Jaredincpt.com
travel journalist connecting people & experiences
  • Home
  • BLOG
    • All Cape Town Food & Drink International Travel Interviews Lifestyle South Africa Spirituality
      Travel

      Derick van Biljon’s Date-Dazzling Steak

      Travel

      Rescue and Release – A South African Rhino…

      Travel

      Private Staycations: 3 Unforgettable Coastal Escapes

      Travel

      Cape Town: Alive and ready for Summer

      South Africa

      Sizzling Summer Vacations

      South Africa

      Unique South African Safari Experiences

      Travel

      The Montagu Magic

      Travel

      SALUT! Travel Feature: Two Winelands Staycations

      Cape Town

      The Quarter Kitchen Giveaway: Cape Town’s home of…

      Cape Town

      Cape Town Hidden Gems: Part 2

      Cape Town

      Christmas Wishlist 2018

      Cape Town

      A Paarl Winelands Experience

      Cape Town

      3 New Drinking Spots in Cape Town

      Cape Town

      Kagga Kamma: A Bucket-list African Experience

      Cape Town

      South African Heritage Road Trip

      Cape Town

      Men’s Lifesyle Series 4: Meet the Stylist

      Food & Drink

      Meet the New Generation of Whisky Drinkers

      Food & Drink

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Food & Drink

      Quoin Rock: South Africa’s Golden Vineyard

      Food & Drink

      Tales from the Underground

      Food & Drink

      Flavours So Fyn

      Food & Drink

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Food & Drink

      Four must-have South African wines for your collection

      Food & Drink

      A Heavenly Wine Staycation: The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

      International Travel

      Three Quintessential UK Experiences

      International Travel

      Island Hopping in the Philippines

      International Travel

      Braving the Bravarian Alps

      International Travel

      Wilderness in Waiting: Conservation During COVID

      International Travel

      Seychelles Honeymoon: Sexy and Secluded Solitude

      International Travel

      Gourmet Experiences in New Zealand’s Boutique Wine Town

      International Travel

      Seychelles on a shoestring: Making Memories in Mahé

      International Travel

      The South African’s Guide to New Zealand

      Interviews

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Interviews

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Interviews

      Wilderness in Waiting: ⁣Bringing Safari Home

      Interviews

      Wilderness in Waiting: Conservation During COVID

      Interviews

      Food for Thought: What happens to our surplus…

      Interviews

      The Quarter Kitchen Giveaway: Cape Town’s home of…

      Interviews

      3 Trends Influencing the Travel Industry

      Interviews

      Hope for Joburg: Interview with Franck Leya

      Lifestyle

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Lifestyle

      My Home Design Finds…

      Lifestyle

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Lifestyle

      Wilderness in Waiting: Safari by the Book with…

      Lifestyle

      Braving the Bravarian Alps

      Lifestyle

      A Franschhoek Fling

      Lifestyle

      My Heritage Journey with Mr D Food

      Lifestyle

      Facing Fears: The Fitness Journey

      South Africa

      Sizzling Summer Vacations

      South Africa

      Unique South African Safari Experiences

      South Africa

      The Best of Boutique

      South Africa

      Take to the Trees: 3 South African Treetop…

      South Africa

      Three country cottages to Wine away during Winter

      South Africa

      My Home Design Finds…

      South Africa

      Quoin Rock: South Africa’s Golden Vineyard

      South Africa

      The Manor House: The Byword for Golf and…

      Spirituality

      Navigating Depression: A Personal Reflection

      Spirituality

      Walking Italy: The Way of St Francis

      Spirituality

      What is Devastation?

      Spirituality

      A Letter to Myself

      Spirituality

      Love, Hope and Faith

      Spirituality

      What I'm Learning

      Spirituality

      Words and Pictures

      Spirituality

      The Locked Church

  • MY TOP 10
  • TRAVEL GUIDE
  • CAPE TOWN GUIDE
  • MEET JARED
  • PORTFOLIO
  • Contact
Tag:

jan harmsgat country house

    Food & DrinkSouth AfricaTravel

    3 Unique Robertson Food & Wine Experiences

    by Jared April 2, 2020
    written by Jared
    * this article first appeared here on food24.com

    Traveling Easterly from Cape Town, Route 62 is an inland alternative to the N2, and invites travellers to discover a string of charming towns along the way. For three days I explored Robertson, discovering unique food and wine experiences to be had in the Valley.

