Explore Our Wine Journey from Somerset West to Plettenberg in Part 1

February 6, 2024 Curry, Thomas
Magazin | Journal Ausflug, Reisetipps, Südafrika

Knowing that many of our readers appreciate these travel reports, we share our latest adventure through images, wine, and words.

To avoid lengthy discourse, we split this report into two parts. Part one today, and part two will follow next week.

Our trips always lead us to wineries or at least near them; today we travel through the cold climate regions of Bot River, Klein River, Elim, and Cape Agulhas.

Day 1

To kick off our mini-holiday, we set off early with empty stomachs along the N2 towards Caledon. We meant to have breakfast on the way but didn’t get far as our stomachs grumbled with anticipation. We stopped at Houw Hoek Farmstall; this delightful mix of local produce business and dining is surprisingly good and affordable.

After a short break, we continued our journey. On the way to Caledon and Napier, we thought about the whales we might still catch a glimpse of in November.

So off to Hermanus, where we stopped outside the town center to walk along the famous "Cliff Paths." Fortune favored us, and we immediately spotted a mother and calf swimming so close to shore. These magnificent creatures captivate us every time.

With joy in our hearts, we proceeded through Stanford and Gansbaai to Lomond, which we've previously mentioned. Next, we headed to Black Oystercatcher in the Agulhas Wine Triangle near Elim. Dirk Human continues his family legacy, offering a concise yet exquisite portfolio of wines.

After a pleasant chat and a small snack, we went on to Strandveld, where Conrad Vlok has crafted outstanding wines for 19 years. Notably, the Pofadderbos Sauvignon Blanc and Strandveld Syrah are among the best offerings from the Cold Climate Region.

After about 230 km and many engaging conversations, we looked forward to our guesthouse in Napier and a chilled beer.

The evening was delightful, with a peaceful night’s rest to refresh us for Day 2.

Day 2

Directly at the exit of Napier lies the establishment of Jean Daneel, a winemaker whose wines we have admired for a long time. After a delicious breakfast, we met with the family and arranged a future collaboration once new vintages are available.

Later on, we traveled through Bredasdorp, Knysna, and Plettenberg back to Somerset. We’ll share more about this part in our next update.