Wine Tour - 2005

TORONTO SOUTH AFRICAN WINE SOCIETY
Tour of South Africa, April 2005

Read our diary of our adventures

FRIDAY 31 MARCH
Group departs Toronto for Cape Town

SATURDAY 01 APRIL, CAPE TOWN

20h00 transfer to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront for dinner at Nino’s Panini Italian Restaurant in the Alfred Mall. /D.

SUNDAY 02 APRIL, CAPE TOWN
10h00 to Cape Town’s famous land mark, Table Mountain, for a revolving cable car ride to the top. Stunning views of the city and beaches far below. Continue to Blaauwberg, 17 km north of the city, for the best photo opportunities of the mountain. Lunch at the nearby Volkskombuis Restaurant.

Robben Island Option
Also Flea Market at the Green Point Common Mount Nelson for high tea or champagne cocktails Dinner at the Nose Pub Rest of the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the “most beautiful cape on the circumference of the earth Sir Francis Drake).” L/D.

MONDAY 03 APRIL, CAPE TOWN
09h00 to Steenberg Vineyards. Centred round a historic homestead and a championship golf course, the estate has some irresistible wines.

11h30 To Boulders near the Naval Base, Simon’s Town, to view the rare African Penguin colony.

13h00 lunch at dockside Bertha’s Restaurant. Continue to Cape Point. Experience quite spectacular scenery as we enter the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve where the rare Bontebok roams. By venicular to Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Return via the newly re-opened Chapmans Peak drive, hailed by many as the most spectacular marine drive in the world. Stop for sunset views from the Twelve Apostles.

Evening free L/

TUESDAY 04 APRIL, CAPE TOWN
10h00 to the Cape Wine Show at the Cape Town Conference Centre, showcasing the wines of South Africa. Over 220 wineries are exhibiting over 3500 wines.

20h00 to Marcos African Café for dinner and vibrant African jazz. Dance the evening away. /D.

WEDNESDAY 05 APRIL, STELLENBOSCH
10h00 to Fairview Wine Estate, for our first wine tasting in the well known Paarl/Stellenbosch wine region. The non golfers have lunch at Delheim Estate. Time for shopping in Stellenbosh

Overnight at South Africa’s oldest inn, d’Ouwe Werf in Stellenbosch’s historical district. Established in 1679, a town abundantly rich in stylish Cape Dutch architecture. L/.

13h00 Golf. Canada vs the Stellenbosch wine industry. Played at the Stellenbosch Golf Club, home club of golfer David Frost and host to the South African Open Golf Championships in 2000.

Let us see who the golfers are. I will call some winemakers and the ultimate would be a braai at Hartenberg.

THURSDAY 06 APRIL, STELLENBOSCH

9.30 wine tasting at Saxenburg Estate.

12h30 Top Ten pinotage tasting at Knorhoek and lunch. Wine personality, Duimpie Bayly will act as wine master and introduce some special wines.

15h30 tasting at the Meerlust family wine estate. Owned for generations by the Myburgh family, a warm welcome awaits all. L/.

FRIDAY 07 APRIL, STELLENBOSCH

The golfers have an early tee off at De Zalze at Spier.

10h00 tasting at Clos Malverne at Devon Valley and lunch.

Afternoon at leisure

16h30 tasting at Diemersfontein in picturesque Wellington. And dinner. L/D

SATURDAY 08 APRIL, MONTAGU

08h30 over the spectacular du Toits Kloof Pass, very reminiscent of the Dolemites in Northern Italy. North of the mountains in the Breede (wide) River area, some of the best value for money wines are produced. Sauvignon blancs and newer cultivars, like ruby cabernet and chenin blancs are worth a taste.

11h00 tasting at the Weltevrede Wine Estae, owned by the former Chairman of the KWV (Paarl brand), Lourens Jonker. Try the cape riesling.

Lunch and overnight at the Montagu Country Hotel and Spa.

14h00 tasting at the Springfield Estate. Enjoy the soothing waters of the spa after the rigours of tasting fine wines!

18h30 to the Viljoensdrift Estate for a tasting and dinner on the estate’s boat. The hospitality is legendary. L/D.

SUNDAY 09 APRIL, OUDTSHOORN

1000 to the Tradouw Cellars, near Barrydale, to taste some of the most popular wines in the Little Karoo.

Lunch at the cellars include some locally manufactured cheeses and home made bread. Continue along Route 62 through desert and then fruit regions. Welcome to ostrich country.

Stop for tea and a snack at Rietfontein, dating back to 1841 when it became the first ostrich farm in the world.

Overnight at the smart Hlangana Lodge, set in beautiful rose gardens. Dinner at top ten restaurant, Jemimas. L/D.

MONDAY 10 APRIL, OUDTSHOORN

06h00 optional visit to observe a family of Meerkat and listen to Grant McIlrath, who identified a Meerkat alphabet of 34 unique sounds.

09h30 a tasting with a difference. Great hospitality as we taste locally produced schnapps at Grundheim Cellars.

11h30 over the spectacular Swartberg Pass, perhaps the most amazing rock formations anywhere and as folded mountains, also the youngest in the world.

Lunch at the Swartberg Hotel in Prince Albert. Continue back to Oudtshoorn through the spectacular Meirings Canyon, with cliff faces stretching upwards for over a thousand metres.

15h30 tasting at the Doornkraal Estate.

Visit the Karoo Zoo shop. They manufacture their own unique style of table cloths, place mats, pillow cases and much more.

20h00 ostrich steak dinner at the Godfather Restaurant

TUESDAY 11 APRIL, KNYSNA

Early balloon safari option. Golfers play at the Links

12h00 pick up the golfers. Drive through the forested lakes district.

34 Degrees South. /D

WEDNESDAY 12 APRIL, MOSSEL BAY

Stay in Knysna for 2 nights. 9.00 Golfers play Pezula, others go to elephant walk (guided) Herold winery near George Lunch optional Dinner /D

THURSDAY 13 APRIL, HERMANUS

09H00 west along rolling green hills with mountains ever present. Early arrival in the Whale Capital of the world, Hermanus for overnight at the ocean side Windsor Hotel, sea facing rooms.

Wine tasting at Whalehaven wineries

Dinner at Seaspray Bientangs Cave (weather permitting). Whales play just 50 metres away. An incredible experience to sea these gigantic mammals so close to land. /D.

FRIDAY 14 APRIL, GORDON’S BAY

A morning of tasting the produce of the coastal vineyards.
9.30 tasting at Beaumont Wines historic Compagnes Drift farm. The pinotage is outstanding.

12h30 wine tasting and lunch at the coastal cellars of Hamilton Russell. Makers of superb chardonnays. Legendary hospitality.

Return to the Cape via another stunning marine drive through Betty’s Bay. Mountains tower above. Overnight at the ocean front Villa Via Hotel in Gordon’s Bay.

Evening free L/

SATURDAY 15 APRIL, FLIGHT HOME

Morning at leisure to pack.

10h00to Franschhoek for a look at the village, surrounded by stunning mountain ranges, established in 1688 by French Huguenots.

13h00 tasting and Lunch at Ken Forresters winery 96

A fitting farewell to South Africa. Return to Cape Town airport for the flight SA222 at 20h55 and home. L/.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION (minimum 6 pax):

• Flying to Johannesburg after the farewell lunch for overnight near the airport.
• One night on the Drakensberg Escarpment.
• Two nights in the famous Kruger National park.
• Return to Johannesburg International Airport.