    1. Jan Harmsgat Country House and Boutique Wines

    A giant white arch greets you as you drive into the gates at Jan Harmsgat, a farm with an impressive 295-year history. I’d come across their wine at a tasting function in Cape Town, and ever since have been keen to visit the farm. I was surprised to discover that their core business is pomegranates for export. After having to waste several tonnes of sun-burnt fruit, the decision was to make pomegranate juice. I’ve discovered that the world’s oldest fruit has some remarkable medical properties. A shot of pomegranate juice a day keeps the doctor away!

    I was however, most interested in tasting their wine. An intimate 16 hectares are under vine, and all the wines are from single block vineyards. This allows for a full expression of the wine, as each varietal is a pure reflection of its relationship with the terroir. I was totally charmed by the Chardonnay: made with completely natural fermentation, then 10 months on 4thfill oak, results in a beautiful marriage of citrus and vanilla. The 2016 Pinotage is a new release – and is absolute velvety wonder. I was delighted to discover that the farm offers a rather unique tasting option.
    Most afternoons, there is a ‘Backlands Farm Tour’ on offer, where you have the chance to experience the property from a game drive vehicle: on our short drive, we spotted a pair of Cape Foxes, a Scrub Hare and a herd of Black Wildebeest.

    The drive pauses on the top of one of the hills, offering astounding views of the valleys around, and the perfect place for a wine tasting. The experience costs R150 and often includes a sunset fire and a picnic. If you’re in the mood for some classy country cuisine, then their restaurant, Just Amy, is bound to hit the spot.  If this all sounds too lovely for a mere afternoon’s visit, then you’re in luck as the farm boasts a five-star Country House. Come for the wine and stay for the weekend.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Jared in Cape Town & Joburg 🇿🇦 (@jaredincpt)

    2. Rooiberg Wines

    My second stop was the legendary Rooiberg Wines. The name has also become synonymous with a variety of quirky red art installations along the road. I discovered these pieces are an expression of the creativity and innovation embodied by the team at Rooiberg. The most recent of these is the giant Red Chair – the largest of its kind in Africa, and even has a range of wine named after it! But what about the wine: does a larger establishment lose some of its focus on producing top wines? I had the privilege of being escorted around the property by winemaker André van Dyk, and was about to find out.

    Twenty farms contribute their yield to Rooiberg’s cellar, from an impressively combined 760 hectares under vine! I knew there’d have to be a rather large cellar to handle that kind of volume. I felt completely overwhelmed standing among the soaring 90000-litre steel tanks – each holding 120k bottles of wine! A staggering variety of wines are produced at Rooiberg, found not only under their own name, but also branded for Woolworths, Protea Hotels, and more. Most winemakers have a favourite child in their bouquet of wines, and for Andre it’s his Pinotage. He told me it’s a “truly South African wine and can be your best friend or worst enemy depending on how you handle it”. I was satisfied after tasting that he knew what he was doing. Even the easy drinking Red Chair Pinotage was a great wine – especially at only R44 a bottle.

    Perhaps what will remain most firmly etched in my mind, was the ‘Wine High Tea’. Expecting a usual wine tasting, I was completely taken back discovering a full setting for a combined high tea and wine tasting. A variety of fruits, pastries, and cakes awaited, all to be experimented with the various food options. Creative tasting options have become par for the course at wine farms, but this was a first for me, and hopefully not my last. Rooiberg may not be a conventional wine farm but is an exciting option not to be overlooked.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Jared in Cape Town & Joburg 🇿🇦 (@jaredincpt)

    3. Mont Blois Wines

    On my last visit, waves of gentle rain welcomed us to Mont Blois Wines, with the clouds occasionally lifting and providing haunting beautiful vistas of the towering mountains that surround the farm. Although plans are afoot for a unique tasting room, currently you’re treated to an intimate tasting experience as the winemaker meets and greets you on the veranda of their stately Cape Dutch manor house. Nina, a daughter of Pretoria, wasn’t interested in following her father’s medical footsteps, rather deciding to pursue winemaking at Stellenbosch. Not only did she fall in love with the trade, but also Ernst Bruwer, a fellow student from Robertson.

    The fruit of their relationship is now the exceptional wines produced at Mont Blois, with Ernst at the helm of viticulture, and Nina the winemaking. She chuckles: “He gives me the perfect grapes, and I just mustn’t mess it up.” Within minutes of our tasting, it’s clear she doesn’t… at all. The Bruwer family have been farming on the property for six generations, with the wine production starting from 1884. Originally the farm was known for its Muscadel, which is now complemented with some exquisitely delicious white wines.

