8 minute read
TULBAGH: THE ULTIMATE SMALL
EASY ON THE EYE
Art and design lovers will love a visit to SARONSBERG. e cellar is contemporary in look and feel, with a beautifully decorated tasting room. ink earthy textures combined with modern touches in a large open plan area. e tasting room also o ers views into their hi-tech cellar in action. Tech ain't your thing? Guests can spend some time enjoying Saronsberg's impressive art collection.
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WINE: Winemaker Dewaldt Heyns is passionate about every aspect of the winemaking process, which is particularly labour intensive at Saronsberg. e grapes are handpicked, the berries hand-sorted and the fermentation cellar is gravity-fed.
ADDED BONUS: In 2013, 16 newly renovated self-catering cottages were opened to the public. So there's no need to rush back to the city. Stay over and enjoy the farm.
www.saronsberg.com Looking for COUNTRY LIVING and oldworld CHARM? Check. TRANQUILLITY and MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS? Check. A sweet old town with DELICIOUS WINE? Check. Friendly people? Check. e TULBAGH VALLEY has it all.
Tulbagh is an historic town that’s over owing with character, history and some of our favourite wine farms too. e Tulbagh Wine Route has both old, traditional wine farms and new, modern estates. Yup, you’ll nd rickety old farms full of magical tales, as well as state-of-the-art cellars—plus there are some exciting micro-producers and boutique wineries too.
A PACK OF BULLDOGS
It's di cult to miss LEMBERG ESTATE, as it's one of the rst wine farms you'll see as you enter the valley. As with most boutique wineries, the tasting experience is intimate, and here you can taste the full range for just R50. Look out for the farm's friendly English bulldogs—Nelson, Rose, Ella and Louis—they like to sit at your feet in the Tasting Room.
WINE: Henk du Bruyn and Suzette Jansen van Rensburg o er a range of wines that are hand-cra ed expressions of cultivar and terroir. Popular wines to note include their Pinot Noir, Pinotage and their showstopper, Hárslevelu—a rare Hungarian varietal that scored a 95 from Tim Atkins. Something di erent, eh?
ADDED BONUS: e name originates from Lemberg, Poland—now known as Lviv, Ukraine—where the husband of Janey Muller (legendary winemaker who established the farm in 1978) was born.
VISIT: Mon - u 8am - 5pm, Fri 8am - 4pm, Sat 10am - 3:30pm, Sun 10am - 3pm.
www.lemberg.co.za
SNOWY MOUNTAIN TOPS
Tucked away in the Winterhoek Valley is THEUNISKRAAL, which has a dramatic mountain backdrop. e tasting room is stocked with their delicious and unpretentious wines and homemade products made on the farm, such as tinned fruit, honey, olives, olive oils and grape jam—perfect gi s for Aunty May.
WINE: Natural farming methods combine happily with the latest technology to bring out the best in each vintage. euniskraal produces quality and accessible wines and is most well-known for its Cape Riesling. Its rst vintage was in 1948—that's a whopping 74 years of making Rieslings. ey also have a delicious Semillon Chardonnay blend and fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon that shouldn’t be missed.
ADDED BONUS: e mountains surrounding the farm are situated more than 2000m above sea level and are regularly covered in snow in winter, allowing the vines to go into proper dormancy, essential for varietals such as Cape Riesling, Shiraz and Chardonnay.
VISIT: Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 2pm, Sun Closed. www.theuniskraal.co.za
LOVE ORGANIC?
WAVERLEY HILLS is situated close to Wolseley, at the foothills of the Witzenberg Mountain Range. Apart from their popular organic wines, the farm also produces olives in brine, air-dried olives and olive oil. e restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients sourced from local producers and their seasonal permaculture garden. Look out for their everchanging seasonal specials.
WINE: e estate is best known for producing organic wines with a unique style. You can expect incredibly smooth wines with so ripe tannins and robust fynbos characteristics.
ADDED BONUS: Waverley Hills is the rst organic wine farm to become a WWF Conservation Champion—acknowledged as an environmental leader in the industry for its commitment to conservation, responsible production practices, integrated environmental management systems, and spearheading innovations in water, energy e ciency and climate adaptation.
VISIT: Mon - Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 11am – 3pm. www.waverleyhills.co.za
VIEWS FOR DAYS
What’s in a name? Well, the name OUDE COMPAGNIES POST stems from the historical Dutch East India Company who started an outpost in 1699 in the beautiful (you guessed it) Tulbagh Valley. At Oude Compagnies Post, visitors can enjoy handcra ed boutique-style wines and some seriously stunning views over the valley. Owners Jerry and Henriette Swanepoel both practised law in Cape Town before they decided to follow their dream and move to the country and raise their kids. Twenty three years later, Oude Compagnies Post is a pretty magical place—complete with one of the cosiest tasting rooms we’ve ever seen. WINE: Jerry and Henriette’s youngest son and winemaker, Dirk had his rst harvest on the family farm in 2018—and has been making waves ever since. Enjoy a Cellar Tasting or a Mountain Top Tasting, where Dirk takes guests on a guided walk, followed by a wine tasting and picnic amongst the fynbos. ADDED BONUS: Visitors can spend the weekend in one of the estate’s oh-so-charming farm cottages that were originally used as a milking shed in the 1800s.
