* This article first appeared here for WANTED Online
Wine routes fan out from Cape Town like rivers in a tributary; choosing which to explore can be a difficult choice. Touching down from London after a few months abroad, I was in search of something unique, hopefully combining three things I was most missing from home: wildlife, wilderness and wine.
Idiom Wines
Taking one of the N2’s last left turns before ascending Sir Lowry’s Pass, Idiom Wines is certainly worth the short detour. The approach is one of anticipation, as the road winds higher through farmland; every minute the towering mountains draw closer. Eventually, the impressive Idiom Restaurant & Idiom Wine Tasting Centre comes into view: an art piece itself, with stone arches as nods to the mountains and glass walls that surrender to the views. It’s no wonder Idiom has clinched awards titled “Best Panoramic View” and “Most Scenic Gourmet Dining Venue”.
I’m invited to start with a unique introduction to the terroir: Idiom Wines offers a two-hour eco-safari through their reserve, taking in pristine fynbos belts, wildlife, and towering mountains. With just over 10% under vine, vast swathes of land sit at the foothills of the mountains. With a Master’s in restoration ecology, our guide Andrew was perfectly poised to give us an introduction to the flora and fauna that shared the land – including Zebra, Springbok, Bontebok, and Blue Wildebeest.
The drive includes a stop at a scenic vantage point. As the tails of Sugarbirds ribboned past us as they flashed from protea to protea, we sipped on Idiom’s Amphitheatre of Dreams Cape Red blend – a bold wine to celebrate the dramatic views surrounding us. Transfixed by the landscape, we returned to the restaurant for a 3-course lunch, paired with the estate’s wines.
While you’ll find several of the usual South African grape suspects, Idiom Wines hangs its hat on growing European – notably Italian – varietals and giving them a South African expression. Rarer examples include Nebbiolo, Barbera and Sangiovese, and blends such as the Bordeaux-inspired Bordicon, Rhône-inspired Rodanico, and Iberian-inspired Iberico.
Highlights were the Sangiovese with its ripe, jammy red fruit, paired with the ostrich carpaccio; the seductive, deep-red Barbera with creamy asparagus risotto; and the velvety, herbaceous Zinfandel served with lamb rack. For a son-of-the-soil, fresh off the plane, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting first stop, where a celebration of wildlife, wilderness, and wine comes together – grounded in South Africa, with a distinctive Italian touch.
It is also worth mentioning that Idiom’s expansive library collection offers the opportunity to own older vintages, such as the Idiom ‘R’ – Rodanico Blend 2016, Idiom SMV – Rhône Style Blend 2015, and Idiom Cape Blend 2015. These carefully preserved older vintages reveal layer upon layer of complexity. It’s a confident gesture—one that speaks volumes about the estate’s commitment to quality and reminded me that with my overdue trip home, some of life’s finest pleasures are worth waiting for. idiom.co.za
Benguela Cove
Following majestic mountains, I took the coastal Clarence Drive towards Hermanus, skirting between rugged coastline with towering cliffs. Just over an hour in, I turned into Benguela Cove – a regular feature on the World’s Best Vineyards Top 100 awards. This time it was not in the modern tasting room where I’d be sipping wine, but on a boat. Taking advantage of straddling the Botrivier Lagoon, Benguela Cove offers a tasting experience aboard “Lady Bonnie”, their stylish pontoon that gently cruises the lagoon.
Guests can purchase any wine of their choice ahead of the cruise – with a bottle of the sparkling Cap Classique Benguela Cove Cuvée 58 in hand, the skipper welcomed us onboard. Over the course of an hour, breathtaking lagoon vistas leisurely pass by – a biosphere beautifully shaped by its maritime presence. I’d opted to include a picnic lunch, and rather than disgorging the basket of its enticing treats mid-way, our cruise included a surprise stop.
We docked alongside the sandbank that separated the lagoon and ocean, and taking our shoes off, could walk onto the sand for a little excursion. From both boat and sandbank, the passing Southern Right Whales are easily spotted as they hug the shallow waters of the shoreline. The Ramsar-protected wetland is also home to an astounding near-400 species of birds.
Returning to the boat again, the picnic was laid out, and it was time to enjoy the spoils. Accompanying the generous spread was my long-time favourite, the Benguela Cove Chardonnay: a benchmark of the variety with a balance between stone fruit and orange zest, and creamy shortbread.
Back at the restaurant, the tasting experience continues with bottles of their cool-climate wines – along with dining at Moody Lagoon Restaurant if you didn’t eat on board. The boat trips run from Wednesday to Sunday, weather permitting. An insider’s tip if you didn’t know: Benguela Cove has a sister estate in England, Leonardslee Gardens, where owner Penny Streeter OBE has poured the same amount of energy and excellence into the hospitality offerings. Certainly, worth adding to your UK wish list.
In the late afternoon, we watched as the sun and clouds shaped a phantasmagorical show across the distant Overberg mountains. I was savouring the last few sips of Benguela Cove Joie De Vivre Brut – after 36 months on the lees, it was a Cap Classique with enough complexity and beauty to match the dramatic surrounds. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly with the privilege of being home: possibly the only wine region in the world that so wonderfully takes in wildlife, wilderness, and wine. benguelacove.co.za