    The wines are all hand-picked, hand-pressed and made with all-natural fermentation. There’s also no batonnage or stirring of the lees, so the wines are leaner, but still have distinctive flavouring. My first favourite was the Kweekkamp Chardonnay – grown above terra firma in a sheep camp, and below in limestone. Secondly, the Groot Steen, the farm’s wooded Chenin Blanc is also a winner, both complex and inviting. Very limited barrels are produced, so after your intimate tasting experience, make sure to take home some wine.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Jared in Cape Town & Joburg 🇿🇦 (@jaredincpt)

    Where to Stay

    • The Small Hotel for the best in boutique bliss
    • Jan Harmsgat Country House for an exclusive country getaway
    • Africamps Patbusch for a tented mountain escape
    • theLAB for a tech-smaart and eco-friendly stay
    0 comment
    0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail

SEARCH

Get Travel Inspiration

Add your email below to receive travel inspiration!

Recent Posts

  • Derick van Biljon’s Date-Dazzling Steak
  • Rescue and Release – A South African Rhino First
  • Private Staycations: 3 Unforgettable Coastal Escapes
  • Cape Town: Alive and ready for Summer
  • Sizzling Summer Vacations

Instagram

Categories

  • Cape Town
  • Food & Drink
  • International Travel
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • South Africa
  • Spirituality
  • Sponsored
  • Travel

SA & Corona Virus

Find out more on the national response website: sacoronavirus.co.za

Keep Updated

Add your email below to receive travel inspiration!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Email

Back To Top
Jaredincpt.com
  • Home
  • BLOG
    • All Cape Town Food & Drink International Travel Interviews Lifestyle South Africa Spirituality
      Travel

      Derick van Biljon’s Date-Dazzling Steak

      Travel

      Rescue and Release – A South African Rhino…

      Travel

      Private Staycations: 3 Unforgettable Coastal Escapes

      Travel

      Cape Town: Alive and ready for Summer

      South Africa

      Sizzling Summer Vacations

      South Africa

      Unique South African Safari Experiences

      Travel

      The Montagu Magic

      Travel

      SALUT! Travel Feature: Two Winelands Staycations

      Cape Town

      The Quarter Kitchen Giveaway: Cape Town’s home of…

      Cape Town

      Cape Town Hidden Gems: Part 2

      Cape Town

      Christmas Wishlist 2018

      Cape Town

      A Paarl Winelands Experience

      Cape Town

      3 New Drinking Spots in Cape Town

      Cape Town

      Kagga Kamma: A Bucket-list African Experience

      Cape Town

      South African Heritage Road Trip

      Cape Town

      Men’s Lifesyle Series 4: Meet the Stylist

      Food & Drink

      Meet the New Generation of Whisky Drinkers

      Food & Drink

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Food & Drink

      Quoin Rock: South Africa’s Golden Vineyard

      Food & Drink

      Tales from the Underground

      Food & Drink

      Flavours So Fyn

      Food & Drink

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Food & Drink

      Four must-have South African wines for your collection

      Food & Drink

      A Heavenly Wine Staycation: The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

      International Travel

      Three Quintessential UK Experiences

      International Travel

      Island Hopping in the Philippines

      International Travel

      Braving the Bravarian Alps

      International Travel

      Wilderness in Waiting: Conservation During COVID

      International Travel

      Seychelles Honeymoon: Sexy and Secluded Solitude

      International Travel

      Gourmet Experiences in New Zealand’s Boutique Wine Town

      International Travel

      Seychelles on a shoestring: Making Memories in Mahé

      International Travel

      The South African’s Guide to New Zealand

      Interviews

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Interviews

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Interviews

      Wilderness in Waiting: ⁣Bringing Safari Home

      Interviews

      Wilderness in Waiting: Conservation During COVID

      Interviews

      Food for Thought: What happens to our surplus…

      Interviews

      The Quarter Kitchen Giveaway: Cape Town’s home of…

      Interviews

      3 Trends Influencing the Travel Industry

      Interviews

      Hope for Joburg: Interview with Franck Leya

      Lifestyle

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Lifestyle

      My Home Design Finds…

      Lifestyle

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Lifestyle

      Wilderness in Waiting: Safari by the Book with…

      Lifestyle

      Braving the Bravarian Alps

      Lifestyle

      A Franschhoek Fling

      Lifestyle

      My Heritage Journey with Mr D Food

      Lifestyle

      Facing Fears: The Fitness Journey

      South Africa

      Sizzling Summer Vacations

      South Africa

      Unique South African Safari Experiences

      South Africa

      The Best of Boutique

      South Africa

      Take to the Trees: 3 South African Treetop…

      South Africa

      Three country cottages to Wine away during Winter

      South Africa

      My Home Design Finds…

      South Africa

      Quoin Rock: South Africa’s Golden Vineyard

      South Africa

      The Manor House: The Byword for Golf and…

      Spirituality

      Navigating Depression: A Personal Reflection

      Spirituality

      Walking Italy: The Way of St Francis

      Spirituality

      What is Devastation?

