What Is Over the Legal Limit? Some Surprising, Scary Thoughts for Tasting and Drinking

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING AND DRIVING - LEGALLY HOW MUCH CAN I DRINK? https://www.drivesouthafrica.co.za/blog/drunk-driving-in-south-africa-laws/ https://www.aa.co.za/about/press-room/press-releases/drinking-and-driving-what-is-over-the-limit.html http://www.sadd.org.za/education/units-of-alcohol The Cape Wine Lovers’ Society is a strong advocate of safe and responsible drinking. This begs the question - especially for an original UK native like me - as to what is the safe limit for drinking and driving in South …

Grape Fun – Stomping Well Worth the Journey!

DELHEIM WINES Saturday 28 January 2017 http://www.delheim.com/ Experience: 5/5 Wines: 5/5 I visited Delheim, to the North-East of Stellenbosch, for the Harvest Festival. Delheim holds one of the first wine festivals in the region to usher in the grape-picking season. This was the first time it had been held for two years as the 2016 …

Excellent Unstated Wines and Service – Naturally!

WAVERLEY HILLS ORGANIC WINE AND OLIVE ESTATE Saturday 14 January 2017 https://waverleyhills.co.za/ Experience: 4.5/5 Wines: 5/5 It was my partner’s birthday and so we headed out of Cape Town for Tulbagh. We had no definite plans for the day but decided after lunch to visit one of the local vineyards for tasting. As luck had it, we …

Always a Favourite – Guaranteed to Delight

STEENBERG Sunday 1 January 2017 http://www.steenbergfarm.com/ Experience: 4.5/5 Wines: 4.5/5 Steenberg was the first wine estate I visited in South Africa. I have been back many times and it never disappoints. My partner and I are currently visiting all the Constantia Valley vineyards. Steenberg was one of the few to open on New Years’ Day. …

A Hidden Gem of Rare Excellence

SILVERMIST ORGANIC VINEYARD Friday 30 December 2016 http://www.silvermistvineyards.co.za/home/ Experience: 5/5 Wines: 5/5 Every cloud has a silver lining so they say. Today was no exception. My partner and I made our way to the top of Constantia Nek yesterday only to find that the Silvermist wine-tasting host had left. We returned again today and ended …

“Swimming Pool” Wines for Now – or Leave until Later

CONSTANTIA GLEN Thursday 29 December 2016 http://www.constantiaglen.com/ Experience: 3/5 Wines: 3/5 Constantia Glen was bustling with holiday tourists and friends spilling out from the long farmhouse onto the terraces and lawns overlooking the Constantia Valley. My partner and I arrived mid-afternoon amid full December sunshine at this 60 hectare estate (29 hectares under cultivation) nestled …

Beau-tiful Beau-tique Beau-Constantia

BEAU CONSTANTIA Thursday 22 December 2016 http://www.beauconstantia.com Experience: 4/5 Wines: 4/5 Beau Constantia, with its low-yielding ocean-chilled vines, is set on steep slopes at 350m above sea level at the top of Constantia Nek. It is surpassed only in altitude by Silvermist amongst the Constantia vineyards. Unsurprisingly, on the Thursday before Christmas, parking was my …

Beyond Expectation

BUITENVERWACHTING Saturday 17 December 2016 http://www.buitenverwachting.com Experience: 4/5 Wines: 4/5 My partner and I followed the winding road through the sunny meadows. We remembered, at last, that Buitenverwachting is closed for wine-tasting on Sundays. The Public Holiday on Friday had probably helped shape our weekend plans as we usually taste on Sunday afternoons. I mused …

Did I really spend THAT much on a Bottle of Wine?

KLEIN CONSTANTIA Sunday 27 November 2016 http://www.kleinconstantia.com The bright blue agapanthus flowers matched the cloudless blue sky as we drove down the drive to the tasting room at the Klein Constantia vineyard in Constantia Valley. The trip was a last moment decision for me and my partner. It was all the more fitting as we await …