As we approach year end, I frequently hear the words “Where has the year gone?” or “The time has flown by far too quickly!” And I share the same sentiments, although perhaps for slightly different reasons. I’ve enjoyed a whirlwind first year of blogging about travel, food and wine (some of my fave things in life!). I’ve met some amazing people online and many in person that have now become friends. I’ve also had the great pleasure of enjoying some incredible travel experiences within beautiful South Africa.
I’ve been dying to share one such incredible travel experience with you, but that wonderful thing called life seems to have delayed me somewhat. As they say, better late than never. So, sit down and relax with a cuppa whilst I tell you about it …
Image credit – Shawn Ogulu
I’m always up for a road trip. Just ask anyone who knows me. So when I was invited by Discover Western Cape to join them on an epic four day journey exploring the Cape West Coast, I had to say yes – it was a no-brainer! Even though it meant that I wouldn’t be around on the day of our house move. Don’t worry; I cleared it with hubby first and helped with LOADS of packing before the trip. And besides, how could I possibly miss out on such an amazing opportunity?
1. Swartland Winery
I have explored some of the wonders of the West Coast, or Weskus as it’s called in Afrikaans. This itinerary included some places that I hadn’t been to and experienced myself. We passed through the bustling business town of Malmesbury before arriving at Swartland Winery, a mere one hour drive from Cape Town and adjacent to the West Coast. The Swartland Wine & Olive Route is a wonderfully diverse region filled with rolling wheat covered hills, lush vineyards and olive groves.
It was an incredibly hot morning (think 40 degrees hot!), so a behind-the-scenes look inside the wine production centre was most welcome. Marené was a wonderful tour guide with a wealth of information and passion to match. I had some inkling that Swartland Winery produces quality wines on a large scale, but my mind was blown away by the sheer size of their production centre. Imagine 28 stainless steel wine tanks costing R1 000 000 each that they use to ferment, store and blend their wines. And that’s just what you see on the outside.
Inside, it’s a hive of activity where man and machine work together to bottle, label and pack thousands of bottles of wine each day. And not just Swartland wines. They assist other wineries with the bottling, packaging, labelling and distribution of their wines.
By now, we were more than ready for wine tasting inside the cool Wine Tasting Centre. They have a number of wine ranges with a variety of whites, reds, rosés as well as sparkling wines. I particularly enjoyed the Cuvée Dry Brut Sparkling Wine, along with the Bush Vine 2014 Syrah and 2015 Pinotage. My top favourite was definitely the Idealia 2013 Cape Blend.
2. Het Vlock Kasteel
Our next stop was an olive tasting at Het Vlock Kasteel, located at the foot of the Kasteelberg (Castle Mountain) in the fertile Riebeek Valley. As some of you may know, I am not a fan of olives as I find them extremely salty. But I was keen to try their olives as I’m always on the lookout for that elusive non-salty olive.
The tasting area is located in the shop which has an abundance of every type of olive product under the sun, including olive oils, wine, bottled fruit products and fresh fruit. One can easily spend a small fortune here. This is very much a family-orientated affair, as Ansie Vlok, the creative brains behind it all explained while conducting an interesting olive oil tasting. Prior to this, we enjoyed an olive tasting along with various olive products and I actually found an olive I quite liked – a smoked balsamic flavoured olive that wasn’t salty at all.
They firmly believe that you must taste each product before you buy it, so walk around and taste to your heart’s content. This way of doing business makes sense and works for them. The Castle is an ideal venue for weddings and functions. Make sure you add this spot to your travel itinerary when visiting the Riebeek Valley to stock up on delicious homemade goodies and perhaps stop for a chat with Ansie. She is only too happy to share a story or two with you.
Image credit – Shawn Ogulu
3. One Wine Bar & Bistro
I was very much looking forward to our overnight stay at Shiraz Estate Guest House in the quaint village of Riebeek Kasteel. But first … lunch! Despite the intense heat and having just stuffed ourselves with all kinds of olives, we were ready for a bite to eat. One Wine Bar & Bistro is a relaxed eatery with a quirky interior and welcoming atmosphere.