      Spirituality

      A Letter to Myself

      Spirituality

      Love, Hope and Faith

      Spirituality

      What I'm Learning

      Spirituality

      Words and Pictures

      Spirituality

      The Locked Church

  • MY TOP 10
  • TRAVEL GUIDE
  • CAPE TOWN GUIDE
  • MEET JARED
  • PORTFOLIO
  • Contact
Jaredincpt.com
  • Home
  • BLOG
    • All Cape Town Food & Drink International Travel Interviews Lifestyle South Africa Spirituality
      Travel

      Derick van Biljon’s Date-Dazzling Steak

      Travel

      Rescue and Release – A South African Rhino…

      Travel

      Private Staycations: 3 Unforgettable Coastal Escapes

      Travel

      Cape Town: Alive and ready for Summer

      South Africa

      Sizzling Summer Vacations

      South Africa

      Unique South African Safari Experiences

      Travel

      The Montagu Magic

      Travel

      SALUT! Travel Feature: Two Winelands Staycations

      Cape Town

      The Quarter Kitchen Giveaway: Cape Town’s home of…

      Cape Town

      Cape Town Hidden Gems: Part 2

      Cape Town

      Christmas Wishlist 2018

      Cape Town

      A Paarl Winelands Experience

      Cape Town

      3 New Drinking Spots in Cape Town

      Cape Town

      Kagga Kamma: A Bucket-list African Experience

      Cape Town

      South African Heritage Road Trip

      Cape Town

      Men’s Lifesyle Series 4: Meet the Stylist

      Food & Drink

      Meet the New Generation of Whisky Drinkers

      Food & Drink

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Food & Drink

      Quoin Rock: South Africa’s Golden Vineyard

      Food & Drink

      Tales from the Underground

      Food & Drink

      Flavours So Fyn

      Food & Drink

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Food & Drink

      Four must-have South African wines for your collection

      Food & Drink

      A Heavenly Wine Staycation: The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

      International Travel

      Three Quintessential UK Experiences

      International Travel

      Island Hopping in the Philippines

      International Travel

      Braving the Bravarian Alps

      International Travel

      Wilderness in Waiting: Conservation During COVID

      International Travel

      Seychelles Honeymoon: Sexy and Secluded Solitude

      International Travel

      Gourmet Experiences in New Zealand’s Boutique Wine Town

      International Travel

      Seychelles on a shoestring: Making Memories in Mahé

      International Travel

      The South African’s Guide to New Zealand

      Interviews

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Interviews

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Interviews

      Wilderness in Waiting: ⁣Bringing Safari Home

      Interviews

      Wilderness in Waiting: Conservation During COVID

      Interviews

      Food for Thought: What happens to our surplus…

      Interviews

      The Quarter Kitchen Giveaway: Cape Town’s home of…

      Interviews

      3 Trends Influencing the Travel Industry

      Interviews

      Hope for Joburg: Interview with Franck Leya

      Lifestyle

      South Africa: A World of Wine

      Lifestyle

      My Home Design Finds…

      Lifestyle

      Plettenberg Bay: SA’s best Beach and now Cap…

      Lifestyle

      Wilderness in Waiting: Safari by the Book with…

      Lifestyle

      Braving the Bravarian Alps

      Lifestyle

      A Franschhoek Fling

      Lifestyle

      My Heritage Journey with Mr D Food

      Lifestyle

      Facing Fears: The Fitness Journey

      South Africa

      Sizzling Summer Vacations

      South Africa

      Unique South African Safari Experiences

      South Africa

      The Best of Boutique

      South Africa

      Take to the Trees: 3 South African Treetop…

      South Africa

      Three country cottages to Wine away during Winter

      South Africa

      My Home Design Finds…

      South Africa

      Quoin Rock: South Africa’s Golden Vineyard

      South Africa

      The Manor House: The Byword for Golf and…

      Spirituality

      Navigating Depression: A Personal Reflection

      Spirituality

      Walking Italy: The Way of St Francis

      Spirituality

      What is Devastation?

      Spirituality

      A Letter to Myself

      Spirituality

      Love, Hope and Faith

      Spirituality

      What I'm Learning

      Spirituality

      Words and Pictures

      Spirituality

      The Locked Church

  • MY TOP 10
  • TRAVEL GUIDE
  • CAPE TOWN GUIDE
  • MEET JARED
  • PORTFOLIO
  • Contact