Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Visit to Stellenbosch Wine Country

We had a great time last night meeting several of Douw’s friends who live in Cape Town. The forecast for today called for a 70% chance of showers and a high of 65°F—quite a change from yesterday’s 80°F! I’m especially glad we visited Table Mountain yesterday because today it was completely covered in clouds.

With the weather not ideal for sightseeing, we decided to head to the wine country! At 10 a.m., our pre-booked driver picked us up for the 45-minute drive to the Stellenbosch wine region. Stellenbosch is one of South Africa’s most famous wine areas, renowned worldwide for its high-quality wines and picturesque scenery. The region is home to many of the country’s top wineries and is particularly celebrated for its exceptional red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends. Excellent Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are also produced here.

Our first stop was the historic Spier Winery, established in 1692. The grounds were absolutely breathtaking! 









Wine bottle Chandelier


Having visited wine regions in Napa, Sonoma, Bordeaux, Tuscany, Provence, Australia, Marlborough (New Zealand), Argentina, and Chile, we can confidently say that Stellenbosch has the most spectacular topography of them all. The dramatic mountain backdrop is reminiscent of Kauai, Hawaii. 

The property is vast and beautifully landscaped, with ancient trees adding to its charm. The wines were excellent as well.  My photos do not capture the beauty of the landscape. 


Our second stop was the Ernie Els Winery, famous South African golfer. Once again, the setting was stunning, and the tasting and restaurant were top-notch. While the wines didn’t quite live up to the spectacular surroundings, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable experience.








Ernie even provided a spot to practice your  short game!





Not bad for an amateur!

Visit to Stellenbosch Wine Country

We had a great time last night meeting several of Douw’s friends who live in Cape Town. The forecast for today called for a 70% chance of sh...