Summer Wines And Hidden Gems In The Robertson Valley

I’m probably going to give my age away now, but who remembers wine tastings at Van Loveren Family Vineyards back in the day before an official wine route was established? This wasn’t your typical wine tasting. You simply arrived, found yourself a table while bottles of wine were plonked down and you helped yourself to as much as you liked AT NO CHARGE! The heavenly, freshly made sweetcorn fritters went down a treat, soaking up all that delicious wine. Sounds too good to be true? Look out for the original sweetcorn fritter recipe on the Wall of Fame at Four Cousins Restaurant in Robertson.

Today, the Robertson Valley boasts 53 wineries and establishments from the towns of Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson and is one of the leading wine regions of the world. We’ve enjoyed the odd stay in Robertson and Bonnievale over the years, but we’ve mostly driven through these towns on our way to our destination.

I was invited by the vivacious owner and mastermind behind Hot Oven Marketing, Mira Weiner, to join her and other media people to eat, drink and explore our way through the picturesque Robertson Valley, whilst discovering some of their hidden gems. I honestly had no idea just how many hidden gems this lush valley had to offer, but I was soon to find out. So let me tell you a little bit more about our weekend adventure. Ok, maybe more than just a little bit 🙂

Wow views of the majestic Langeberg Mountains.

Our first stop for the day took us down a road I’d never travelled along to the utterly gorgeous Wonderfontein Estate and the home of elegant and sophisticated Paul René MCC. We were warmly welcomed by farmer and bubbly producer Henk Van Niekerk and his lovely wife Monica. As we joined them on the shaded patio of their beautiful home with breathtaking views of the vineyards and surrounding mountains, it struck me that I could easily get used to country living.

Heavenly bubbles!

Henk guided us through a bubbly tasting of their exquisite MCC varieties and it’s clear to see just how passionate he is about producing superb quality MCC. First up was the Paul René MCC Brut Rose 2014, followed by the Paul René MCC Brut 2014. We were also lucky enough to taste the MCC Brut 2015 which at the time was yet to be released.

Chatting all things bubbly with Henk.

My new fave!

They were all crisp and incredibly delicious – the perfect drink on a hot summer’s day, or any time for that matter. But my personal favourite was the Brut Rosé 2014 – I’m a sucker for pink bubbles! The grapes are hand-picked from their vineyard with 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, resulting in a refreshing lightly salmon coloured bubbly. It pairs beautifully with seafood and white meats as we were soon to find out.

Monica invited us into her farmhouse kitchen to show us how to make homemade mozzarella balls (this was of particular interest to Jan, but more on that later). Soon we were back on the verandah tucking into a yummy chicken salad with mozzarella balls (homemade really is best) and mostly homegrown greens while sipping on divine bubbles. It was the perfect setting with sublime MCC, entertaining company, glorious views and genuine country hospitality. All too soon it was time to say goodbye and we made our way to Rooiberg Winery.

No doubt you’ve seen the Biggest Red Chair in Africa at Rooiberg on the R60 near to Robertson – it’s pretty hard to miss unless you’re looking the other way! So of course I had to climb to the top before we headed indoors for lunch and a wine tasting. Jan and I were the only brave ones that enjoyed the incredible Langeberg mountain views. Don’t forget to check out the love lock wall beside the Red Chair.

Elda Auret, the Sales and Administration Assistant, showed us around The Wine Shop and Tasting Room which offers a wide range of Rooiberg wines that will delight any wine enthusiast.

Following an agreement between the neighbouring wineries of Rooiberg and Graham Beck, both leaders in nature conservation, Rooiberg recently became the new custodian and future owner of The Game Reserve wine range of Graham Beck Wines.

Then it was time for some more eating (yes, we did that a lot on this trip!) and wine tasting. The wine and food pairings were super tasty – think mini chicken kebabs and sliders, each paired suitably with a Rooiberg wine.

And while I don’t usually indulge in dessert, how could I say no to a layered Peppermint Crisp Tart?

Let me tell you about Jan whom I mentioned earlier. Conducting a social experiment for the month of November, he had to live off the land and harvest EVERYTHING that he ate and drank himself. It’s not so easy to do when you live in the city, but becomes slightly less challenging when you’re in the country. This also means drinking NO wine! So wherever we went, he brought his own water as well as any food he had managed to forage and turn into something edible and satisfying. I don’t think this is something I could do, but it was fascinating to see how resourceful one can be (or has to be) when living off the land.

The food finding adventure took us along many winding country roads.

