'Constantia Glen - A timeless vision'

So last year I visited Constantia Glen on my #WineRoutingWithLloyd trip & it's in one of the most beautiful areas, that is rich in South African history & heritage that so few people actually know. That is until now. The journey over the last 140 years of this gem of a wine farm in the oldest wine region in SA, is something real special.

One of the best things about this wine estate, is that it is about a 20 min drive from Cape Town City Centre, so it's deceptively close, but far enough from the urban bustle. 

Image - Craig Fraser

So, there has been research & writing by author Clare O'Donoghue. And photography by Craig Fraser. Which has led to the this journey finally being bound in 'Constantia Glen - A timeless vision.'

It is a visual feast, as some would say, of the history & intimate story of the Waibel family, who have loved & nurtured the land for over 4 generations. Capturing the life & times of the the boutique wine estate through its early history & eventual transformation from a forest, to one of the Cape's premier family owned estates. 

"There's a lot to be said for continuity," says Alexander Waibel - 3rd generatioin custodian of Constantia Glen. "It's in the way we learn about our vineyards & the way we value the people who work in them."

Image - Craig Fraser

Image - Craig Fraser

Image - Craig Fraser

With the 1st vines only being planted in 2000, the first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc was harvested in 2005 on the 60 hectares of undulating landscape. Winemaker, Justin van Wyk believes that they are able to steer the grapes into wines that are a reflection of where they are grown.

Image - Craig Fraser

'Constantia Glen - A timeless vision' is available at selected book stores & retails at R500.

Check out my #WineRoutingWithLloyd visit to Constantia Glen here. 

(Just a heads up. I'll be popping in there again this year, so keep your eyes out on the #WineRoutingWithLloyd developments.)

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - La Motte

It's no secret that La Motte has been one of my favourite wine estates for quite some time. And every visit back to this Franschhoek based estate is a reminder of what a gem it really is. 

Early morning arrival just as the sun peaks out over the mountains & onto the vineyards & the magnificent Wine Bearer, is something to experience & see for yourself. The colours of the light on the grass & in between the vines will have you staring a little longer than you'd expect. 

What better way than with a glass of really good MCC? The La Motte Vintage MCC is something special, & already, just the bottle shows that. A gorgeous fresh wine with a delicate mousse with aromas of nuts & ripe fleshy pears. 

It's here in the beautiful tasting room where you will get to sample the wide variety of award winning wines in style. What I really loved about this visit was the very well-informed wine ambassador that was on hand throughout the entire tasting to guide us & tell us more about the estate & the original works of art by SA artist Jacob Hendrik Pierneef that adorn the walls of the tasting room. 

The current vintage tasting is definitely the one to opt in here for. You'll be taken on a bit of a journey of the wines on offer at La Motte, from their Sauvignon Blanc to their Syrah. 

An additional add on, which I highly recommend, is tasting of the Hanneli R. Named after Hanneli Rupert, this is a complex Syrah based blend that has spent 40 months of oak barrel maturation. (That alone already tells you that this is something really unique & exactly what #WineRoutingWithLloyd has been looking for.)

There are cellar tours available per reservation, where you will be guided through the cellars.

Also on the property is the La Motte Museum. Where you will find the history of the estate, family & some renowned artists from around the world. If you are lucky enough, you may find Sculptor - Toby Megaw at work on a new addition to the exhibition. Sitting there watching him work & chatting to him is mesmerizing to say the least. 

If art is your thing, then there is a Sculpture Walk where you are taken around the gardens & shown a selection of sculptures & explained how they fit into the La Motte history. 

Again, just look at the sheer natural beauty as the sun rises & warms you up. If you can't decide on what estate to visit in Franschhoek, let me make up your decision & go with La Motte. You won't regret it.

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#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Anthonij Rupert Wyne

What turned out to be one of my favourite experiences on this trip happened to be the visit to Anthonij Rupert Wyne. Everything was so well planned out & the most incredible service from every person that was part of the day here.

We arrived to a glass of bubbly & got to walk around the Anthonij Rupert tasting room which served as the Manor House on the estate & is completely furnished in mid 19th century Cape Dutch style.

Thereafter we were ushered out to find this vintage Rolls Royce parked outside, only to hear that this would be our ride for the day. 

Now I may not be the biggest car person on this planet, but when it comes to old cars & especially cars of this caliber, I get somewhat excited. So off we drove up around the farm on the private roads, that are closed off to the public, all the way to the Franschhoek Motor Museum. 

