A small media group took a trip out to Botrivier for the 6th and 7th of September - We were there for the Botrivier Spring Festival and I highly recommend that you make a plan to do it next year. Our weekend away was organized by Melissa Nelson of Genevieve MCC; a bubbly consisting of
yummy granny smith apple flavours and a lingering finish.
The itinerary (it should win an award) consisted of: Luddite visiting the following,Feiteiras, Barton, Rivendell, Benguela Cove, Wildekrans, Goedevertrouw, Beamount and Gabrielskloof. And breathe.
For all of you wanting to get away from it all now, here are my essentials for a great weekend in Botrivier.
Where to stay:
We spent the night at The Botrivier Hotel which is not only the oldest building in the town but also its heartbeat. Stepping through the gates onto the property,you’re in 70’s Jamaica; the vibes being always chilled. The hotel also happens to have a bar next door which totally rocks on a Friday night (and starts playing music from 8am on a Saturday morning). The rooms at the hotel are basic and the toilets are down the hall but for one night, it’s suitable.
Beaumont Wine Estate has two lovely self-catering cottages that sleep 4 people each and they both have a fully equipped kitchen. For more details, click here
For something luxurious, head to Barton and stay in style at one of their 3 beautifully
maintained and decorated villas. For more details, click here
Where to visit:
Part of the beauty of the area is that everything is so close together (not that you should drive after a drink) you can really do so much in the space of one day.
Here's a few of my must-do's:
Luddite
Niels Verburg is a Cape Winemakers Guild Member and established Luddite in
1999. His Shiraz is mind-blowing and his maiden release Chenin Blanc 2012 is
from 60 year old vines and is layered and arresting - a great food wine.
The other half of Niels is Penny and she takes care of the vineyards (and
the vegetable patch), bottles her own olive oil and rears happy pigs for bacon,
pork sausage and chourizo. It's worth travelling out to see them just for her
bangers.
To find out more, click here
Beaumont
Home to some seriously awesome Chenin Blancs, Beamount is owned and run by
Sebastian Beaumont and has accommodation, venue space and catering specialists
on hand.
Their Hope Marguerite is a barrel fermented Chenin Blanc and is a
top-awarded wine which you must try.
Goedvertrouw
Step back into a simpler time, a natural time, amongst roses and tea tree. Goedvertrouw Wine Estate is no ordinary home, it is a place of handcrafted wines, an enchanted country garden and abundant birdlife. Elrieda Pillmann is the winemaker and despite losing her husband (the original winemaker) and not being a wine drinker herself, she continues to produce skilfully crafted wines and delicious home-cooked meals.
You can stay in the house, built in the early 1880s, and wake up to bird song and the hum of Elrieda making bread in her Aga- it’s so wonderfully English.
Call ahead and book an afternoon in Paradise (click here)
Feiteiras
Here you’ll find Jose de Andrade the proud Portuguese owner, and with the only working Pole Basket Press in South Africa, Feiteiras Vineyards can proudly lay claim to making genuine hand crafted wine.
You’ll be treated to Verdelho, a white variety that’s the second most planted variety in Portugal. It has a seriously lingering acidic finish and the longer it’s aged, the more prominent the finish. Their 2012 (R100) has a lovely fruit salad flavour to it.
Try their Rose (R50) in the Summer-time because it’s all strawberries and cranberries and relax into the Troca Tintas 2011 (R90) (60% merlot, 20% Cab, 10% Shiraz and Petit Verdot) with its fruit-forward yumminess and plush finish.
Then, when you’re in need of some home-cooked comforts, let the Andrade’s give you some authentic Portuguese grub. Think spicy tomato mussels and chicken livers (the good kind) alongside their own olives.
Booking is essential because they might not be open. To find out more or to order their wine, click here
When you’ve sipped and eaten your way around the area, dance it off at The
Botrivier Hotel bar – drinks are cheap and the locals are friendly.
Where to Eat:
Rivendell
The name, being from one of my favourite literary novels, meant that I expected something pretty and calming - I wasn't disappointed. It's a lovely tasting room with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, depending on the weather. From wherever you sit, you'll have panoramic views of the vineyards and mountains.
They first started harvesting in 2011 and the vines were planted on laterite
gravel on clay, weathered Table Mountain Sandstone & Bokkeveld shale.
They have a restaurant that locals boast about run by Thomas Sinn, an Austrian chef, and can cater for 100 people. To find out more, click here
Gabriëlskloof
With one of the most beautiful views in all of Botrivier, Gabriëlskloof stands like a Tuscan villa surveying the valley. I'm going to try not to gush too much about the winery but it really is special. The basics, ample parking, nice toilets, open spaces, those all apply but then add lush green lawns, great tasting facilities and deli PLUS the fact that it's great for children and adults...winning formula really.
Local produce is key but be warned the chef is incredibly generous so expect to leave stuffed. Two handy hints: order two starters (it's more than enough) and make sure you try their Lindt chocolate fondant.