Taking the road less travelled, the food finding adventure included a drive to the Langvallei Jersey Farm situated along a winding dirt road through the scenic De Hoop area (just outside Robertson) where he milked a cow himself, followed by blueberry picking on a massive blueberry farm in Klaasvoogds (between Robertson and Ashton).

This place was so huge that it took a few minutes to drive from one side to the next. I had never been to a blueberry farm before, so it was interesting to learn more about how and when they harvest the fruit.

Picking was great fun for the first thirty minutes or so, but then it felt as if our backs were breaking. I have a newfound respect to those that do this for a living. The fruit does taste amazingly sweet and juicy when it’s freshly picked.

Mira like a kid in a candy store picking blueberries.

Jan was very pleased with his blueberry stash.

Once we had as many blueberries as we could carry, we headed to Zandvliet Estate, the home of Shiraz in South Africa. Benita Gouws, the Operations and Hospitality Manager, was there to greet us upon arrival.

Jacques Cilliers, the winemaker at Zandvliet, guided us through the delicious Citrus and Wine Pairing in the elegant Kalkveld Lounge Tasting Room, complete with an upcycled 8 metre long custom built chandelier made from recycled wine bottles.

The Kalkveld Shiraz was by far my favourite wine and I continued to sip and savour this delightful wine during the art exhibition in the underground wine tanks that evening. It seemed almost everyone from the surrounding areas turned up to enjoy the art, flowing wine and canapés.

Hannah Naudé was there alongside her works of art. Artist and sculptor Bradley Flynn’s unique sculptures made from recycled materials were also showcased. The party was in full swing and before we knew it, it was time to head to our accommodation for the night at Weltevrede Estate. But not before a quick Clemengold G&T 😉 A tour through the underground wine tanks is a must when visiting Zandvliet.

The following morning dawned bright and beautiful, and those views! As we hadn’t seen our cottage clearly from the outside or the views the night before, we were in awe with the sight before us. Sunshine glinted off the sparkling Breede River (no sign of the severe Western Cape drought here), birds chirped sweetly in the trees and lush vineyards and mountain views were pure food for the soul.

I really think I could become a country pumpkin! All that fresh air gets your appetite going, so we packed up and headed for Weltevrede Estate for a wholesome farm breakfast at their bistro. Steyn Fullard, the General and Marketing Manager, joined us for a relaxed breakfast alfresco style beneath the vineyard canopy and later guided us through an amazing underground wine cellar tour and tasting experience. It was becoming clear to me that the Robertson Valley has an abundance of hidden gems, with quite a few of them located underground!

Bubbles for breakfast!

Coming in from the bright sunshine, it took a few moments for our eyes to adjust to the darkness of the hundred year old underground cellar. Candles in glass wine bottles were lined up along the tunnels and led the way to where the tasting would take place. It was a delightful sensory experience with our sense of sight, smell and taste heightened by the dim light, silence, oak barrels and aging wines. Steyn had quite a few stories to tell and we sat spellbound while sipping on their elegant wines.

This family owned and managed wine estate has seen over four generations creating inspiring wines. Philip Jonker is the fourth generation family winemakers, along with a tight-knit team that ensures the smooth running of all facets at Weltevrede. The popular underground wine tasting experience is by appointment only as numbers are limited for each tour, so be sure to book in advance (a fee applies). You do not want to miss out on this fascinating experience.

Selfie time at Weltevrede Estate (image taken by Jan Laubscher)

Quite possibly my favourite wine estate of all, esona Boutique Wine (esona is Xhosa for The Very One), you stroll through the vines to the beautiful 95-year-old building which was constructed for the sole purpose of fermenting wine in cement tanks (kuips). Their certified single vineyards are found in the heart of the Robertson Wine Valley alongside the mighty Breede River.

And it is this wondrous sight that you first see when you walk up to the deck and restaurant. The views quite literally took my breath away. It would be so easy to sit up there for hours and take in the gorgeous views while sipping on a cool glass of Rosé. We had some to spare before our Taste-the-Difference vertical wine tasting  in the Kuip – another underground tasting experience.

Frankly my dear, this was a damn fine Blanc De Noir!

We sipped on their sublime Frankly My Dear 2017 Pinot Noir Blanc De Noir while chatting to the owners, Rowan and his wife Caryl. They are such a down to earth couple and are truly passionate in developing people. They have helped more then 200 individuals  obtain tuition, such as learner winemakers, chef and management courses.

Now back to our tasting experience. We made our way downstairs into the rustic candlelit ‘kuip’ where we enjoyed a unique tasting of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Shiraz paired with various fruit preserves and Lindt chocolates. The difference? You compare ordinary wine glasses (jokers) to grape specific Riedel crystal glasses while listening to different music genres which also pair with the wine you are tasting at the time.

