High 5 experiences to pair along with your wine tasting within the Cape…

Cape City has grow to be some of the visited locations on the African continent. This cosmopolitan metropolis, nestled between mountains and sea, attracts lovers of tradition and nature to its shores. The fruits of this nature are not any extra evident than within the lovely winelands surrounding the town and spreading far by means of the Cape area. Past the ‘sip and swirl’ sittings supplied by quite a few high-end wine farms, there are specific experiences that make a day within the winelands an unforgettable occasion:

Getting there by air

Nothing will impress fairly like skipping the visitors and hopping onto a helicopter to reach into the winelands in model. Taking off from the V&A Waterfront, you’ll be capable of take in the great thing about Desk Mountain and the town from the sky earlier than heading over the hills of the vineyards to the magnificent farms of Stellenbosch or Franschhoek. Right here you possibly can take pleasure in tastings at unique vineyards, usually providing high quality eating or farm-style eateries for lengthy and lazy lunches.

Wine trams and pedal energy

A singular and leisurely option to discover the estates in Franschhoek is on a Victoria model tram. Utilizing traces left behind by farmers who took their wares to market over 100 years in the past, you possibly can go to a few of the oldest farms within the valley. The tram and tram-bus cowl 5 routes and every journey, narrated by audio-guide if you want, introduces the wine lover to the historical past of the area, telling the tales behind every distinguished property. For a extra lively choice, becoming a member of a guided cycle tour of the winelands makes for a enjoyable day trip as you burn off the energy of your luscious lunch. An area information will introduce you to the area and information you to the favored and native boutique estates. These are splendid excursions for everybody because it means you possibly can go away the automobile behind.

Wine and cheese pairings

Something could be paired to perfection. One simply wants to seek out the appropriate wine or the proper creation to go with the flavours of the meals and the brilliance of the bouquet. With the abundance of remarkable cooks and native producers of specialty meals in Cape City, there’ll all the time be a scrumptious deal with to match every wine. For the savoury palate, there are quite a few choices whether or not you’d wish to strive the multitude of cheeses or pattern an area specialty, reminiscent of biltong. Some estates have gone one step additional and paired wines with artisan salts, whereas even the luxurious and boutique lodges have began to curate menus to match native components with the native tipples. The picnic basket at Mont Rochelle is especially particular (pictured).

Chocolate tastings

After an undoubtedly scrumptious and certain substantial lunch among the many vineyards, take into account skipping dessert and as a substitute satiating your candy tooth with a remaining pairing – chocolate. A preferred providing as a result of it’s simply such an ideal mixture, many farms have joined with native chocolatiers to specifically curate candies to accompany their top-end wine ranges. Waterford, Spier and Creation wines are some native favourites however for one thing slightly bit totally different, you possibly can strive bubbly MCCs and nougat pairings, late harvest wines and cupcakes and even white wine with chocolate pancakes… the record goes on!

Exploring the roots of biodynamic farming

Wine making within the Cape has grow to be a complicated science in recent times, with many wine producers valuing natural and biodynamic strategies. Don’t be mistaken, this definitely doesn’t imply stomping the grapes along with your ft in a bucket. As an alternative the method begins with the winery; viewing it as a residing ecological system. Biodynamic farming goes one step additional and combines 21st-century science with outdated world farming strategies. You’ll be able to take a tour of those specialist farms – a specific favorite is Avondale Wine Property. The expertise beats the usual cellar tour as you’re personally proven round by the farm supervisor or wine maker for a totally immersive wine expertise from floor to glass, splendid for travellers with a ardour for wine and wine making.

Julian Carter-Manning is a Co-founder and MD at Yellow Zebra Safaris.

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