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:

robben island

    Food & DrinkSouth AfricaTravel

    Tales from the Underground

    by Jared March 9, 2021
    written by Jared

     * This article first appeared here in Khuluma Magazine, March 2021

    You’d be forgiven for assuming that the Winelands were all about sipping your way through tasting sessions that, after the third, all start to sound the same. Thankfully some of the Western Cape’s wine regions are setting themselves aside from the rest by offering some slightly offbeat, non-stereotypical experiences, with some rather interesting stories as an accompaniment. Robertson is one such region; our journey starts, however, in a rather surprising location.

    Robben Island has played various roles over the past centuries, including a post office, grazing ground and most notably a prison. You may know that Nelson Mandela penned the bulk of his opus Long Walk to Freedom in the prison and hid the manuscript in the prison garden. But what you may not know, is that he buried the script only metres away from some grapevines.

    It would be over a decade later when Philip Jonker (a winemaker from the Robertson Valley’s Weltevrede Wine Estate) discovered the old and neglected vines…and it didn’t take long for a plan to be formed.

    After being appointed custodians of the vines, many visits were made to the island to ensure the vines were nurtured to full health. Frustratingly, the two harvests were gobbled up by ravenous birds before the team could get to them. Luckily after the use of nets, in 2012 the first vintage could be made with the yield of 182kgs of fruit. Nelson Mandela was given a bottle of wine, aptly named Parable, for his 94th Birthday.

    This is one of many fascinating stories in the Weltevrede depository: a visit the farm to hear the others remains one of the most memorable wine encounters I’ve had. The experience is made more ethereal by the fact that it happens underground. Many of the farms have disused underground storage tanks, and Weltevrede is one of a few that have broken some of the containing walls, creating a lair of underground passages. It is at the end of one of these that you’ll find a candlelit tasting room – and some of the finest Chardonnays that I’ve sipped. weltevrede.co.za

    You don’t have to venture far for another unique encounter. Fifteen minutes later and you have turned the tables at Zandvliet. Instead of being the recipient of a tutored tasting you can play winemaker and blend your own wine. The farm is well-known for its Shiraz; you’re also offered Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre to experiment with. You’ll go through the whole process of blending, bottling, corking and labelling your own creation. The experience lasts just under an hour, includes a cellar tour and the best part is that it only costs R150 per person, including the bottle of wine that you get to take home. http://weltevrede.co.zazandvliet.co.za

    Continue to meander down the valley and you’re at Esona for another underground tasting experience, but with a twist. We’ve all heard the wino highbrows claim that it’s all about the right glass, and a visit to Esona puts it to the test. A variety of specialist Riedel glasses are used to taste the farm’s wines, and yes, you’ll probably not ever look at a wine glass the way you did before. It’s a fully sensorial experience that includes music, snacks, and art. esona.co.za

    Ask many diehard Bordeaux fans what the varietals are in the region’s famed blend, and they’ll happily roll off the five usual suspects. Most, however, don’t know that there is a forgotten sixth varietal – Carménère. Thought to be lost for centuries, only in 1994 was it discovered that there were some plantings in Chile masquerading as Merlot. Lozärn Wines is now South Africa’s premier producer, and you can join winemaker Salome for an information tasting in the heart of the cellar and learn about one of South Africa’s most intriguing wines. lozarn.co.za

     John Loubser is no new hand in the wine industry. After decades of winemaking for some of SA’s biggest names, it seems he has left some of the best for Silverthorn Wines…his own brand. In the recently opened and beautifully renovated tasting room, you have the pleasure of being introduced to each of the three MCCs in his range. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better blend of boutique and bubbly bliss. silverthornwines.co.za

    For those who may have started their drinking careers with Four Cousins but later parted ways, it may be time for a family reunion. The brand home in Robertson is a rather debonair endeavour, offering countless quirky tasting options, notwithstanding a spacious and stylish restaurant. Arrive hungry. fourcousins.co.za

     

    Where to rest your head

    Thankfully the Langeberg has no shortage of places to rest your head after a day’s exploring. Montagu Country Hotel is South Africa’s original Art Deco hotel and period fans will revel in both the architecture and impressive furniture collection. Be sure to sign up for a drive in one of their three American Dream Cars. montagucountryhotel.co.za

    Technology and sustainability are perfectly paired up at the LAB (a trio of new lodges in the Western Cape). The Robertson edition offers starting views from their chic lodgings, and for a small fee, you can hire their e-bikes and go explore the area. thelab.africa

    If it’s a remote and rustic escape you’re really after, Windfall Wine offers mountainous getaways in their various cottages. They’re affordable and from the tranquillity of your veranda you can sit and watch the clouds fall over the mountains, of course enjoying a glass of their boutique wine. Windfallwine. windfallwine.co.za

    On a conscientious last note – in the interests of responsible driving – you may be relieved to know that Robertson sports a rather unique transport option. The Wine Valley Safari truck whisks visitors around a few of the Robertson routes, from set tours to custom-built itineraries.  winevalleysafari.com

    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