It was a glorious early autumn day when hubby and I set out for a scenic drive from Cape Town to fabulous Franschhoek. The beautiful wine valley of Franschhoek has always had a special place in my heart and I’ll find any excuse to visit (not that one needs an excuse!). Exploring the many wonderful things there are to see and do here is always so much fun. I’ve been trying for 13 years now and have yet to experience it all!
I was particularly excited about our mini road trip to Franschhoek to revisit a hidden gem that we had last been to BC (Before Children). About ten years later, we were back at gorgeous GlenWood Vineyards for the afternoon to experience their unique Fine Wine and Food Experience.
It may be slightly off the beaten track along Robertsvlei Road (mostly a 4km gravel road), but it is well worth it. And it was just as beautiful as I remembered. Hubby finds it a bit weird (personally I call it talent) that I can remember almost every detail of every wine farm or estate we’ve ever been to, no matter how long ago it was. Back then, GlenWood only offered wine tastings and purchases. You couldn’t so much as find a Wheatsworth cracker to munch on! How things have changed.
Surrounded by magnificent mountains that I could easily stare at all day long, GlenWood is a family owned boutique winery that is home to an impressive range of superb award-winning wines. I think my heart skipped a beat or two when we approached the entrance of the winery and I caught sight of the natural beauty that lay before us – clear blue skies with lush vineyards and majestic mountains as far as the eye can see. We were in for a feast of all senses!
Warmly greeted by Michelle, our server, we were seated at a table beneath the oak tree with breathtaking views. The Fine Wine and Food Experience is usually served in The Tasting Room, but as it was a lovely day, we sat outdoors. A welcome drink is included in the Experience and we started off with a sublime Chardonnay 2016. White wine is not my first choice when it comes to drinking from the vine, but this particular wooded Chardonnay ticked all the right boxes. Smooth and rich with a burst of bold citrus and creamy vanilla – it was a ChardoYay moment for me! 😉
Taking in the scenic vistas, Michelle unobtrusively set our table with six tasting glasses of their best wines along with six specially created matching dishes that are presented on their renowned Tasting Palette. The presentation is stunning with six little bowls of happiness just waiting for you to tuck into. The sublime menu, created by Chef Hannah, caters for all tastes and contains mostly locally produced products, which include cheeses, meats, fish, seasonal vegetables, herbs and olive oil. I love that they support local producers as much as possible.
The delectable canapés paired beautifully with each wine and we enjoyed one culinary sensation after another. Little flavour bombs that just exploded on our palates. My personal favourites included the Smoked Trout Terrine, a light smoky trout that paired well with the Sauvignon Semillon 2016, as well as the Ceviche, a fresh and delicate marinated fish paired with the 4.5 star Chardonnay Unoaked 2017.
Hubby’s preferred canapés were different to mine. He really enjoyed the Chicken Caesar Salad with a subtle salty spiciness that highlighted the sweetness of the red fruits in the Merlot 2017. Another fave of his was the Rump Steak, marinated in a teriyaki glaze that enhances the earthy, smoked bacon flavours of the Shiraz Vigneron’s Selection 2016.
My fave wine of the day – the Glenwood Syrah Grand Duc 2015 was incredible!
It was lovely to enjoy our canapés and wines in a relaxed manner. This gave us time to taste. appreciate and absorb the flavours of each dish. Once the tasting has been completed, you simply choose which main course you’re going to have along with an additional glass of wine. And you get all of this for just R395 per person!
It came as no surprise that hubby’s main course would be the Rump Steak. I took a little longer to decide as I could easily have devoured the tantalizing Tasting Palette all over again! I decided to go with the Chicken Legs, lightly crumbed with subtle sweet and sour flavours that are complemented by the creamy citrus fragrance and aromas of the majestic Semillon Sauvignon Grand Duc 2015.
To say that we enjoyed our main courses would be an understatement. The generous dishes were well-prepared and perfectly cooked with oodles of flavour and freshness.
But we weren’t done yet! For the grand finale, we sipped on the Noblesse Grand Duc NV, GlenWood’s maiden vintage of Grand Duc Noble Late Harvest. I tried some even though I don’t usually drink sweet dessert wines and it went down rather well.
Add in glorious vineyard and mountain views, divine wines, attentive service and a light breeze caressing sun-dappled skin, and you have the perfect day out at GlenWood Vineyards.
The beautiful outdoor wine tasting area.
Time to say farewell … till next time GlenWood Vineyards.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Tasting Room is open for lunch every day (except Wednesdays) and bookings are essential to avoid disappointment. The venue will only accommodate a maximum of 20 guests at a seating to make it a truly memorable experience. They also offer a vegetarian alternative, but pre-booking is essential for this menu.
And did I mention that it’s only R395 per person? The Fine Wine and Food Experience includes a welcome drink, the canapé and wine Tasting Palette, a main course and an additional glass of wine to enjoy with your meal. I’d say YES PLEASE to that! Make your booking now so you too can enjoy a slice of the great life with fine wining and dining at GlenWood Vineyards.
For more information, contact The Tasting Room on 021 876 2044 or email tastingroom@glenwoodvineyards.co.za
Please note – I was invited to review GlenWood Vineyards by On The Marque PR & Communications. All views and images are my own unless otherwise indicated. Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
Yours in Food and Wine xoxo
