Yesterday world tennis history was made when 20 year old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final against Serbian Novak Djokovic in a close to five hour long battle.
I don’t know much about Tennis, but when I saw a Social Media post of the Camps Bay Social Club that it would be screening the Men’s Single Final, I spontaneously booked a table. And what a great vibe it was in the restaurant, with the sentiment strongly in support for Alcaraz.
MasterChef SA is the talk of the country, and we have another 10 weeks to look forward to in the next month. To spice things up a little, we have launched two competitions, the first being a prediction of who will win MasterChef SA in episode 26.
We are also running a weekly lucky draw for the correct prediction of who our readers think will be booted out of the MasterChef SA every week. For the correct prediction of who will leave MasterChef SA in episode 6 today, Baked Bistro in Bakoven in Camps Bay has generously offered a lunch voucher for two persons for the correct prediction. Continue reading →
Guests attending the Radford Dale tasting at I ♥ my Laundry last night were astounded at the difference in the taste of a wine when it is evaluated in a standard restaurant glass, compared to a varietal specific glass made by Riedel.
Led by passionate wine-lover Tarryn Thomas, new Cape representative of Reciprocal Wines, owned by wine guru Michael Fridjhon and importers of wines and agents for Riedel glassware, she did tastings of the Radford Dale wines, first in what she called a ‘Joker’ glass one would typically find in a restaurant, one design for all white wines, and another for all red wines. Then we tasted the same wine in a Riedel varietal-specific wine glass, and the difference was unbelievable. Even if the same wine is tasted in two different Riedel glass types, the aroma and taste of the wine differs, the varietal-specific glass bringing out the best in each of the wines we tasted, each introduced by charming and eloquent winemaker Jacques de Klerk:
* The Chardonnay 2010 had a different texture in the Riedel glass, being a surprise even to Jacques, 
and he was instantly hooked, as the Riedel Chardonnay Montrachet glass brought out the best in his wooded wine, giving brioche and fruit at the back of the palate. In the Riedel Chardonnay glass the taste was much softer and more velvety.
* The Chenin Blanc 2012 was tasted in an unwooded white blend glass, and once again tasted far better in the Riedel-varietal glass, even compared to tasting it in a Riedel Chardonnay glass, the citrus and intense fruit notes coming to the fore best. This is their flagship wine, being 100% barrel fermented and matured.
* The Pinot Noir 2012 was said to be ‘Wimbledon’, all strawberries and cream, as well as blackberries. When tasted in the ‘Joker’ glass, the wine had almost no aroma and the tannins were upfront, and could even make a wine taste corked, compared to drinking it in a Riedel Pinot Noir glass. The Radford Dale Pinot Noir grapes come from Elgin, which Jacques said is the leading terroir for Pinot Noir, with amazing soil types, high altitude, and true winter dormancy. He described this grape variety as being ‘heart breaking’, difficult to make, but getting better in South Africa. The grapes are harvested early, and he does not go ‘for a raspberry Kool- Aid style’, he explained descriptively, it having ‘powdery type tannins’, creating a ‘satin feel, almost lace like’.
* Black Rock 2009 is a Rhone blend of 71% Shiraz, 13% Carignan, 12% Grenache, 3% Mourvedre, and 1% Viognier, and was described as having a new car smell and spice aroma. It is ‘big, bold, and mouthwateringly good” in the Riedel Shiraz glass, said Jacques. The Syrah grapes come from the Perdeberg in the Swartland, a region with ancient granite soils, the vines never being irrigated.
* The Shiraz 2009 had been decanted in the unusually shaped Escargot decanter, as ‘wine and air are best friends’, especially for younger wines, ‘bringing the flavours and textures out of them‘, Jacques said. The grapes come from17 year old trellised vines in the Helderberg, which has ‘koffieklip’, pebbles in the shape of coffee beans. The grapes are unirrigated, the clay soil giving the wines a water reserve. The wine has paprika, clove, and violet aromas. It is low in sulphur.
* The Pinotage 2012 is named after Dr Frrankenstein, a humorous ode to the founder of the grape variety, being Dr Abraham Perold, and because Pinotage has been seen to be a monster by some who do not like the varietal. Jacques did say that if you treat it well as a winemaker, it gets better. Riedel does not have a Pinotage tasting glass, and encouraged the producers to club together for Riedel to make a Pinotage tasting glass mould.
