Winter may have its beastly claws out, but there’s always food and wine for comfort. Here are a few spoils for mid winter in the Cape.
Eat, drink and be cosy at Maison estate, Franschhoek
A visit to Franschhoek is always a good idea, even more so when it involves a long lazy lunch in front of a fire. A spot in The Kitchen restaurant on Maison estate (owned by Christ Weylandt of stylish home store Weylandts) is just the ticket. With their legendary Fondue Club lunches every Saturday and Sunday Roast Lamb lunches, Maison provides mouthwatering comfort food to brighten every weekend throughout July! Warm fires, mellow jazz, beautiful scenery and delicious wine… need I say more? Also take advantage of the Maison Winter wine special available in July and August where you can buy a case of Shriraz Reserve for R600, Chenin Reserve for R500, or both for R1000, while stocks last.
Fondue Saturday Lunches: 9, 16, 23, 30 July (R300 per person)
Roast Lamb Sunday Lunches: 10, 17, 24, 31 July (R300 per person sharing)
Make sure you book your table to guarantee your spot! To book, call 021 876 2116 or book online.
Franschhoek Bastille Festival, 16 & 17 July 2016
On 16 and 17 July the picturesque Franschhoek village will be rolling out the red, white and blue carpet and shouting ‘bienvenue’! Yup folks, it’s time for the annual Bastille Festival. The village, a hive of festival activities, will be kitted out in fab French finery (and so should you!).
Set against the backdrop of the historic Huguenot Monument, the Food & Wine Marquee is the place to start. Ample parking on the grounds allow for a comfortable walking distance to and from the village. Sample the superb Franschhoek wines on offer and tickle your taste buds with the selection of delicious gourmet fare available to purchase from some of Franschhoek’s well-known eateries.
Tickets to the Food & Wine Marquee cost R220 person and include entry, a complimentary tasting glass, a booklet of five wine tasting coupons as well as a R20 wine voucher to be redeemed at the festival. Additional coupons can be purchased on the day. Tickets are limited so pre-booking through Webtickets is advised.
For more information visit their website.
Winter cheese and wine pairing at Lanzerac estate, Stellenbosch
Winner of the KLINK Award for the Best Deli on a Wine Farm, visitors to the historic Lanzerac estate during the month of July can sample a selection of finest cheeses, carefully paired with wines from their Premium range.
Your platter consists of a selection of eight local cheeses, served with homemade preserves, chutney, biscuits and breads. The appetizing selection of cheeses include the Dalewood Languedoc, Dalewood Huguenot, Cumin Boerenkaas, Brie Superlatif, Healey’s Farmhouse Mature Cheddar, Karoo Blue, Karoo Swiss and Pépé Charlot Artisanal Goat’s Cheese.
Lanzerac’s Premium wine tastings consist of five generous pours of the recently released Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Chardonnay 2014 (Michelangelo Gold Medal winner), Merlot 2014, Pinotage 2013 (Michelangelo Trophy winner for Best Pinotage) and the Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (Veritas Gold Medal winner). The cost is R195 for two people and includes the cheese platter to share plus the premium wine tastings. Lanzerac truly does offer one of the most luxurious, welcoming tasting experiences in the Stellenbosch area and I highly recommend a visit to this fine estate.
This winter warmer will be available seven days a week between 9am and 4pm until 31 July 2016. To book for your Cheese & Wine experience contact the Lanzerac Tasting Room on 021 886 5641, e-mail winetasting@lanzerac.co.za or visit their website.
Flavours of winter, Muratie estate, Stellenbosch, 30 July
Head out to the Melck’s historic Muratie Estate in Stellenbosch for a mellow fireside celebration of Cape Port-style wines at the Flavours of Winter Festival on Saturday 30 July.
Port lovers are invited to cosy up in one of the Cape’s oldest wineries to savour the rich and luscious flavours of Cape Port-style wines. You’ll be able to bulk up too with delicious winter-warmer treats prepared by the Muratie Farm Kitchen. In addition, von Geusau will be tempting taste buds with their decadently delicious hand crafted chocolates. All the wines on show will be available for purchase at cellar door prices.
The festival runs from 10:30 am to 4pm. Tickets cost R100 per person and include a tasting glass. Space is limited, so I advise you book in advance. Simply call (021) 865 2330 or e-mail wine@muratie.co.za.
About this article: I only write about places and things I actually really like. Should I receive complimentary meals/tickets/diamonds, this will always be revealed. I’m not in the rubbishing business, so if something is not my cup of tea, I’ll simply not write about it (but I’ll keep the diamonds). Therefore this is not so much a review, as a personal recommendation of places and things I like.
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