Wine & chocolate pairing by candelight in the underground ‘kuip’.

If it doesn’t make sense to you while reading this, don’t worry. You’ll know exactly what I mean when you visit esona and experience this unique tasting for yourself. Upon departure, we were each gifted with an esona Boutiqe Wine certificate saying that we had attended the Taste-the-Difference wine experience and a personalized bottle of the Frankly My Dear Blanc De Noir. I was truly touched by this lovely gesture. I still have the bottle but the wine is long gone 😉

Excelsior Wine Estate was our next stop for a spot of lunch and blending and bottling our own wine. I first tried my hand at blending wine last year so I was very excited to have the chance to do it once more. Graze Deli overlooks a lovely dam with beautiful mountain and vineyard views.

They offer freshly baked ‘roosterbrood’ sandwiches with a choice of tasty gourmet fillings. The menu offers a wide variety of mostly local produce and changes each month. We shared a bottle of the Excelsior Caitlyn Rosé (it was a rosé kinda day) while tucking into our succulent pork ribs and sweet potato crisps. This is country fare at its best!

We wandered down to the tasting room where you can taste their full range of award-winning wines. The spacious deck overlooks the dam and is the perfect place for wine tasting.

We began to blend our wine, bottle it and then create our own special label. The owner of Excelsior, Peter De Wet, popped in to say hi and chat about the estate. It was founded in 1859 by the De Wet family and continues to create fine wines that are still hand-picked to this day, ensuring greater quality control.

My own wine blend ~ 5* Living It Up CT Blend *

Not only do they boast a charming Cape Dutch guesthouse, but they also breed horses. This estate really does have it all so pop in for a bite at Graze Deli, taste their wonderful wines or book a stay at the luxurious Manor Guesthouse.

Windfall Wines was to be our final tasting for the day with an overnight stay at their lovely fully equipped self-catering guest cottages. The drive took us along another dirt road through the vast and seemingly desolate Agterkliphoogte Valley.

Windfall Wine is a small boutique wine farm that seems like a very well-kept secret. Annette was there to meet us and guide us through the wine and Potstill Brandy tasting. The landscaped garden is very pretty while the beautifully restored old farmhouse is welcoming and the tasting room has a relaxed and comfortable feel to it.

The large dining table contained the largest cheese and charcuterie platter I think I’ve ever seen! It was incredibly scrumptious and we tucked in hungrily even though we’d pretty much spent the day eating and drinking our way through the valley. It’s got to be that fresh country air!

I enjoyed all of the wines we tasted, but I am definitely not a brandy drinker. I had a sip of The Hunter which has a fiery kick to it. Having said that, brandy connoisseurs will most likely enjoy this premium brand available in very limited quantities. After much laughter from the funny stories told to us by Annette, we were given some more generous platters for dinner to take back to the cottages.

If you truly want to get away from it all and experience total peace and tranquility in the heart of the winelands, then Windfall Guest Cottages is where you want to stay. This lovely place offers an escape from city life and will restore your soul. We were fortunate to each have our own cottage.

They all have an outdoor patio with a covered braai (barbeque) that overlooks the distant mountains. Kids will have a ball at the play area with a jungle gym and the gated swimming pool is perfect to cool off on hot summer days.

We spent the evening chatting, laughing, eating, sipping wine and just relaxing on the patio while taking in the splendour of a glorious African sunset. The stars are simply spectacular so bring your telescopes for some extraordinary stargazing.   I went to sleep with a happy heart and slept really well in the super comfy bed.

The following day was another stunner so I took more photos on my stroll around the property. The swimming pool looked so inviting with the hot sun blazing down. I would quite happily return here for a longer stay. The five cottages make for a perfect group getaway.

The time to say goodbye arrived and while these are never easy, I do know that I wouldn’t hesitate to travel with Mira, Anel and Jan again. A big thank you Mira for arranging a truly memorable and fun media trip. I had such a wonderful time. And thank you to all the warm and friendly people we met along the way. Not only are there unique wine experiences and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered, along with scenic beauty, amazing wines, delicious fare and exciting outdoor activities, it’s the true country hospitality that shines through and has no doubt resulted in many repeat visitors.

I know I can’t wait to return.

Have you been to the gorgeous Robertson Valley and enjoyed these experiences yourself? I’d love to hear from you so please feel free to comment below 🙂

Please note ~ I was hosted throughout by Hot Oven Marketing. All views and images are my own unless otherwise indicated.

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