* A vine-dried unfiltered dessert wine, fermented in old barrels for one year, and not made from bortrytised grapes, was a sweet end to an interesting tasting. This wine is mainly produced for own use.
Riedel’s new head Maximilian Riedel says that ‘Riedel turns every sip into a celebration‘. Tarryn explained that Riedel has different glass ranges, the Vinum restaurant range being machine made and costing about R70 per glass. The Sommelier range is handblown, and costs about R800 per glass. Riedel is a family owned eleventh generation company run for the past 250 years. The glass design is based on stimulating the senses, including sight, the lead crystal letting in more light; the sound, when the glasses are clinked; the weight is perfect to get it to one’s mouth, and does not have a rim; and its taste, the design directing the wine perfectly to the palate. Riedel was the first glass manufacturer to create glasses made from Austrian crystal on the basis of ‘the content dictates the shape’. The tongue has different ‘taste zones‘, sweet upfront, followed by salt, acid, and bitterness right at the back. The shape of the varietal-specific glasses directs the wine to the taste zone it is intended for.
Riedel would like top restaurants and wine estates to stock their glasses, to bring out the best in their wines. Riedel is used at Creation and Hamilton Russell in Hermanus, Delaire Graff, La Motte, Rust en Vrede, Waterkloof, Reuben’s Franschhoek, and the Kove restaurant group, including Pepenero, Paranga, Zenzero and Bungalow. Tarryn is willing to do tastings of South African wine varietals in Cape Town, and is a passionate champion for our local wines, having worked with Fridjhon for the past eight years.
Sales and Marketing Manager Angela Jordaan explained that The Winery of Good Hope was established by Alex Dale, British born but who grew up in Burgundy, and winemaker Ben Radford, in conjunction with Edouard Labeye, who lives in the Rhone valley, and is the master blender, coming to the wine estate four times a year. Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz are the three lead varietals of the company, which has four brands: Radford Dale, The Winery of Good Hope (Bush Vine Pinotage, Oceanside Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Mountainside Shiraz, Reserve Pinot Noir, Bush Vine Chenin Blanc, and Unoaked Chardonnay), Land of Hope (an empowerment project which receives 50% of the proceeds in the Land of Hope Trust, to fund the education of the children and relatives of their farm workers, with a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Chenin Blanc), and Vinum Africa (Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc). All the wines of the company have screw caps, making them age better, giving the wines a better colour, and holding their structure better, Angela said. About three quarters of the wine is exported to eleven countries. The local market is important, but tough to crack, given the oversupply of wines in general. She emphasised that the passion of the company is to make quality wines.
The difference in taste of the Radford Dale wines in different glasses, and the enhanced taste of each wine in the appropriate Riedel varietal glass was an eye-opener to each of the guests at the tasting!
Riedel: The Wine Glass Company, The Reciprocal Wine Trading Company. Tel 073 304 7201. www.reciprocal.co.za Twitter: @ReciprocalWine
Radford Dale, The Winery of Good Hope, Stellenbosch. Tel (021) 855-5528. www.thewineryofgoodhope.co.za Twitter: @AngJordie Tasting by appointment only.
