Stellenbosch, South African Winelands ~ Days 6 & 7 (June 8-9)

The drive to Stellenbosch was easy, and we got to listen to our CD on the drive, so that investment paid off.  :)  If Cape Town is Los Angeles or San Francisco of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch is its Paso Robles or Napa.  Except even more beautiful.  Literally 100 wineries and vineyards to explore, with a great little village center.  And only about a 40 minute drive from Cape Town on excellent highways.

The first winery we hit in Stellenbosch was Delaire.  Beautiful grounds, architecture, art and sculpture. Gorgeous views.  

Checked into the first hotel we saw, Eendacht Self Catering (again, very affordable and very central, at R450 per night total, about $65).  Great, little private house with a front porch and small landscaped yard.  We’re sitting on the front porch now as I write this, drinking the Botmaskop rich red wine we bought at Delaire, listening to Sting and David Byrne.  Feeling happy.   Really happy.

Kian is looking forward to a steak dinner.  I am looking forward to seeing a little less “westernized” Africa, but still definitely appreciating the beauty of this land and all the people.  We’ll be here for a couple of days, then back to Cape Town to fly to Kruger/Jo’burg or Mozambique.  We abandoned the plans to drive to Durban.  Too much highway.

Dinner at Hussar Grill on Plein Street.  Excellent.  Excellent. Excellent meal, wine and dessert.  Everything is Hussar to Kian now.  Walking out and heading toward home, we heard live music in the air and followed the sounds of bass, banjos and fiddles to a little bread bakery with an entrance from an alley off of Church Street.  It was definitely the hip place to be in this sleepy old town, and 100% my kind of music.  I have the info somewhere, if anyone is going to be in South Africa.  You MUST come here.  The music magic happens only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  I wanted to stay until Saturday just so we could spend the whole evening there.  :)

On our second day, we took a wine tour with Niel (Afri Vista Tours, Niel Oosthuizen, info@afrivista.com, +27 83 962 3290).  Started with the whole wine making process at Kanonkop.  Next was Rustenberg; amazing grounds, gardens, buildings.  Different from Delaire, and perhaps even more beautiful (to me) as Rustenburg is historic, with buildings dating back to the 1700s.  Le Pommier for lunch.  The Cape Jazz Red at Solms Delta was fantastic!!  (Delta Road, off the R45 between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek).  Last was Thelema; again, great wine and nice views.  Cool dogs -- Weimeriners -- too.

Then, on Niel’s recommendation, we had dinner at La Fayette, just off of Church Street, for dinner.  Tomorrow another road trip.

(I'll come back and add photos to this posting; the internet (again) is just too slow where we are now)