Can you imagine any better way to holiday than meandering from wine estate to wine estate, tasting some of the finest wines produced in South Africa?
Cape Town and the surrounding areas offer some of the most spectacular elements that any prime holiday destination could offer, including award winning wines, delicious gourmet foods, stunning scenic views with beautiful vineyards and wine estates boasting traditional Cape Dutch architecture. It’s a great opportunity to gain unique insight into South Africa’s flourishing food and wine industry.
To whet your appetite, we’ve highlighted just a sampling of some of the spectacular wining and dining experiences the Cape has to offer.

CONSTANTIA UITSIG

Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate offers not only their award-winning wines, but also fabulous dining options. This beautiful estate is set in the stunning and magical surrounds of the Constantia Valley with breath-taking views of the majestic Table Mountain. Take in the views with some gourmet cuisine at the newly introduced Open Door Restaurant.

And of course, what would a visit to the Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate be without a wine tasting experience? Open five days a week for wine tasting by appointment only, The Wine Shop offers five wines per person at just R50. This season’s showcase includes MCC 2012, Red Horizon 2012, Constantia White 2013, Semillon 2014, Unwooded Chardonnay 2014.

A new addition to the estate is the exciting Bike Park, providing a unique and fun experience for the whole family. Introduced in January 2015, riders of all ages and skill levels can explore the 2.8km bike track at just R50 per person for the day. Open 7 days a week from 8am – 6:30pm, it provides the perfect destination for a full day’s activities.

BABYLONSTOREN

Do you love experiencing a meal that is full of natural goodness and delicious, local produce? One of the many attractions of visiting Babylonstoren is having the opportunity to enjoy a tastebud treat at the Babel restaurant. Set amidst the beautiful surrounding of the Simonsberg, Du Toitskloof and Franschhoek mountains (just 60km outside of Cape Town), the Babylonstoren is a true Cape Dutch treasure. In fact, it is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. It’s a vacation destination all of its own with beautifully interior designed accommodation, their very own Babel restaurant and a sprawling eight-acre garden that supplies their hearty restaurant.

Their menu is one of simplicity yet also seasonal variation with a combination of vegetables and fruit gathered from their very own garden, served together in creative and healthy dishes. Open for lunch from Wednesdays to Sundays and Monday to Sunday for breakfast and dinner, the food reflects the colours and produce of their natural surroundings.

Babylonstoren also conduct cellar tours and daily wine-tasting for a truly unique South African experience. And if you’re in the mood for some pampering, why not treat yourself to some me-time with one of the rejuvenating treatments available at their Garden Spa. Simply put, it’s the perfect setting for an all-round pampering where you can feed your soul and enjoy the finer things in life.

MAISON

Good food, good wine – sounds like a recipe for good living! This is the philosophy at the Maison Wine Estate, founded by and also the home of South African designer and furniture retailer Chris Weylandt and Kim Smith of Weylandts Furniture. Chris believes in celebrating the senses and surrounding oneself with the finer things in life that make for good living.

‘Maison’ means ‘house’ in French and one immediately gets a feeling of home away from home at the Maison Wine Estate, with the gorgeous Weylandts Furniture and the beauty of the natural surroundings of the Franschoek Valley; a true feast for the eyes and food for the soul. It is in this setting that Maison produce their world-class and award-winning wines.

However, not only do they produce their signature wines here, but they also have the fabulous dining experience that is The Kitchen. Their dishes are simple yet sophisticated with an emphasis on truly tasting and savouring each bite – taking in the flavours, smells and colours of the meals.

Served in smaller portions, Chris encourages guests to order several courses to fully enjoy the Maison culinary offerings from acclaimed Chef Arno van Rensburg who creates food that is unpretentious using only the freshest of local ingredients and of course complemented by the delicious Maison wines.

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