I ♥ my Laundry, 59 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town. Tel 084 660 0777 (Clayton)/083 6020291 (Mico) www.Ilovemylaundry.co.za Twitter:@ILovemyLaundry, Monday – Sunday.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
I spent the past weekend in my old hometown Wellington, and stayed at Grand Dédale Country House on the Doolhof wine estate, at the end of the Bovlei Road. Angelo of Grand Dédale had set up some appointments to visit the private wine estates (Nabygelegen and Klein Optenhorst). My wine estate visits were concentrated on the Bovlei Road (4 km of it is untarred, which rattled me and the car when I first arrived, but two days later it was no longer an issue), and my impression of this first taste of the fine Wellington wineries is one of overwhelming friendliness and good neighbourliness. I did not manage to visit all the wine estates in Wellington, and Welvanpas, Bosman Family Vineyards, Andreas, the Jorgensen Distillery (not a wine estate but producing very exciting spirits), and others will have to wait for a next visit:
Doolhof
The 380 ha wine estate lies at the end of the Bovlei Road, and while its name means labyrinth in Afrikaans, a cul de sac was also given this name. Doolhof belongs to Dorothy and Dennis Kerrison. Its soils are “finer, more balanced and deeper than in the surrounding countryside, with clay content evenly distributed”. The roots are able to grow to four meters and beyond, the Room Directory informs Grand Dédale guests. The location of the farm allows it to have cooler summers and warmer winters than the norm in Wellington. Less than 10 % of the farm is under vine. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot, Pinotage and Shiraz are grown. The remainder of the farmland is uncultivated, and consists largely of fynbos. The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative is supported by Doolhof, and a programme is in place to remove alien Black Wattles, and to plant indigenous wetland plants and trees. The cellar was started in 2004, and the tasting room once was the stables on the farm. Its architecture and interior decor reflects that of Grand Dédale Country House on the wine estate, but is less extravagant. The Doolhof hostess used the word “elegant” to describe it perfectly. One can sit inside the spacious airconditioned tasting room, or outside at a water feature. One can order food as well, I was told, and an arrangement with Grand Dédale Country House to provide this service has ended, with a dedicated chef starting next week, to prepare meals for the Doolhof tasting room visitors.
There are three Doolhof wine ranges, and their labels are equally elegant:
* the Cape range is the entry level range, and its wines are a blend of own grapes as well as those of other estates. Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Robin Rosé, Cape Boar (Merlot-based blend) and Cape Roan blend with Shiraz. The price ranges from R 33 – R49.
* the Signatures of Doolhof range is made from Doolhof grapes only, and Sauvignon Blanc (R54), Chardonnay Unwooded (R54), Chardonnay Barrel Fermented (R92), Cabernet Sauvignon (R70), Shiraz (R70), Pinotage (R86), Petit Verdot R124), Renaissance blend (R80), Merlot (R81) and Malbec (R124) is produced.
* the Legends of the Labyrinth range has three wines: The Minotaur is the most expensive wine sold at Doolhof, at R150, and is a blend of six grapes: Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz; Lady in Red is a Bordeaux-style blend (R70); and Dark Lady is a Pinotage with chocolate and mocha aromas (R70).
The Doolhof Tasting Room staff are smartly dressed, in blue shirts with Doolhof branding. Natasha was a self-confident and knowledgeable hostess, and made photocopies of more detailed notes on each wine, in colour, and for each wine a suitable food pairing suggestion is provided. A stem tag identifies the wine one is tasting, a professional touch. The brochure is attractive and professional looking. One can join the ‘Denizens of Doolhof Wine Club’, a rather unfortunate name! The wine estate is largely bottling with cork, but is planning to move more towards screwcaps in future.
It seems a shame that Grand Dédale and Doolhof do not interact more, by displaying each others brochures. The Grand Dédale Room Directory has detailed information about the wine estate. Both are on Twitter, and should support each other in that medium too. The Doolhof wines dominate the Grand Dédale wine list.
Doolhof Wine Estate, Bovlei Road, Wellington. Tel (021) 873- 6911. www.doolhof.com Monday – Saturday 10h00 – 17h00, Sunday 10h00 – 16h00
Dunstone Winery
Dunstone Boutique Winery opened in 2006, and 2,7 ha of the 4 ha is planted to vine. The name of the winery was chosen by its owners Lee and Abbi Wallis, Dunstone being the place in the United Kingdom in which the couple got engaged. A lot is made of the ‘stone’ part of the Dunstone name, in that the entrance wall is built from stone, there is a stone display as one walks from the tasting room to the garden, the vases with fly-deterrent branches have little stones in them, and the bill for The Stone Kitchen restaurant (separate review to come) comes with a large stone on the silver holder, to prevent it from flying away. I felt that the wine estate is “schizophrenic”, in not knowing what character it wishes to have, judging by its entrance, building and interior. The most beautiful stainless steel Weimaraner dog logo is erected on each of the walls at the entrance, in honour of the Wallis’ dog named Shiraz. The stainless steel dogs lead one to expect a very high-tech winery, being so new and with its strong use of stainless steel, and also as the winery calls itself ’boutique’, but the wine tasting building is very ordinary, without a defined architectural style. But what is even odder is the cottagey wood furniture in the tasting room, which also is the interior seating for the restaurant. The restaurant tables and chairs look really old-fashioned, and a long table has benches with cushions on them in different colours and patterns – the material from these have been laminated, and are used as (small) place mats in the restaurant. A lamp above the wine tasting counter has been made from a ‘wingerdstok’, and has fairy lights laced through it. The big stainless steel vats are in the room too, as is a display fridge with chef Johan van Schalkwyk’s muffins to buy, and some of his jams and muesli mixes which he sells, as well as trays of desserts he was serving at a wedding that same evening, as he also runs a catering company called Twist. The beautiful brochure for the winery creates even more confusion, in that it has a beautiful image of the Weimaraner logo on the stone wall, in silver, on the front cover, again giving the winery a very hi-tech image. The Dunstone labels also have the Weimaraner logo on them, also in silver.
