainly open for winter for us. 🙂

    1. Living It Up CT

      I’m thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful experience in this French corner of South Africa 🙂 It is everything you’ve described and then some. Definitely worth repeating a visit in the future …. mmm … I need to head back asap! 😉

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