Where do wino-parents take their kids on their days off?
Thursday, 1 January, 2015
Cathy Marston
Summer holidays are upon us. For some that means no work, lots of beachtime and an endless succession of cocktails on the deck.
For parents, it means desperate off-loading of our kids on play dates, sports camps, relatives and anywhere else we can think of as we frantically try and get everything done before Christmas. Which of course leaves a huge legacy of guilt which I personally find is best assuaged by taking the occasional day off and spending some quality family time - at a wine farm. “Busman’s Holiday!” I hear you cry? Maybe, but who cares – certainly not me, nor the many other parents within the wine industry whose opinions I’ve been canvassing lately. A good glass of wine and happy, occupied kids – here’s the insider tips on where to get both.
Wine-lover and Food24 editor, Caro de Waal, has had a hectic 2013 jet-setting around the world to international food fairs and shows, so she doesn’t like to go far when it comes to spending leisure-time with sons Louis (5) and Robbie (3). She recommends Cape Point Vineyards citing the “GREAT view, divine charcuterie boards, a lake and small jungle gym. My kids had a ball there.” and also Jonkershuis on Groot Constantia. “I can’t count how many times I’ve been there, breakfast (nice eggs benny!) and lunch, with its huge strip of lawn and lots of exploring for them to do. All sorts of ‘dragons caves ’as we call them – the dark rooms under the museum houses and ducks and beautiful view.”
Picnics are a great way to spend time with your family – who doesn’t enjoy the excitement of eating food from small boxes with your fingers? – and several wine folk recommended Warwick and Allée Bleue in particular. But the biggest nod for a family picnic went to Solms Delta with both Caro and wine PR par excellence, Lise Manley, giving them their vote. Lise is also mom to two boys, Luke and Guy (aged 10 and 4 respectively) and says the fun starts with the tractor ride to the river. Once there “they can play on the ‘beach’ and frolic in the river - and they cater for kids with the picnics too.” As well as Solms Delta, wine retailer Corlien Morris, a partner in Wine Concepts and mom to 6 year old Nelia and 3 year old Richard, recommends the picnics, trampoline, gardens and general laidback atmosphere of Hartenberg – “all just perfect for a relaxed family outing.”
In Somerset West, the new facilities at Vergelegen are proving popular with just about everyone. Sunday Times wine writer, Joanne Gibson, is mom to 7 year old John and 4 year old Meghan, and particularly likes the fact that the Vergelegen kids’ park was designed with their favourite, the magnificent Green Point Urban park, in mind. Sophy Warner, director of winelands charity, the Pebbles Project, also loves visiting Vergelegen with her children, 9 year old Khulile, his twin Kholekile and 5 year old Zintle, often with cousins Siphelele and Luthando in tow as well. The Pebbles Christmas party is going to be held at Eaglevlei – possessor of the biggest jungle gym in Africa – which is erecting several jumping castles and water slides for summer. Corlien also rates the jungle gyms both at Eaglevlei and also Bloemendal very highly, so be prepared for tears when it comes to home-time from either of these farms.
But the winner in the wino-parents poll of where to go with your kids, is that N1-stalwart, Joostenberg. Wine writer and judge, Christian Eedes (dad to Zoe aged 4 and almost-2 Eliza) gives it his thumbs-up, as does Lise, Caro, Joanne – and me! Kim Maxwell is a seasoned restaurant, food, wine and lifestyle journo plus mom to 3 year old Daniel. She prefers to try new places as much as possible, but recommends Joostenberg as one of the few farms she actually returns to, time and time again. In her words “It's terribly handy to have a lunch spot a few minutes along the N1 from Bugz outdoor play park. The Sunday set menu and wine list offers such good value, and young kids love the freedom of being able to run back and forth between the table and lawns that seem to stretch forever.” Happy kids + happy wine-loving parents = a recipe for success this summer.