Carina Stock is a friendly German wine hostess, and she will be increasingly involved in all aspects of the wine production. She studied art and jewellery design, and spent many years at Uitkyk, in restoring wallpaintings. She has worked at Boschendal and at DG Bellingham. More than 11000 bottles are produced per year. At Dunstone all vineyard work is done by hand, and tractors are not used. Carina offered me four Dunstone wines to taste: 
Rosé 2010 (R45): Crisp and dry, with strawberry, raspberries and plum.
Merlot 2007 (R65): Silver Medal won at Veritas Awards 2008 – full-bodied, ripe dark fruit, spices and oak, matured in French oak barrels for up to 14 months. The Merlot 2008 (R65) is a lighter wine.
Shiraz 2009 (R120): First 5-star Platter rating for a Wellington wine, in 2010 edition, for the 2008 vintage, as well as Gold won at International Wine Challenge and Old Mutual Trophy Awards, and Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards. 2008 vintage sold out. 2009 vintage described by Jancis Robinson as “Dry, baked nose but sufficiently juicy fruit on the palate.” The wine is matured in French, Hungarian and American oak for up to 14 months, is heavier, and “with a long finish”.
Adi Badenhorst is the consultant winemaker. Alli’s father Robert Frith is always on the farm during the harvest, Carina said. He encouraged the Wallis couple to take out some of the guava trees, and plant grapes, being a garagiste in the UK. Wine lovers are encouraged to come and help harvest the grapes and to participate in the winemaking process, even stomping the grapes, a personalised participation. One must call to ensure that there is harvest or winemaking activity taking place on a given day.
Dunstone Winery, Bovlei Road, Wellington. Tel (021) 873-6770. www.dunstone.co.za Open Monday – Friday 10h00 – 17h00, Saturday 11h00 – 15h00.
Bovlei Cellar
As one drives out of Wellington, towards the Bain’s Kloof Pass, the Bovlei winery is on the right, a co-operative of 32 farmers producing 8000 tonnes per year. Established in 1907, it is the oldest in Wellington (there are two others) and is the second oldest co-operative in South Africa, I was told by Tasting Room hostess Melissa van Wyk. The wines sold at Bovlei are extremely good value, but range in Platter rating from 2 – 3,5 stars.
There are four ranges:
* The winemakers selected specific grapes from specific members’ farms to make the Vineyard Selected Range, consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and a Shiraz/Mouvedré blend, all costing R50
* the rest of the members’ grapes go into the making of their Lifestyle range, consisting of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Beaukett, Gewürztraminer and Special Late Harvest, all costing between R 22 – R25. The reds are Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, at R30 a bottle. Rosé costs R20, and a sparkling Brut R30. The Shiraz won the Best Shiraz and Best Red in the 2010 “Quest for the Best” of Wellington competition.
* The Thomas Kipling range is available in Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Red, Dry White and Cabernet/Merlot blend, made exclusively for Pick ‘n Pay, Game and other liquor outlets, starting off at R19,99.
* The Bovlei Centenary Selection is available in a Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, each costing R35, a 100th birthday celebratory range made in 2007.
