Dornier and Waterford : Blaauwkippen road exploring

Welcome to Dornier!

 

I decided this weekend to explore the Blaauwklippen road just outside of Stellenbosch. The last time I was here was five years ago! We were a group of four who started at Dornier. Dornier offers wine-tasting for only R25 for five wines from two ranges and the fee is wavered if you purchase a bottle. What stood out about Dornier, except for their nice wine, was how liberal they are with their wine tasting portions. Perfect for a sunny winter afternoon.

Hello beautiful mountains!

Outside tasting area

Dornier has three different ranges namely Dornier Donatus, Dornier and Dornier Cocoa Hill.  The Cocoa Hill range is the most affordable with wines between R53-R66. From this range I was most impressed with the Rose. I am not a Rose fan, due to over indulgence in Four Cousins wine as a younger student who did know of anything better, but Dornier's really impressed. It would be the perfect wine for a hot summers day!

Dornier, generous with their wine.

Happy tasters!

All the bottles in the Dornier range is R100 each. Here my favourite was the Chenin Blanc. I was surprised how the two wines I am not usually fond off were the best tasting wines at Dornier. They have converted me again!

If you want to taste from all the ranges then it would cost you R40.

The tasting room has a eclectic Latin inspired feel. One of the more creative tasting room spaces I have been in.

 

 

Dornier wine collection

Inside tasting area

They have the following special tastings

• Wine and flammekuchen tasting
• Monday-Friday 11:30-17:00
• R110 pp
• Pre-booking required
• Gourmet tasting
• Wine and platter tasting
• Monday-Friday 11:30-17:00
• R150 pp
• Pre-booking required

The restaurant Bodega is also on the Dornier estate. They have the following specials at the moment

• 2 course for R175 or 3 course for R230
• 50% of all shellfish on Wednesdays
• Tapas platter for two, including a bottle of wine, R250

Dornier wine estate

Bodega

I browsed through the winter menu and here are examples of a few dishes

• Starters
• Beetroot risotto
• Springbok flammekuchen
• Slow roasted oxtail tortellini
• Mains
• Roasted pork belly
• Beef fillet
• Slow braised lamb shank
• Dessert
• Homemade amarula truffles
• Trio of crème brule
• Warm chocolate brownie

All the dishes on the winter menu are also available as single dishes.

Bodega is also kid friendly with a large area of grass for the kids to run around as well as a castle inspired jungle gym. Mains for them are R35-R60 and dessert R15-R25.

Entertainment for the kids

Dornier is perfect for a sunny weekend afternoon! Have any of you been to the restaurant? Food looks great! Will let you know once I visit :)
Like Dornier Wines or Bodega on Facebook
Tweet them @DornierWines
For more information visit their website
Visit them

• Wine tasting
• Daily 10:00-17:00
• Bodega
• Lunch Wednesday-Sunday 11:30-16:00
• Tapas Wednesday-Sunday 15:00-17:00

Our next stop was at the beautiful Waterford. Wow this estate really takes your breath away. You experience a sense of calm when you walk through the archway towards the courtyard.

Driveway leading up to the estate

Archway leading to the beautiful courtyard

Beautiful courtyard

They offer the following tastings

• Standard wine tasting R45
• Selected Waterford estate wine, Kevin Arnold Shiraz and Pecan Streams wine
• Wine and chocolate pairing R50
• 3 wines with 3 Von Geusau Chocolates
• We did this one and I will elaborate below
• Waterford estate experience R70
• Combination of above two
• Waterford Estate Library Collection Reserve Tasting R200
• Pre-booking essential
• Current Library stock  of special blends including The Jem
• The Jem Tasting R50
• Current vintage  of the Waterford  Estate Flagship red
• Wine drive safari
• Landrover takes you out to the vineyards where you taste wine
• bookings@waterfordestate.co.za

Excited to start our tasting!

Perfect pairing!

We decided to do the wine and chocolate pairing. Our tasting was hosted by Reece. He was very charismatic and made us feel welcome. They paired the following wine and chocolates together:

• Kevin Arnold Shiraz and Masala spice 70% dark chocolate
• The wine first of all was so smooth and velvety. I loved it. The wine and chocolate are both spicy but not overpowering.
• Waterford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and   sea salt 70% dark chocolate
• I love a sweet and salty combination and as a Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine usually paired with savoury dishes this combination paired perfectly.
• Waterford Family Reserve Heatherleigh aka " 'n lekker soetwyntjie" was paired with a delicious milk chocolate that tasted like a zoo cookie! This was the clear favourite!

This is a wine estate you will have to put on top of your bucket list!

For more information check out their website
Like them on Facebook
Visit them

• Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00
• Saturday 10:00-17:00

Contact them at 021 880 5300 or info@waterfordestate.co.za

The other wine farm on the Blaauwklippen Road we did not get to was Mont Marie. Wine tasting, breakfast, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed here. I quickly scanned their website and their setting looks beautiful. The restaurant is right next to the Blaauwklippen river.

Will let you know how they rate as soon as I head out there again. Like them on Facebook or check out their website for more information!

Hope you have a great weekend! If you have no plans, a daytrip to the above wine farms won't disappoint!