I was part of a lucky bunch of travel and lifestyle bloggers who were invited to spend two days sampling the finest fares of the breathtaking Stellenbosch Valley. Too often when plotting a day out in the winelands, I head for the regular tourist spots and better-known wine farms. I forget about old gems and don't take the time to scout out new places to try. So it suits me very well to join in on these trips, because then when it is my turn to plan a day out, I look like a total pro/wine snob among my family and friends. And now I get to share these secret spots with you too!
We started our day at
JC Le Roux - which is incredibly well known. But not for what it should be. You're probably thinking of sweet, sparkling wines from your youth and thats about it. But what you don't know is that they do one killer brunch, and that they have a range of MCC's that will knock your socks off. (For those who don't know this: MCC stands for Method Cap Classique and is what would be called Champagne if it were made in that region in France.)
I went for the stacked french toast with bacon ice cream. Yes. Bacon ice cream. I have become a vegetarian since the new year, but looking back on 2015, I'd be lying if I didn't mention this as one of the best brunch meals of my life. The rest of the group swooned over their Eggs Benedict as well, so thats another option to try when I head back. With spinach of course.
We then went into the most beautiful private tasting room, via a very luxe looking bar area. We were then guided through the gorgeous range of bubbly by our wonderful host, and each MCC was paired with flavoured and stuffed olives of all sorts.
After we'd picked our favourites and made some purchases, we got to have a go at sabrage. Mike from the
Life of Mike blog valiantly volunteered as tribute and thankfully did not decapitate himself or anyone else.
Next on our day-drinking adventure was
Stellenbrau brewery. Not many people know this about me, but I love beer. It rivals wine in my opinion. Savage, I know. I thoroughly enjoy beer, and I thoroughly enjoy the confused and amused looks I get when this petite dork orders a pint of craft beer at the bar, instead of a spritzer.
The boys at Stellenbrau treated us to a brewery tour, followed by a tasting. I could quite happily set up my bed inside a brewery. I actually quite enjoy the smell of the hops brewing. I find it soothing for some reason. That sounds like something an alcoholic would say isn't it? Oh well.
I'd highly recommend a stopover at this place. It boasts a gorgeous setting, chilled vibe and great craft beer.
For a late lunch and another tasting we pulled in at
Middelvlei Wine Estate. I was not expecting to have so much fun at this rustic family-run estate. But when we were divided into teams and charged with blending our own wine, I was delighted by the challenge! We huddled and schemed and used every beaker and pipette they'd supply us with (to look like we knew what we were doing obviously) and settled on the winning combination. We then labelled our wine with a number only and then it was put out for the teams and other patrons present to test an vote for the number they liked best. To be able to tell you that our team won might be one of the happiest announcements I've made on this blog. I am also deadly serious when I say that I am adding winemaker to my CV.
This incredibly entertaining afternoon ended with a good old fashioned bore braai, complete with homemade potato salad, braaibroodtjies and delicious wors and chops. Their mantra being that homemade, authentic boerekos is what they do best. They aren't interested in fancy. The folks at Middelvlei are all about simple, wholesome food and quality time spent with family and friends.
Finally it was time to relax after an incredibly tough day of eating and drinking. So we checked into our spectacular suites at Wedgeview and then made our way to their in-house spa for a massage.
My impression of Wedgeview shall be expressed in my best "Janice from Friends voice":
"OH. MY. GAAAAAWD!!! "
Let me break it down for you...
The location: Its nothing short of divine, with mountain and vineyard views for days. And for the adventurous, plenty of trail running/ mountain biking or for the less energetic (me), leisurely strolling to be done through the property. There is also a stunning pool area to cool down in during the warm summer months.
The spa: It is just heavenly. With professional and lovely staff - its a cherry-on-top addition to an already wonderful place to relax in the winelands.
The accommodation: No expense has been spared to create luxurious suites with every amenity you could hope for. Everything about the room lends itself to relaxation and tranquility. Shelves were packed with books and the balcony begged to be used for reading next to a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, or for romantic sundowners with a glass of bubbly.
The staff: An interesting situation here. The place is Dutch owned (by a rather famous ex-cricket captain no less), and Dutch hotel students intern on rotation every few months. Dutch people are not ugly. With one staff member looking like a clone of Leonardo Di Caprio circa 2006, and the rest looking like yet-to-be discovered male models, the girls in our group and I were a mess. All I could muster was a goofy grin and I blushed my way through every interaction with one of them. Real smooth Leigh. Real smooth.
The food: As I mentioned before, it is Dutch owned. So cheese. Good cheese. Great cheese. Lots of amazing food featuring said cheese. Phenomenal brandy. A rich and delicious dinner accompanied by the above-mentioned interns playing the piano. Oh yes, the good looking interns play piano. Did I not mention that?
Wedge view was such a treat and I'll certainly be back again for a stay in the Stellenbosch Valley.
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