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- From the wines of the Cape to breathtaking landscapes, unforgettable people, and our unique rainbow culture.
- South Africa is home to the most diverse wine route in the world. Set in spectacular scenic settings and excellent climatic conditions, South Africa is a serious contender in the world of international wine.
- Nothing compares to sampling first hand the results of a deep- seated commitment to excellence in cookery, art, and culture. Discover the legacies still in evidence in the picturesque towns of the Cape and beyond.
- We offer you a chance to bear testimony to the grandeur and eloquence of a land of stunning beauty, diverse cultures and excellent wine & food.
On arrival you will be transferred to your Guest House or Hotel. Time to replenish your energy levels before we enjoy sundowners on Signal Hill at 6pm, followed by dinner at the Africa Cafe: Probably the best restaurant in Cape Town for African cuisine, with a fantastic selection from around the continent.
We start the day by taking you to Constantia: The birthplace of the wine farming industry in South Africa. The Manor House, with its elegant gables, today houses a cultural history museum which portrays the early years of Groot Constantia.
The Cloete Cellar, dating back to 1791, the original wine cellar, houses a display of drinking vessels and wine making equipment. Its beautiful pediment gable, by sculptor Anton Anreith, recently restored, is not to be missed.
Wine may be tasted and bought at the tasting cellar at the entrance of the Estate which also houses a souvenir and gift shop.
Few restaurants in the Cape can match the Jonkershuis for the sheer majesty of it's position. Situated in the oldest building on the oldest producing Wine Estate in the country, the Jonkershuis has a view of the entire Constantia Valley down to False Bay and the mountains beyond. Nestled in hundreds of hectares of verdant vineyards, on the slopes of the magnificent Constantiaberg mountain, the Jonkershuis building & the adjacent Manor House Museum are both excellent examples of early Cape Dutch Architecture.
Not to be outdone by the natural glory of their address, the Jonkershuis has built up an excellent reputation with local and international guests alike. For nearly two decades Chef/Patron, Helen Watrobski, has tended the Cape Regional roots from which this renowned restaurant has grown.
Lunch is followed with a visit to Steenberg Estate: The oldest farm in the Cape Peninsula. The land was originally granted to a young widow, Catharina Ras, in 1682, by Simon van der Stel, and wines were first produced in 1695.
Since 1990, some 68 ha have been planted, comprising of a number of cultivars including its flagship cultivar Sauvignon Blanc as well as Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and Nebbiolo.
The state-of-the-art cellar, completed in 1996, has the capacity to produce around 70,000 cases, The cellar also boasts a viniteque, where bottled wines can be kept under ideal conditions until ready to be enjoyed.
Steenberg wines have been awarded many international and local accolades for their outstanding quality. Amongst the latest is the gold award for the 1999 Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc (Reserve) at the 1999 Michaelangelo International Wine Awards ceremony, and the 1998 Steenberg Merlot was awarded as the best Merlot entered a the 2000 International Wine & Spirit competition in London.
The Steenberg farmstead including the manor house and the other buildings have been declared a national monument. The main gable, a 'holbol' outlined by heavy mouldings in a small keystone, is the only surviving example of it's type in the Cape Peninsula.
Visit Vergelegen in Somerset West, a magnificent show case wine estate. Walk through the unique octagonal garden where the 300 year old camphor trees have been declared national monuments. Visit the manor house, the library and the herb garden. A guided tour of the state of the art gravity-flow designed wine cellar high on the hillside with magnificent panoramic views of the False Bay. To the sunny north of the homestead, sheltered by Liquid Amber trees and overlooking the croquet lawn, is the Lady Phillips Restaurant, where refreshments will be served. This is followed by a tasting of the Vergelegen range of premium wines.
The afternoon and dinner will be at leisure at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with over 30 restaurants to choose from. You will have the option to visit Robben Island at an additional cost of R150 per person.
High tea can be enjoyed at the Table Bay Hotel as an alternative to Robben Island.
A scenic drive through the mountains of Franschoek will take us to Boschendal Estate: At the gateway to the Franschhoek valley in the heartland of South Africa's premiere wine region lies the legendary farm of Boschendal.
Boschendal is one of the oldest wine producers in the New World with a French viticultural heritage dating back to 1685. The farm "Bossendaal" (wood and dale) was granted in 1685 to French émigré Jean le Long by the governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel. Le Long was one of the many Protestant Huguenots who fled from France to escape religious persecution after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
After the winetasting at Boschendal, you will be driven to Franschoek for lunch at La Petite Ferme. The Franschoek Valley with its vineyards and orchards is considered to be the gourmet capital of the Cape. La Petite Ferme Restaurant has progressed from its modest beginnings serving teas and light lunches and selling fresh fruit and preserves to the successful restaurant and winery of today to which the cognoscenti return frequently.
Relax in the afternoon with the winemaker at the Haute Cabriere. This farm is home to the Pierre Jourdan range of "Cap Classique" wines which are South Africa's answer to champagne. The range of Pierre Jourdan wines produced on the estate honour the memory of French Huguenot Pierre Jourdan, who was granted the land on December 22, 1694. He named his property Cabriere, after the village he had fled from near Avignon, and planted the first vines. Pierre Jourdan's pioneering spirit lives on in proprietor Achim von Arnim. An enthusiast whose lust for life is expressed in winegrowing. Achim says simply: "It was as if Cabriere had been waiting for me."
You will begin the day with an early morning cable car trip to the top of the most famous landmark of Cape Town: Table Mountain.
An awe inspiring journey awaits you to the so called meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian oceans at Cape Point. From here we will embark on a scenic drive over the Silvermine Mountains to Boulders, just beyond Simon's Town where we will introduce you to the humanlike Jackass Penguins. Lunch will be enjoyed at Bertha's Restaurant in Simon's Town: Fronting the old Town Pier and boasting picturesque views across the yacht harbour and over False Bay. Bertha's extensive menu features South African fare, fresh seafood and an impressive selection of wines. Emphasis is on flavour and presentation. Only the freshest and finest ingredients are used in the delectable dishes prepared by a team of skilled chefs.
After lunch we depart to the legendary Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope - key beacon for the early explorers and source of many myths and legends. Recognized globally for its extraordinarily rich, diverse and unique flora and fauna, this singular land formation - with its rugged cliffs, steep slopes and sandy flats - is a truly remarkable natural, scenic, historical, cultural and recreational asset locally, nationally and internationally.
We will head back to Cape Town visiting Hout Bay, which remains an important fishing harbour, relatively unscatched by modern development, crowded with boats from every description, with a character and ambience of its own. The most spectacular and most scenic drive in the Cape: Chapman's Peak Drive. The awe-inspiring scenic drive around Chapman's Peak is surpassed only by its superlative sunsets.
Our first wine tasting will be at De Bergkelder in Stellenbosch: One of the most advanced and the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, this 'cellar in the mountain' was built in 1968.
In the tranquil atmosphere of the underground bottle-maturation cellar, thousands of bottles of wine are laid down and guarded over serenely by old French oak maturation casks. These casks bear carvings of various famous Cape wine landmarks.
Then it is time to taste the range of Fleur de Cap wines that are produced in the leading vineyards of the Cape.
The tasting takes place in an imposing white tent set inside the Visitors Centre, in a statement of style that is inspired by a chic mix of modern and colonial Africa.
Our tour takes you next to Spier Wine Estate: If Stellenbosch is the heart of the Cape winelands, Spier is its soul. Situated in South Africas prime wine-growing region, Spier is undoubtedly the most unique development in the wine world.
All wines can be tasted at the Spier Wine Centre. Showcasing more than 200 local estates, the Spier Wine Centre is a haven for wine-lovers. On the grounds of the main estate and housed in a gabled barn dating back to 1856, the cosy Cape Dutch architecture lures visitors into the treasures of this cellar.
There are delicate whites, rich reds, premium Cape rarities, collectors' labels, superior sherries, rare vintages, and, of course, Spier's very own range of wines, the Spier Range and the Spier Private Collection Range. Grown at the nearby Spier Vineyards, the award winning wines include a range of 7 products in the Spier range and 5 in the Private Collection Range.
Lunch will be enjoyed at the unique Moyo Restaurant: Indulge in their sumptuous buffet and be thrilled with indigenous live entertainment. The 765m2 covered dining space is scattered with traditional African blankets. The performers mingle through the tables giving you a very intimate experience.
After Spier, we will visit Neethlingshof in Stellenbosch: A unique, kilometer long pine avenue, highly visible as you approach Neethlingshof Estate, and reflected on each bottle of wine, brings you to the heart of one of the most beautiful properties in the Cape Winelands of South Africa.
For more than a century the Estate has been synonymous with the best wine-making traditions of the Cape. The Neethlingshof Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest has been awarded the trophy as the South African National Champion Noble Late Harvest for eight consecutive years - a record in the wine industry! At the prestigious 1999 Veritas competition, Neethlingshof had 17 wine entries and received 17 awards, including a Double Gold for the 1997 Lord Neethling Pinotage and a Gold medal for the 1993 Cabernet Franc.
After the winetasting, enjoy tea and cake at the Lord Neethlingshof Restaurant. Or enjoy one of the red wines from the new Lord Neethling range which was specially created to honour Marthinus Laurentius Neethling, the flamboyant character who lived at the estate in the 19th century.
Situated on the prestigious Neethlingshof Wine Estate, the manor house which was built in 1914 is now a national monument, and its unique character has been carefully preserved. The restaurant consists of several rooms surrounding a large central foyer, the focal point of which is a beautiful 17th century French carpet. The decor is rich and elegant with gilt framed mirrors, antique furniture and a pair of Chinese silk tapestries.
The southern coastline of the Western Cape is a delightful mix of cultures, attractions and unsurpassed natural splendour. Each of the communities, along these shores has its own charm, while the waters offshore are an important whale breeding ground.
During the months of July through November our coastline comes alive with the annual visit of the Southern Right Whales. Join us on a full day out along our impressive coastline spotting and watching these magnificent creatures. This spectacular route includes excellent wine estates where we will be enjoy some wine tasting in the Hemel en Aarde Valley. Enjoy a great lunch overlooking the bay filled with whales at play.
On our last day we will attend to your shopping needs: Buy the best of Africa by visiting our selection of exclusive dealers in Art, Jewelers and unique African items.
We will ensure your safe transport to Cape Town International Airport.
Rate: R 4,800.00 per person for all 8 days
Excluding all accommodation, meals & beverages purchased
Book now ...
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