A plate with local cheese, Italian prosciutto, fig chutney and some home made bread accompanied by a bottle of an award winning South African Sauvignon Blanc. Prepared exclusively for us. Next to everlasting fields of grapes.  

We are in food heaven.

The South African sun starts setting behind the table mountain in Cape Town, bathing the vineyard in golden light. After our aperitivo Luca and me are peacefully walking along the gentle vineyard.

This time we are not wandering by ourselves. We are riding horses in the scenic vineyards of Cape Town. 

If you’re a gourmet, such as we are, there’s no better way to spend the day than heading straight to the source. Eat in a stunning setting and drink wine in the warm sun in between wine grapes and educate yourself about the art of the wine making in idyllic surroundings in the Capetonian wine region.

Stellenbosch
The little Dutch colonial town Stellenbosch is the most well-known town for wines in South Africa, thus a must to visit. Get lost in the numerous boutiques, cafes, galleries and of course vineyards. One of our favorite green & exclusive vineries is Spier Wine Estate. It is one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms,  operation since 1692, including a hotel, 2 restaurants and of course, amazing wine. The cherry on top: the farm focuses sustainability, ethical farming and working with and giving back to the community.
If you want it a little bit more modern head to Tokara. Besides its award winning wines, the wine farm produces its own olive oil. The best in the whole of South Africa (that is what Luca says). Overall the farm is following a green strategy: serving organic and seasonal food and producing products in support of local craftsmen. Besides its progressive winemaking techniques it is home to an impressive collection of contemporary art and sculptures.

Frenchhoek
The second most famous wine region in Cape Town is Frenchhoek, the French corner. A little town with illustrious wine estates and beautifully white-washed stone buildings. Our favorite vinery is Babylonstoren, a magical place in an authentic farm style ambience. A perfect place to drink wine and celebrate the beauty of this life in an exclusive setting. And Babylonstoren is truly green: the 3,5 hectare garden is a well protected jewel of biodiversity, producing their own compost and supplying their own restaurants with fresh ingredients through the year. The wine farm also produces its own solar energy to supply their hotel suites. 

Explore the winelands from the top
You might have realized I’m a big horse fan. So now and then I put Luca on a horseback and we explore our environment from a different perspective. Horse Riding Cape Town offers every type of outride, from galloping on the beach to romantic outrides through the Capetonian vineyards. We did this little exploration from the horseback and it was stunning. It allowed us to learn about the art of wine farming while riding between the grapes, followed by a romantic picnic under a tree with wine, cheese and everything the senses desire. It was truly cheesy.