When I found out I was the lucky winner of 2 tickets for the Devon Valley Detour, I was ecstatic with joy – you would swear I had just won the National Lottery! I adore this beautiful part of the lovely Stellenbosch Wine Route and was itching to visit once again (although I don’t need an excuse to visit the winelands!). This was the perfect opportunity to explore the scenic meander through lush vineyards and farmlands. And guys, there’s something for you too if you’re into craft beer.
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The unique tasting experiences include world renowned wine estates in the Devon Valley. There are five tasting experiences in total including Middelvlei, Clos Malverne and SylvanVale. Taste the stars with a sublime Méthode Cap Classique tasting at the stunning House of J.C. le Roux and here’s one for the guys – enjoy some awesome craft beer tastings and a tour at Stellenbrau, Stellenbosch’s first craft brewery.
You can also feast on a two course lunch at either Middelvlei, The Restaurant at Clos Malverne (mountain and vineyard views to die for!), Le Venue at The House of J.C. le Roux or Flavours at the Devon Valley Hotel. Keep in mind that tastings are subject to availability and bookings are essential. The cost of the lunch is additional to the Devon Valley Detour tasting experiences.
Now onto the fun stuff – the divine tastings! Hubby and I set off on a blustery but sunny Spring Saturday morning. I love that we live so close to the winelands as we arrived less than hour after leaving home. Our first stop was the elegant House of J.C. le Roux for some bubbles! We started off with a self-guided tour of the cellars and then settled in for our tutored tasting. My favourite MCC was the Brut – crisp with a dry finish but not too dry.
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Before long, we were off to Stellenbrau for some craft beers and a tour of the microbrewery. I am first and foremost a wine lover, but have decided that I will try some beers too. I usually find regular beer far too bitter but the Jonkers Weiss was just perfect for me. It is low on the IBU scale at only 10 IBU (International Bitterness Units) and once we’d done the tour and 4 tastings, we sat outside in the sun with a his (500ml) and hers (300ml) Jonkers Weiss.
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Middelvlei was unfortunately fully booked so our next stop was the gorgeous Clos Malverne Estate. The views from the restaurant are something else – spectacular vineyard and mountain views as far as the eye can see.
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If you have never been to Clos Malverne for their unusual but divine Ice Cream and Wine pairing, then you have not lived! We were literally blown away by the amazing taste sensations exploding in our mouths. Our favourite by far was the Sweet Potato and Dill ice cream (I kid you not!) paired with Clos Malverne Limited Edition Spirit of Malverne, a beautiful red Cape Blend. It was so delicious that we both asked for another bowl each! And the recipe but that is top secret.
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As it was nearly time to get back home to our son who was spending the day with Granny, we moved on to our final tasting experience at the Devon Valley Hotel. The tasting included 4 SylvanVale wines each paired with a canapé menu item from Flavours Restaurant.
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While we were chilling on the couch, we met up with Grant Porter and his team from The Really Great Brands Company, RGBC. They represent Hendricks Gin in South Africa. We tried a very refreshing gin and cucumber cocktail and even though it didn’t appeal to our tastes, it makes for a cool summer cocktail that many people will no doubt enjoy.
Hubby and I had such a lovely time exploring the delightful Devon Valley together and the unique packaged tasting experiences are a great way to sample one of Stellenbosch’s best-kept secrets.
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I’m certainly not keeping the Devon Valley a secret – I think its best shared and enjoyed with your friends or significant other for a fun day out. This is a truly fab experience and one that is not to be missed – trust me; your taste buds will thank you for it! I’d love to hear about your Devon Valley Detour adventures so share them with me on my blog, Facebook and Twitter. Remember to include some pics!