VISIT: Sat 11am – 4pm, Sun 11am – 2pm. www.oudecompagnies.com
AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE
Established in 1714 by two Frenchmen from MONTPELLIER in France, this historic Cape Dutch Wine Estate recently celebrated its 300th anniversary. In addition to producing award-winning wine, Montpellier serves as a tranquil getaway and stunning event venue with a charming hillside chapel, Cape Dutch homestead, reception facilities and expansive grounds. You can also enjoy delectable tastings in the garden or the beautiful glasshouse.
WINE: O ering out-of-this-world MCC, white and red wines, Montpellier is steeped in a rich history of winemaking. e farm is renowned for producing wines with integrity and character representative of the Tulbagh Valley terroir. Historically acclaimed for producing outstanding white wines, the range has since expanded into producing red varieties that are now creating a name for themselves in the wine industry.
ADDED BONUS: Pack the pooch! Montpellier is a dog-friendly establishment and the owners' dogs also roam the property.
VISIT: Mon – Sun 10am – 4pm. www.montpellier.co.za
FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TULBAGH VALLEY
Here are a few not-to-miss spots.
1. EXPLORE CHURCH STREET'S MUSEUM COMPLEX
Did you know that in 1969 Tulbagh su ered a massive earthquake? Learn more about it at the museum complex, which consists of De Oude Kerk Volksmuseum, the Victorian House Museum, the Christo Coetzee Art Museum, the Cape Dutch Pioneers House and the Earthquake Museum. You'll also nd a selection of SA artist Christo Coetzee's work at the Oude Kerk Volksmuseum and e Victorian House Museum. www.tulbaghmuseum.co.za
2. VISIT RESCUED ANIMALS AT FYNBOS GUEST FARM
If you have a so spot for our furry friends, visit e Fynbos Guest Farm and Animal Sanctuary. A place of refuge for over 13 years, many animals have been rescued, including dogs, goats, pigs, emus, horses, springbucks and even zebras. Walk around the property, feed the animals, wind through the labyrinth, or visit their handmade glass meditation room. Fynbos Guest Farm is entirely selffunded, so donations are welcome. www.fynbosguestfarm.co.za
3. HAVE LUNCH AT KOLE & DEEG
If you enjoy a good co ee and banging pastry, make your way to Kole & Deeg. It o ers a variety of quality artisanal baked goods and is a great place to start your day of wine touring with a ca eine x. en, enjoy some delicious food; it’s just opposite e Tulbagh Boutique Heritage Hotel. @Kole.Deeg on Facebook
4. DO AN OLIVE TASTING AT OAKHURST OLIVES
Oakhurst's Tasting Centre & Test Kitchen celebrates all things olive – from tutored olive tastings to masterclasses with leading chefs and gourmet weekend getaways. Here, on the farm Lemoendrif, the Du Toit family produces multi-award-winning extra virgin olive oil, Kalamata table olives and natural green olives. ey also o er tapenades, olive marmalades, lip balm, moisturiser, and more. So do pop in and try their olive goodies. www.oakhurstolives.co.za
5. HIKE UP THE OUDEKLOOF PASS
e Oudekloof Pass is one of the oldest and steepest passes in South Africa. In some places it has an incredible ratio of 1:4. ere are a few di erent hikes on the farm and some are seriously steep, so bring proper gear. And, if you’re not up to trekking by foot, you can reach the top of the pass by a tractor. Wonder if they serve wine at the back? www.tulbaghvalley.co.za
Cape Dutch style homes on Church street in the historic town of Tulbagh. Credit: Peter Titmuss / Shutterstock.com
6. STAY OVER AT THE TULBAGH HOTEL
Dating back to the early 1800s and a bit of an institution to say the least, this intimate heritage hotel can be found in the heart of Tulbagh. e charming hotel is conveniently located in town and is the ideal base to explore the historic town, its museums, art galleries, co ee shops and vineyards. www.tulbaghhotel.co.za
7. EAT TASTY, SEASONAL MEALS AT READERS
O ering simple yet outstanding local and global cuisine, Readers has maintained a standard of excellence that has created a notable reputation with both locals and tourists since it opened in 1997. With dishes from locally-sourced products, the focus is on variety, fusion of avours and a combination of unusual ingredients. e cuisine varies daily depending on the availability of fresh produce. www.readersrestaurant.co.za
