October 5, 2011
After a quick breakfast at our bed and breakfast, Saasveld Lodge, in Cape Town, our bus driver Shaddly picked us up and took us to the market in town. It was similar to the one in PE, only it was about ten times bigger and the vendors didn’t hassle you as much. In fact, they all seemed to have the same tired line, “Good morning lady, take your time, take your time. I give you good price.” The four of us wandered from stall to stall slowly stacking up Christmas and missed Birthday presents. I got a good majority of my shopping done for friends and family, which is nice, along with a few pairs of earrings for me – never enough.
After about 2 hours meandering around town, Shaddly picked us up, we went got James and our tour guide and made our way to Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa and wine country heaven. With over 100 wineries, it is a mecca for any wine lover. Our first stop was Waterford. We stepped off the bus into a scene that seemed more from Tuscany than South Africa; a gorgeous, long building surrounded by lavender and encircled by citrus trees. We paid 65 rand for a wine and chocolate pairing where we tasted seven different wines and paired three with some incredible dark chocolate with chai spices, and rock salt.
Our next stop was a fruit stand to grab lunch, as we were all feeling quite…happy at this point. It was strawberry season, so along with our sandwiches we got packets of the most amazing strawberries. The second winery on the list was Muratie just down the road. In Stellenbosch there are so many wineries in such a small space, it was hard to turn the corner without running into five others. As we pulled up to Muratie, we drove through lush, green forest; completely different from Waterford. The group made our way to the wine cellar and paid 20 rand ($2.50) to taste five wines of our choice. The tasting room was an actual cellar with ample cobwebs and dust to prove it. Each wine also had a story about mistresses, wives and adventures of the original winemaker.
Our last stop was Simonsig which had a much more modern, almost art deco feel. Here we paid 25 rand to taste five wines. Each time we had finished a wine, we would go up to the counter and get our next selection. This process allowed us to take our time with each wine and really enjoy it as we walked around the estate. James and I took to the foyer where there were vases upon vases of incredible smelling lilies, as well as historical pictures of the owners and the winery.
All three wineries had won ample awards, proving that regardless of the winery, Stellenbosch produced great wine that was recognized on a global scale. Each had its own feel that made it comfortable, classy or historical. It was interesting to think that the same dirt that grew these high class, cultivated grapes was the same dirt that soaked up the blood of thousands because they were black only a few years ago. South Africa is such a diverse country in every way from its people to its history to its towns.
We went back to the B&B for a nap and shower before dinner a nice little café. Some people went to the Coldplay concert and others decided to watch Big Fish and call it a night. Either way, we all went to bed thinking the exact same thing, “What an incredible day!! I cannot believe this is my life!”
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