Member Postcards

Culinary Winelands

Indagare member Cari Gray reports on the South African Winelands:

For travelers willing to spend a bit more time, a visit to the wine country—a mere hour outside of Cape Town—is well worth it. Wine has been produced in South Africa since 1659, and star grapes here include cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, syrah and chenin blanc.

Courtesy La Petitie Ferme

The tiny village of Franschhooek, a mini Mecca for food and wine aficionados, offers up several top hotel options. The gracious and charming Quartier Français is the creation of hotelier Susan Huxter and features the cuisine of award-winning chef Margot Janse in both the formal Tasting Room and perfectly casual Ici bistro. The nearby La Résidence, a more opulent choice set among vines and olive trees, is the latest property by chic hotelier Liz Biden. Each spacious suite features unique, elaborate décor, including at least two chandeliers. Just on the outskirts of town, set among vines, lies The Owner’s Cottage at Grande Provence, the newest addition to the Huka Retreats family of hotels. This five-room spot, the most stylish villa in the region, is available only to those prepared to book out the entire property. Nearby is the bustling University town of Stellenbosch, the wine capital of the region and home to many bistros and wine bars. Scattered tastefully throughout town lie numerous magnificent bronze animals by local star sculptor Dylan Lewis.

Courtesy Tasting Room

If time permits, head a bit further north to the lesser-known Tulbagh Valley and the excellent, newly refurbished Rijks Country House (rijks.co.za) hotel. This stunning, authentic Cape Dutch property is nestled about the award-winning Rijk’s vineyard. The town of Tulbagh, destroyed by an earthquake in the 1969, has been exquisitely restored. Tiny Church street has thirty six national monuments, the highest concentration in the country. Stop at the nearby Saronsberg vineyard for superb syrah and blends, as well as a glance at their modern South African art collection. ~ Indagare member Cari Gray, New York

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