Feb 28 2013

After picking up Katie & Chantelle at the Cape Town airport, we headed to Stellenbosch stopping at the 300 year old Vergelegen wine estate for picnic lunch.   This was a most magnificent meal of meats and salads with an excellent Sauvignon Blanc at a table under the camphor trees, planted in 1706, followed by wine tasting number 1 (except poor Jeff, driver).
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Next day, we headed out a full day’s wine touring around Stellenbosch visiting 4 wineries and tasted 5 or 6 wines at each, picking up a few bottles to try later – a glorious day, beautiful sunny weather and some superb wines.  We love Stellembosch.
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The third day highlight was a return to the Begrkelder Wine Bank where we’ve had a dozen Allesverloren 2007 Shiraz maturing since 2008.  Staff took us to the cellar, opened a bottle of our wine (from their stock, not ours) plus a 2009 Shiraz and a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon for comparison and told us if we couldn’t finish the 3 bottles to take them with us!  We were most impressed with our wine.  After, Katie and Chantelle asked if the Pinotage aged well – “Here take a bottle each of the 2007 and 2009 and see for yourselves” was the reply.  What a place, what an afternoon.
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Typical Dutch Cape in the Vergelegen manor house (c1700)

Set for a picnic under the 300 yo camphor tree forest

Katie and Chantelle getting into it

Buskers on the streets in Stellenbosch

One of Stellenbosch’s lovely old Cape Dutch buildings

Don’t like Kudu burger? Then go for the Warthog

A beautiful old winery near Stellenbosch

Our baby – a dozen Allesverloren 2007 Shiraz stored in the Bergkelder Vinoteque …

… is developing quite nicely

Chanti & Katie put aside a case of the award winning Fleur du Cap 2009 Cab Sav