Once our drinks orders were placed, I quickly scanned the menu to see what they had to offer. Serving simple and delicious food from locally sourced produce is what they are all about – I’m a huge fan of supporting the local community. It was definitely a salad kinda day – eating hot food was just not an option. My Chicken and Avo salad was tasty and paired very well with a crisp, dry glass of rosé.
I have been to many quaint and charming villages throughout the Western Cape, but Riebeek Kasteel has a special magic quality about it. Surrounded by lush orchards, vineyards and olive groves with a pleasant Mediterranean climate, this village captivated me like no other. Home to many artists, winemakers and gourmet chefs, it is also known as the Shiraz Valley, producing award-winning Shiraz grapes and wines. So it was rather apt that our stay was to be at Shiraz Estate Guest House.
5. Shiraz Estate Guest House
I’d heard many great things about this lovely establishment on the outskirts of the village amongst the vineyards. This calm oasis will soon have you planning your next stay … trust me! We were welcomed with a smile and a bucket filled with deliciously ice-cold local craft beers and wine.
The Bat Piss Lager (I kid you not!) crafted by Garagista Beer Co was really refreshing and went down very well in the heat of the day.
Katherine and Thor from Oslo, Norway are wonderfully friendly hosts, with their quick wit and great passion for Riebeek Kasteel and it’s people. They moved to Riebeek Kasteel in 2016 to renovate, re-open and run the family’s guest house.
If I could’ve spent the entire afternoon with a cold drink beside the pool, I would’ve been very happy indeed. But this was not to be as we had some exploring to do in the village.
5. The Royal Hotel
After a quick refresh in our spacious and luxurious rooms, we made our way back to the village square. Stopping by the Riebeek Valley Tourism Information Office, we made a unanimous decision to head straight for the historic Royal Hotel, where they were expecting us for gin o’clock – yes please to that! I’ve never been a lover of gin, but since infused craft gins came on the scene, I’ve found myself trying a few varieties and quite liking them.
It was just far too hot to walk around the village exploring the quaint shops and art galleries, but do add this to your list of things to do when there is no fear of being scorched by the searing African sun.
Take a step back in time as you enter the doors of the oldest and most colonial hotel in the Western Cape. The 150 year old bar has an air of grandeur and old world charm and boy, do they know how to make a good gin cocktail!
Relaxing on the outdoor patio while idly watching the world go by and sipping on your gin cocktail is a definite must do!
The light breeze barely stirred the palm leaves and did little to cool us down, but fortunately the cocktails took care of that.
Before you get too comfy, take a stroll through to the garden and pool area at the rear of the hotel. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the dramatic Kasteelberg and vineyards.
Soon it was time for dinner and we made our way to the bar dining area. The de Stoep menu offers something for everyone with some tasty choices. I opted for the Tiger Prawn Candyfloss as a starter and Gnocchi with Wild Mushrooms for my main course. Their portions are extremely generous (arrive hungry!) and both dishes were utterly delicious.
Image credit – Shawn Ogulu
We returned to our guest house and while the rest of the group went to bed, I lay back on a lounger watching a million stars light up the night sky. The mosquito bites were well worth it! There are no TV’s at Shiraz Guest House and I think that’s just perfect. Take some time out to stargaze, read a book, take a swim and really connect with loved ones. Speaking of taking a swim, I promised myself that I would take a dip in the inviting pool and so there I was, watching the stars while floating on my back in the cool water – it was pure bliss and I went to sleep with a very happy heart.
Katherine informed us earlier that there would be a bucket in our shower so we wouldn’t waste water unnecessarily. This information is given to each guest prior to and upon arrival due to the current severe water crisis we are experiencing in the Western Cape.
After a peaceful night’s rest in the plush king-size bed, I awoke to the glorious sound of birdsong outside my window. The sun was shining brightly and I could tell it was going to be another gorgeous day.
Breakfast was a sensory explosion of flavours, colours and sounds. Sitting beneath the outdoor gazebo sipping on rich coffee while listening to the birds chirping their sweet sound, Katherine came over and happily told us what we could choose for breakfast. They offer a vegetarian selection with colourful fresh fruit and yoghurt and free-range eggs with homemade bread.