Here we were taken on a private guided tour of each motor vehicle, motorcycle & bicycle that was on display at that moment in time. What an experience. Our guide for the day was so knowledgeable about every item on the show floor; from who, when & where it was manufactured, to how it found it's way onto the showroom floor today. I fell in love with some of those cars, & looking at some of them, I realised that I was born in the wrong era. I so would have loved to drive some of those older beauties back in the 40's or 50's.

With over 100 years of motoring history & unique collection at this beautiful setting,  I rate it is a must see for every person, whether you're a car fanatic or not. You'll be able to appreciate the beauty & history behind some of those incredible collection items. 

What also makes it quite cool is that you can visit 4 times in 1 year & see different cars out on display every time, as they are changed up every few months just to add some new variety to the mix. 

Located at the museum is also a restaurant & wine sales for just in case you need to something to eat or a refreshment.

But then, off we went again in the vintage Rolls Royce back across the estate, taking the scenic route & enjoying the drive. What I can say about this estate is that nothing was out of place. You can see that a lot of effort has gone into the details here & that everything is maintained to the most perfect conditions. Making it such a pleasure to sit back & relax whilst taking everything in on this visit. 

Finally we arrived at the Terra Del Capo tasting room, & a lovely welcome glass of fresh, crisp MCC. This tasting room was built as to showcase the Italian inspired Terra Del Capo range. 

Kicking things off here with a cheese & wine pairing. But there is a twist. Nothing is specifically pre-paired for you. You are left to sample an array of cheeses & sip on 4 of their wines & find pairings that fit your palate & discover what works for you. 

Terra Del Capo - Pinot Grigio : a light, crispy yet aromatic fresh white that gives you hints of stone fruits & some lemon on the nose. On the palate you should have a good balance & structure with a refreshing aftertaste. A blend of grapes form 3 different regions within the Western Cape, each then contributing to a different & unique attributes of the wine. 

Terra Del Capo - Sangiovese : a complex wine with ripe cherries on both the nose & the palate. With highlights of a bit of spice. You can definitely get that hint of oak that's just added some depth to this glass. You may even get a slight mouthful of light cocoa in that soft aftertaste. 

Anthonij Rupert - Optima : what I love about this bottle is that what you get on the nose, you'll get on the palate. So expect some ripe red & black fruits mixed with some spice. A complex full bodied wine that could even describe as being somewhat chunky, but beautifully structured flavours of black cherries, blueberries & plums. 

L'Ormarins - Cape LBV : a little something sweet & spicy to end off with. Nuts & Ripe Plums on the notes, that will have you thinking of that Christmas pudding. On the palate those nuts develop into more distinct roasted hazelnuts & pecan nuts. A smooth & balanced glass where you can expect the flavours to remain in the mouth for a wine as that aftertaste develops. 

The fine cheese selection has a bit of local & imported artisanal cheese, that too, are made in a true Italian-style. From a mild & grainy to a strong & creamy, they have included smoked Mozzarella, aged Fontina & Gorgonzola. 

Finally catch the tram back up to the manor house to end off the magnificent day at this beautiful estate. 

Visit Anthonij Rupert Wyne here.

You should also note, that any visit to Anthonij Rupert Wyne is by appointment only & you won't be able to get through the security gates if you have not made that appointment. 

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#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Steenberg (Part 3 - Bistro Sixteen82)

After checking in and relaxing for a bit next to the pool, we headed on back up the tasting room at Steenberg. This is where Bistro Sixteen82 can be found, & I was expecting a great dinner. But what I got was not just a great dinner, it was an incredible educational, dining experience that is worth talking about. 

The modern contemporary design aesthetic from the tasting room & hotel follow through into this welcoming space, giving the restaurant a relaxed, yet vibrant & alive feeling. 

So Bistro Sixteen82 was opened back in 2009 & one would describe it as a proper bistro & tapas styled restaurant, that offers breakfast, lunch & dinner.

I honestly didn't really know much about the restaurant at all in the aspects of what they serve etc. So it was really a unfolding discovery as we went along. So, in the evenings, they only have a Tapas menu to eat from & their lunch menu is quite a bit more extensive in the sense that they have a selection of starters, mains & desserts to choose from. (Also, they have a full separate vegetarian & separate a vegan menu for those who are a bit more specific about what they eat.)

