THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE AT MORGENSTER ESTATE

La dolce vita vibes and freshly made bites

Relax and pour a glass. A bright, airy gem of a place, Morgenster Estate has all the charms: A laidback atmosphere; crisp, clean architecture; simple but stylish tables; and a modern tasting area perched on the edge of a dam. The photogenic winery’s location makes it the ideal pitstop if you’re in the area and want to stock up on some excellent bottles to remind you of it later in the year. The big draw here for us, though, is the very impressive Italian Experience (R445 for two people). Every day, there’s an Italian food and wine pairing so good – and so generous – it can take the place of your lunch or dinner. Visitors will gain a fully immersive lesson in the world of Morgenster Estate’s Italian cultivars, awardwinning Bordeaux-style wines and extra-virgin olive oil, alongside other wine lovers and culinary travellers. The Italian Experience begins with a tutored extravirgin olive oil tasting of the estate’s four extra-virgin olive oils alongside balsamic vinegar, two varieties of table olives, homemade bread and schiacciatine (bitesize focaccia). Then there’s an abundant Italian spread of figs, paper-thin cured meat, buttery cheeses, a wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano and freshly baked French baguette. Small bowls of olive tapenade and caprese skewers dispense their fragrances. Delizioso. Of course, no aperitivo hour would be complete without the perfect beverage. You’ll learn more about the harvesting process before enjoying a bottle of wine of your choice from The Giulio Range. It pays tribute to founder Giulio Bertrand, who kickstarted the local olive oil industry and introduced South Africans to Italy’s grape varietals. Worth noting: The staff are very friendly and approachable – but most importantly, they know and love Morgenster, and that enthusiasm is infectious.

Morgenster Estate, Vergelegen Avenue (off Lourensford Road), Somerset West 021 852 1738 www.morgensterestate.co.za