They say the early bird catches the worm; however, this early bird (AKA Me) caught some out-of-this-world Chardonnay instead (And I am not complaining).
The morning started with the sound of seagulls and the calming scents of the sea breeze as I arrived at the V&A Waterfront, awaiting our luxury combi vehicle to pick us up. Then, after a bubbly meet and greet with a lovely group of enthusiastic and influential people, we hopped onto our bus and went off to the award-winning Weltevrede Wine Estate near Bonnievale.
Weltevrede Wine Estate recently won not one but TWO categories in the 2023 Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards. The categories are Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences and Architecture & Landscape.
Situated in the Robertson wine valley, you will find the magnificent Weltevrede Wine Estate, a member of Cape Country Routes. After one of the most scenic routes I have been on, we arrived, and as we drove through the entrance, we were welcomed by stunning views of lusciously green vineyards on one side and, on the other, a family-friendly play park near an upcoming deli.
The Weltevrede Wine Estate truly lives up to the meaning of its name, an Afrikaans word that means “well satisfied”. From architecture to food and drinks, from the egg dome archways resembling rebirth to the beeswax-coated fermentation cave walls that ensure no air or wind could enter that may cause a difference in the winemaking process, Weltevrede screams rich history and AMBIANCE!
At one point, I found myself smiling, simply standing in a cave, absolutely captivated by the story behind Weltevrede and every bottle of wine and Cap Classique it makes.
To be completely honest, I started the day off as a ‘Rosé-only type of gal’, and after the “Captivated by Chardonnay” tour, I found a new love for white wine! And, to add to the new experiences, how could I not mention the food? Oh, the food! The Weltevrede Wine Estate has one of the most quaint and beautiful restaurants called Kapokbos Restaurant, recently launched and run by Chef Juan Fourie and his wife Samantha Morris-Fourie, the loveliest people you will ever meet! I grew more and more amazed by each dish placed before my eyes, and I was visibly salivating the entire time. Not only did the food look good, but it was delicious too! We started off with freshly baked bread and ended with having a 12-course meal to share! If I could recommend only one dish, I would definitely say meat lovers go for the pork belly! The restaurant is open Monday to Sunday for lunch and for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights (booking is essential).
I do not have much knowledge of the wine and champagne making or bottling process but my-oh-my, was I enlightened by the effort put into each bottle that is lovingly cultivated and created. I had the incredible opportunity to end the day by disgorging, dossing, corking, and labelling my very own bottle of Cap Classique.
This experience has indeed been one for the books and definitely on my list to return to for more food, more wine, and more of the friendly and welcoming staff!
If you’re wondering what to do for a lazy and indulgent day in the Cape, I highly recommend Weltevrede Wine Estate.
Weltevrede Wine Estate Contact Details
You can find out more through: Contact: + 27 (0)23 616 2141, reception@weltevrede.com, www.weltevrede.com.