Bovlei Cellar, Bain’s Kloof Road, Wellington. Tel (021) 873-1567. www.bovlei.co.za Monday – Friday 8h00 – 17h00, Saturday 8h30 – 12h30.
Nabygelegen:
I was extremely fortunate to get an appointment to meet James McKenzie, from the private wine estate that is highly rated by wine writer Neil Pendock, I was told. A misunderstanding about my expected time of arrival was quickly forgiven by James, and he patiently sat with me, doing a detailed tasting of his Nabygelegen and Snow Mountain ranges. He told me that he bought the 35ha farm (19,5ha under vine) ten years ago, having been a banker in London and Zürich. He was so determined to become a winemaker that he studied wine making by correspondence course, and first worked on wine farms in France, Spain, New Zealand and Chile, to learn from them. The farm dates back to 1712, and one of his wines is named after this date. He is hands-on, harvesting, marketing, receiving journalists, wine-making, organising the use of the cottage by guests, and the planned use of the old stables as a winetasting facility and restaurant. Johan Wiese is a consultant viticulturist for Nabygelegen. The pricelist states that his wines are “handcrafted wines”. The brochure states the mission of Nabygelegen to be “To create of wines character and concentration reflecting vineyard specific terroir, using environmentally sound techniques, subscribe to ethical labour practices and enthusiastically pursue upliftment in the valley”. It recommends a suitable food type to eat with each of the wines. James makes the Nabygelegen range, utilising grapes from his own farm, which consists of the following:
* Sauvignon B
lanc 2010 (R40) – very fruity, the best Sauvignon Blanc he has made to date, James said, and his 2010 vintage of 6000 bottles has just sold out
* Lady Anna 2009 (R32) – a light and fruity chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc and semillion blend, named after the neighbouring farm owner Anna Lategan, who is respected for having freed her slaves a number of years ahead of the official abolition of slavery in 1815. Her ghost is said to wander on Nabygelegen and De Compagne, the neighbouring farm!
* Chenin Blanc 2009 (R45) – full-bodied chenin, which is barrel fermented
* Scaramanga 2008 (R50) – the Spanish nickname for Tempranillo, and also the name of the “baddie” character in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ Bond movie. Tempranillo is one of the grape types from which this wine is made, with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. It is made in the New World style, with focus on its flavour and smell. Only four wine estates grow Tempranillo in South Africa. It is an upfront wine.
* Merlot 2007 (R62) – sweet cherry and berry
* Petit Verdot 2008 (R80) – intense fruit with layers of vanilla and chocolate
* Seventeen Twelve 2006 (R90) – a classic Bordeaux Blend of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon,
The Snow Mountain range was launched last year, out of a need for a more pronounceable name for the English market, and it was named after Sneeukop, the highest mountain peak in Wellington. The grapes are bought in from other Wellington farms, which are higher up, and therefore grow in a ‘continental climate’ and not a Mediterranean one, as do most other local wines, excellent for the production of the Pinot Noir in particular, he said.
* Rosé 2009 (R30) – made in the French style, not sweet, served at Wimbledon
* Pinot Noir 2009 (R90) – highly regarded, has been served at Kensington and Buckingham Palaces
One of James’ greatest enjoyments is the ‘number of beautiful places’ in which his wines are sold. I asked him which these are, and his top three are the following: Librije’s in Zusje in Holland; Claridges in London; and The Green and Blue Wine Shop in London, owned by ex-South African Kate Thal. We started tasting in the tasting room initially, tasting the whites and Rosé, then walked through the maturation cellar, which is used as a function venue, for which James’ friend Matthew Gordon from Franschhoek cooks, and tasted the Pinot Noir and reds in a most special tiny underground cellar, which has a glass window showing the soil depth and the rock formation. I was lucky enough to be given a bottle of the Snow Mountain Shiraz 2009, which has not yet been released.
Nabygelegen, Bovlei Road, Wellington. Tel (021) 873-7534. www.nabygelegen.co.za Monday – Friday 10h00 – 16h30, Saturday 9h00 – 12h30.