So we just ordered a few of the tapas from the specials board, & well, me being me, I popped another bottle of the Steenberg 1682 Chardonnay MCC just because it was another great day of #WineRoutingWithLloyd.

When my Dad & I eat out, you know there will always be Oysters. It's a given, & this evening was not going to be any different, so we got a plate of fresh West Coast Oysters, & washed them down with a glass of bubbles. 

Gambas, "Persillade" - which is essentially a prawn dish served with a sauce/seasoning made from chopped parsley, garlic, herbs & olive oil. 

Baby Patagonian Calamari - pan-fried baby squid. Always something to get right, either you'll end up with a plate of tubes that are like rubber. But these were cooked perfectly, with a great texture & slight bit of crispiness. 

Pickled Fish "Tacos" - Probably my favourite dish of the eve. Thinly blocked slices that have been mixed with a variety of fresh herbs & are served in a hard 'taco' shell. Again, a beautiful balance of flavours that play around & the changing textures of fish & crisp taco. 

And a chocolate dessert that I'm still salivating about. Great balance of both flavour & texture. And beautifully presented. A visit here is most definitely worth it, & you'll immediately get the idea that Chef Kerry Kiplin had quite a bit of Asian influence when putting her meals together. 

So earlier I mentioned that this was an educational dining experience. A big issue that has ruffled our seafood menu's is sourcing seafood that is ecologically responsible. So, Bistro Sixteen82 & ABALOBI, are pioneering SA's 1st restaurant-supported fishery that supplies sustainable & traceable premium quality seafood caught by small-scale local fishers. Providing smaller fishing communities with better prices for their fish & in essence a better livelihood for their entire family. "The direct route from boat to plate, ensures sustainability both for fisherfolk & for the resource."

Image: www.southervines.co.za

When a piece of fish is brought to your table, alongside your plate is a wooden fish with a QR-code, that when scanned using the mobile app, will give you the entire story about the fish from hook to cook. You can trace exactly where this fish is from, where it was caught, how it was caught & by whom it was caught. So you can eat in peace knowing the full story about the fish on your plate. 

Check out Bistro Sixteen82 here. 

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Steenberg (Part 2)

Checking in to the Steenberg Hotel itself was an experience that just exudes luxury & the finer detailings in life that I so love. Stopping at the hotel doors, with a welcome party waiting for your arrival, your luggage gets whisked away & before you know it, you are ushered inside whilst your car is being parked for you. The most friendly welcome & glass of bubbly on arrival after being escourted to a private lounge where the host comes & sits with you taking you through the features of the hotel & room amenities. 

A very interesting fact on how this spot at Steenberg became a fitting place for the hotel. Back in 1741, when travelers came to the country by ship, the estate was situated 1 day's journey from Table Bay & 1 day's journey from Simons Bay, making it the perfect stopover & most travelers would have to overnight. And so, an early 'hotel' was established to accommodate & supply hospitality to these travelers.

Fast forward some 270 years later, add some restoration & you find yourself in the lap of luxury. The beautiful 24 luxury room, 5-star, boutique hotel is situated on the estate in the Constantiaberg amphitheatre of the Table Mountain Range. The top class accommodation varies from the striking heritage rooms, contemporary premier rooms, family rooms & rooms in the original Manor house which date back to 1740. 

The rooms are absolutely exquisite in my opinion. We stayed in a room in the old Manor House, that is decorated in a modern contemporary style with all the trimmings that you can imagine, finished off with 2 chandeliers in the room. Naturally, you can find a coffee station, equipped for that early morning coffee before you head on out to breakfast. 

Time for breakfast & Catharina's Restaurant, which is situated in the original winery is where you can find a freshly spread buffet breakfast, or you can opt in to just order a hot breakfast from the menu. So either way, you are sorted for the day. (Oh, this restaurant is actually open to the public for breakfast, lunch & dinner. So even if you're not staying over, you can pop in to enjoy a 5-star dining experience of contemporary South African cuisine.)

When you're not up at the tasting room drinking wine, you can relax next to the pool & sip on a drink & catch up on some reading. Or if you really want to relax. There is a spa on site, that I have heard is incredible. I didn't get to visit though, but from some of my friends have been & I followed their adventure online & I had some serious FOMO. So on my next #WineRoutingWithLloyd trip, I will make point of popping in here for a spa day. 

So please do check out Steenberg Hotel here. I can imagine that this is most definitely one of the places that you really need to add to your bucket list.