FUN-travel: South Africa – Franschhoek & Wine Region

September 8, 2010 by  

The ABC’s of Africa

Nelson Mandela Statue

A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
BB = Big Bummer
RBB = Really Big Bummer

Day 5 – Tuesday, September 7 – Hermanus to Franschhoek – low 50’s – very windy & cold – warmed up to 70 inland

  • A – bag finally arrives after midnight
  • RBB – cut open, rifled through, items missing (highly suggested you shrink wrap your bag)
  • A – pick up 10 am for 90 minute drive to Rusthof Country House in heart of the historic French Huguenot valley of Franschhoek (Napa Valley of SA)
  • A – delightful town – take walk, have lunch @ Rueben’s & glass of Chardonnay/Pinot blend (quite good & never heard of before)
  • TA & VG – dinner at Le Quartier Francais (like the French Laundry in Napa)

FF (FUN Facts) – TA = Totally Awesome & VG = Very Good

Day 6 – Wednesday, September 8 – Franschhoek – sunny, warm 70’s

  • A – wine tasting tour starts 9:45 – landscape of Cape Dutch wine estates sprinkled throughout valleys between massive mountains
  • A – 1st stop Lynx – very boutique vineyard – buy VG blend bottle Shiraz/Mourvedre/Viognier
  • A – 2nd stop Kanonkop – see biggest bottle of wine ever – 18 liters = 24 bottles
  • A – stop at prison where Nelson Mandela was released on 2-11-1990
  • A – drive to Stellenbosch – South Africa’s second oldest town – est. 1685
  • A – 3rd stop Rust En Vrede – impressive spread of stainless steel vats & cellared bottles
  • TA – 4th stop Bilton Winery – pairs custom made Belgium style chocolates w/their wines YUM! – buy Matt Black blend of Cab/Shiraz/Petit Verdot/Merlot/Pinotage/Mourvedre

    Rust En Vrede Winery

  • A – 5th stop Glenwood – very boutique – only 4 barrels made of their top wine
  • A – 6th stop Boekenhoutskloof (longest winery name in the world?) buy 4 bottles of VG wine, 1 of which we had last night

    Bilton Wine & Chocolate Pairing

FF – Cape Dutch Style – thick white washed walls, small-paned shuttered windows designed to keep out summer heat – thatched roofs with elegant gables keep houses cool in summer and warm in winters

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