Vince's Favourites
Vince's Favourites
Vince’s Favourite Things To Do…
In the Valley:
Call Anton for a private Chenin and Shiraz wine tasting at his quaint boutique wine shop, The Wine Kollective in Riebeek Kasteel
Book a deep tissue massage with therapist, Nico Rens in his studio in main road Riebeek West, walking distance from Merindol Manor.
And since we are walking… a mere 200 metres from Merindol is the vibey Marras restaurant where the owner Martin ‘Marras’ Lambrechts greets you at the gate for a glass of wine. Try their delicious pizzas before you amble back to Merindol to relax next to the pool.
Order a craft gin & tonic in the colourful bar of the Royal Hotel in Riebeek Kasteel, and sit on the wide stoep in the shade, watching the town go by.
Drive about 8 minutes down the farm roads to the heart of Delico, a traditional family butchery, on the De La Fontaine farm, buy farm fresh biltong, beef fillet or lamb chops and have your own delicious braai at Merindol as the sun sets.
In need of a lazy afternoon lunch? Book a table at the French-inspired Bouchon Rouge where Chef Julien will come over for a chat. The oysters are fresh from Saldana Bay on the West Coast while the mussel pot and the steak tartare are firm favourites of Vince!
After your relaxed lunch, walk over to the Riebeek Art Gallery where you can explore the latest contemporary art from both local and well-known South African artists.
Shawn Hewitt, local tour operator knows the valley like no one else. Give him a ring on 082 528 6785 and ask him to book you a customised wine tour in the surrounding area. The Swartland winemakers include award-winning winemaker, Adie Badenhorst and unexplored gems such Pieter du Toit’s Knolfontein Wines.
Ask Vince for the best route to follow with your MTB or Gravel bike to discover the farm roads of the Swartland.
A little bit further:
Take the 20 min scenic drive to spectacular Saronsberg Wine Farm in Tulbagh for a wine tasting, complemented with a cheese board, followed by a stop at Tulbagh Nursery to admire their rose collections.
A 30-min drive takes you to Adene Flowers, a working farm near Wolseley, where you can pick your own beautiful bunch of flowers on their selected open days.
A one hour drive takes you to the Westcoast National Park to admire the Lagoon and enjoy a lunch at the beachfront Leeto restaurant in Paternoster.
Another hour drive, this time in the opposite direction takes you to the historical town of Franschhoek, where you can enjoy a lazy lunch on the rolling lawns of La Petite Ferme.
In winter time – July to August – drive towards Ceres to visit the cold town of Ceres and explore the snowy Matroosberg.
A little bit further:
Take the 20 min scenic drive to spectacular Saronsberg Wine Farm in Tulbagh for a wine tasting, complemented with a cheese board, followed by a stop at Tulbagh Nursery to admire their rose collections.
A 30-min drive takes you to Adene Flowers, a working farm near Wolseley, where you can pick your own beautiful bunch of flowers on their selected open days.
A one hour drive takes you to the Westcoast National Park to admire the Lagoon and enjoy a lunch at the beachfront Leeto restaurant in Paternoster.
Another hour drive, this time in the opposite direction takes you to the historical town of Franschhoek, where you can enjoy a lazy lunch on the rolling lawns of La Petite Ferme.
In winter time – July to August – drive towards Ceres to visit the cold town of Ceres and explore the snowy Matroosberg.