Klein Optenhorst
Jenny and Naas Ferriera have lived on Klein Optenhorst since 1987, on a farm that once was the home of my classmate Beverly Pywell and her family, and which I had visited for birthday parties. A small 1 ha property has Pinot Noir grapes and the most beautiful garden, which the Ferreiras developed over time. A gazebo with a whale weathervane has become the logo for the boutique wine estate, and caught my eye immediately. Since 1994 the family produced Pinot Noir, but last year decided to make a Pinot Noir MCC sparkling wine instead, uti
lising the talents of Pieter Ferriera, whose wife Ann is the niece of Naas. I was offered a glass of the beautiful bubbly by Ferreira daughter Jane Eedes, who is marketing the sparkling wine, a total of 1592 bottles of this maiden vintage having been produced. The inspiration for the label design by Eddy Haumann is the salvias from Jenny’s garden. I was treated to a guided tour of the garden, and was most generously given a bottle of the Pinot Noir as well as the Pinot Noir MCC.
Klein Optenhorst, Bovlei Road, Wellington. Tel Jane Eedes 083 324 6855.
Diemersfontein
Located at the entrance to Wellington from the Paarl side, Diemersfontein has become a ‘residential estate’, is a wine farm, a spa, has a preparatory school, and has 30 rooms of accommodation. I have not been to Diemersfontein for many years, and have not ever drunk their wines nor seen their wine tasting room. I had booked a table for lunch, and had a vision of an old manor house with a big stoep, which was the original Diemersfontein homestead. It is only used as accommodation and David Sonnenberg, the current owner, has an office there, I was told. The Sonnenberg family (linked to Woolworths) has owned Diemersfontein since 1943, and originally apricots were the main fruit harvest. Then export plums were farmed. Wine has been made in the past ten years, and the property is described as a “Residential Wine Estate”.
I was disappointed to find a modern building which houses both the restaurant Seasons (see review) and the Tasting Room. The Tasting Room was not immediately visible, and we could not work out which door was unlocked, to allow us to enter. It is small, compared to some of the others I visited in Wellington over the weekend, just containing a counter with bar chairs. Aubern was friendly, and hunted down the last brochure for the wine estate. Brett Rightford is the cellarmaster, and he is responsible for making all the Diemersfontein wines other than Pinotage, which is the responsibility of Francois Roode.
There are three ranges at Diemersfontein, for which 70 % of the grapes come from the estate, and the remainder are bought from other Wellington farms. The Platter star rating of each wine is listed on the price list:
* Carpe Diem is the flagship, and its wines are matured in French and American oak for 15 months as a minimum. The Pinotage 2008 was awarded 4,5 stars by Platter, and is sold out. Prices are on the high side, between R 89 (Chenin Blanc and Viognier) and R110 for Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Malbec.
* The Diemersfontein range spends 6 months in oak, and is priced at R70, only the Pinotage being slightly more expensive. There is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Summer’s Lease Shiraz-based blend and a Heaven’s Eye Bordeaux-style blend. A red blend called “For the Birds!” sells at a low price of R45, and 10 % of sales goes to the “Save our Seabirds” Fund of Birdlife South Africa
* The Thokozani range was launched last year, and is an empowerment project, with staff, investors and the Sonnenbergs as shareholders, and Aubern is focused on his goal to become a shareholder too. The Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay/Viognier blend costs R49, Rosé R 39, and the Shiraz/Mourvedré/Viognier blend costs R 69.
For its good reputation, duration of wine production, and stature of wine estate, I was disappointed with the lack of marketing collateral, photocopied price list, and the ‘ordinariness’ and small size of the tasting room. Diemersfontein came across as the most ‘commercialised’ of the Wellington wine estates I visited, yet was friendly too.
Diemersfontein Wines, Jan van Riebeeck Drive, Wellington. Tel (021) 864-5050. www.diemersfontein.co.za Monday – Sunday 10h00 – 17h00.
A tear-off map of Wellington’s accommodation, wine estates, restaurants and shops was printed about three years ago, but does not appear to have been updated. It is similar to the excellent Franschhoek Wine Valley map, providing not only a location perspective, but also the contact details and tasting times. It appears to have been replaced with a recent brochure on Wellington. An update of the tear-off map for the wine estates would be a good idea, to encourage winelovers to visit as many wine estates as they can. A website of the Wellington Wine Route, or even a blog, may be a consideration too.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage