#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate (Part 2)

So, in my opinion, Grande Provence is very conveniently situated in Franschhoek. From there it is very easy to explore the city & see what is on offer. And they have one incredible hotel that makes it so much easier. The Owners Cottage should be right at the top of your list when looking to stay in Franschhoek for a day or 5.

So The Owners Cottage has 5 rooms, that are all spread on 1 floor, giving it that real homely feel with luxury trimmings & modern comforts. Exuding grandeur & a sort of contemporary luxury that will have you thinking that you are far away from any city. 

Rooms have pretty much everything you need & more. A built in kitchenette with a fully stocked bar fridge. Television & all common areas have WiFi to keep you connected to reality as you enjoy your break from it. 

On arrival & checking in to your room, you will find a complimentary bottle of wine there for your enjoyment, or just to take home, because you've had a lovely wine tasting with lunch before that. If you missed that article, check it out here. 

This private cottage has 4 rooms, a deluxe suite, lounge & a conservatory, that leads out onto a beautiful country-style garden & relaxing outside poolside area that would be the perfect place to relax on a hot summers day.

I loved staying here, because it really felt like home. The staff were incredible & so helpful which again just adds to the entire experience & they make you feel so comfortable, you'll want to put your feet up here every day. 

Off to dinner at The Restaurant. Grande Provence becomes beautifully lit in the evenings with lights in the trees & I can just imagine a beautiful candlelit dinner out here on a summer night.

With high-backed white leather chair & recessed windows that frame the view from the inside. Everything feels 5-star & is set out beautifully & we are seated at the table close to the fireplace with flickering lights of a log fire. Joined by the candlelight & adding to the warmth & homely feel. 

Again Chef Guy just brings out the local influence on every plate. A fine dining experience that is not to be missed & will have you reminiscing back to the visit for a long time. 

Oh, so. If you are planning a visit to Franschhoek between now & end of September, you should look into taking advantage of the fabulous Winter Heartland Dinner, Bed & Breakfast offer that they have running. To book your stay, visit www.grandeprovence.co.za or e-mail to reservations@grandeprovence.co.za now to avoid any disappointments. 

#WineRoutingWithLloyd was driven by Ford South Africa in the new Ford Kuga.

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate (Part 1)

Nestled just about an hours drive outside Cape Town is Franschhoek. And in Franschhoek, you will find Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate. With a rich history of over 300 years & spreading out over 47 hectares of the Cape Winelands, it is bound to provide you with very unique experience of the finer things in life, which I have come to love & share.

On arrival, bubbles. It's a must. Always. And the MCC here is something that you could be sipping on for the entire day. 

We had a wonderful experience of extensive tasting & each wine was explained, but not too much, so as to lead you on to make your own tasting notes & connections. So you are not told what you should be tasting, but you can make your own connections. 

The one thing that I am always so impressed with is the knowledge that the staff have about the wine. I love sitting & listening to them & finding out why this estate & what their personal favourites are. But here are my favourites from my visit. 

A varietal, that is so rare in South Africa, that I will highly recommend it, is the Zinfandel. With handpicked grapes that have been fermented in French & American Oak for 12 months, you know you are going to have a winner. A range of ripe black fruits on the nose, a full bodied red wine with a surprisingly fresh palate with a nicely balanced aftertaste of slight spiciness & strawberries. 

So the Amphora has a cool story, & it started when the winemaker imported 2 clay amphorae from Italy. Then selecting a small block of the 34 year old Chenin Blanc, they very best yellow, sun exposed bunches were picked as to maximise the flavours & expression of the wine. De-stemmed by hand & then left to ferment naturally on the skins for 7 months. 

Leaving us with an extremely aromatic & fresh wine. First on the nose you get strong citrus notes which carry on through to the palate, then hints of slight perfume. What a beautifully complex wine that has layers of textures of fruits. 

This unique destination offers exceptional experiences, & not only award winning wine tastings. A wonderful take on modern African Cuisine by Chef Guy Bennett at The Restaurant. A stunning collection of contemporary South African art at The Gallery.

Chef Guy surely has made a name for himself & since taking over the reigns in the kitchen last year October, he has put together a menu that captures his passion for local produce. The à la carte menu, has been individually priced for lunch & is available as a set 3 or 4-course dinner menu. The artistry of Chef Guy comes out on every plate that you are served. You can clearly see that his dishes are influenced by his surroundings. 

Enjoy a sunny winter's day in the Franschhoek winelands, whilst having a hearty lunch being surrounded by the beauty that is Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate. Or be like me & book in to experience The Owners Cottage & The Restaurant for dinner! Check out Part 2 of the #WineRoutingWithLloyd visit here. 

and on the 8th Day of Christmas...

Out in Franschhoek, is the Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate. And it is on this estate that you will find the Angels Tears wine being produced. 

According to cellar legend, angels crept into the cellar & wept tears of joy when this wine touched their lips. I recently discovered the new Angels Tears Sauvignon Blanc.

An easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc out of the Western Cape, with Tropical Fruit aromas on the nose & a palate supported by slight hints of Green Pepper. Very well balanced & leaves you with a Crisp Finish. 

Best enjoyed with Fresh Seafood or Chicken dishes. (Or just on it's own, on the patio looking out over the sea!) 

Santa like a glass of vino now & then too! Thanks to Grande Provence, 3 of you will each walk away with 2 bottles of the Angels Tears Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy in the comfort of your own home & with your friends & family.

How to enter:

1. Like As Seen By Lloyd & Grande Provence on Facebook or Follow @Lloydi_Boy & @Grande_Provence on Twitter.

2. Repost the competition Post on Facebook or Retweet the competition Tweet on Twitter. Remember to include the #12DoCwithLloyd in your post/tweet.

3. Tag 3 friends that you will be sharing your bottles of Angel Tears - Sauvignon Blanc with.

NB. Remember, you have to include the #12DoCwithLloyd otherwise your entry is not valid & can not be counted.

Good Luck!