The showstopper is a traditional Norwegian waffle – thin, crisp, sweet and so delicious! And yes, waffles are considered a breakfast dish in some countries. A number of toppings can be added such as preserves and fresh fruit, but what really intrigued me was the Norwegian brown goat cheese. It might sound odd and reminded me of a big block of creamy fudge, but it tastes absolutely heavenly! I couldn’t get enough of the stuff. I seriously considered ordering another waffle just so that I could eat more of that amazing goat cheese!
Katherine showed us around the lovely property before our departure that morning. The décor has strong Norwegian influences but with African touches here and there. It’s classic and fairly minimalist but makes you feel right at home. Families are most welcome as they have rooms that accommodate families, along with a self-catering house. At the time we were there, they were nearing completion of two semi self-catering rooms with an outdoor braai (barbeque) that can comfortably accommodate two adults and one child.
6. Darling Sweet
The popular Swartland town of Darling was to be our next stop and one that I was eager to explore. First up on our itinerary was Darling Sweet, a toffee factory that was established by Frits van Ryneveld and Hentie van der Merwe when they met in September 2013. Handcrafted with love and care using traditional methods, they use no artificial flavourants, colourants or preservatives and locally source as much of the ingredients as possible.
The shop is a toffee lover’s dream! They boast eight different toffee flavours including Tannie Evita’s Classic, Red Wine & Chocolate and Bird’s Eye Chili.
They also have three toffee spread flavours which are sure to delight anyone with a sweet tooth. Do pop in for a deliciousl toffee adventure! But also explore the little town if times allows. You are sure to find some hidden gems that will delight you.
7. Darling Brew
Being one of South Africa’s first well established and award-winning microbreweries since 2010, Darling Brew probably needs no introduction. Brewing a wide range of flavourful craft beers, the slow brew process and use of high quality ingredients has garnered many loyal fans.
This also happens to be the place where I tasted my first craft beer, the Gypsy Mask, and I loved it! What I also love about Darling Brew is their commitment to the environment and sustainability. Each beer in the range has an inspiring story dedicated to the endangered creature it honours and supports through various conservation programmes that they donate to.
There is a laid-back vibe in the Tasting Room and bar that overlooks the state-of-the-art brewery. Enjoy an interactive experience while noshing on hearty, fresh fare sourced from local suppliers and taste their wide range of beers. If you’re a novice and trying craft beer for the first time, then the beginner’s beer tasting is the one for you.
We started off with a beer tasting of our choice (it was super-hot so I wasn’t going to say no!), followed by a fascinating tour of the brewery.
Lunch time was spent happily munching on a scrumptious pulled pork burger while sipping on an ice cold Gypsy Mask. PS. If you have young kids then fear not. There is an outdoor beer garden with a grassy play area and jungle gym where your little ones can safely play while you can keep an eye on them.
8. Darling Olives at Alexanderfontein
Buying some beers on my way out (can’t go to Darling Brew and come home empty handed for hubby!), we headed for Alexanderfontein, the home of Darling Olives.
Situated about 3km outside of Darling, the Basson family-run business offers luscious chocolate and cheese products, along with an abundance of olive products. They seem to produce every single olive product imaginable. We were still pretty full from lunch but somehow managed to fit in some more tastings.
The tasting room accommodates about ten to twelve people (they can accommodate larger groups but advance bookings are required) and this is where we were introduced to their incredible range. From Extra Virgin Olive Oil, olive chocolate, jams, pastes and rubs to infused olive oils, Black and Calamata olives and their own wine range consisting of a NJB Sauvignon Blanc 2017 and NJB Shiraz 2015.
They also have a large variety of natural olive body products such as bath salts, body butter, lip balms and olive soap. The humble olive clearly has many amazing uses. Their product prices are reasonable and make for lovely gifts.
It was another fantastic day of tasting our way around the beautiful and unique Swartland region. It was time to head to … You’ll have to wait for the next stage of our exciting and fun journey. Stay tuned for Part 2 🙂
