Picnic at Hartenberg Estate

I was first exposed to Hartenberg wine estate when I enjoyed a bottle of their Shiraz while dining at The Test Kitchen. It really was an exquisite wine so I was very excited to go to its place of origin.
 

Perfect weather for a picnic

 

Relaxing Saturday on Hartenbergs' lawn

 
It was a very hot day. One of those where a picnic outside could end in an exhausted puddle of sweat. Luckily at Hartenberg you wine and dine underneath large oak trees. What I loved was that you have the option to either sit at a table or lounge on picnic blankets and cushions. We initially sat at the table but after a few sips of our refreshing Hartenberg Sauvignon Blanc we parked ourselves on the cushions for the entire afternoon. Hartenberg was very busy which contributed to an awesome vibe but they space you on the lawn so that no one intrudes your company.
 

In the beginning ...

 

After 5 minutes ... comfort!

 
The picnic will cost you R175 pp and the basket is shared between two people. It includes a bottle of wine and you can choose from the following
 

• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz
• Doorkeeper shiraz
• Sauvignon Blanc

We chose the Sauvignon Blanc so it was a proper afternoon of Sauvignon showers! At the end of the picnic we wanted to enjoy the delicious Shiraz we had at The Test Kitchen and by mistake we ordered the Doorkeeper Shiraz and not the Hartenberg Shiraz. Well it wasn't a mistake as the "cheaper" version also delivered 100% and I will keep him in mind during tough months :)
 

The wine!

 
Now lets get to the good stuff, the food. The picnic basket was packed with goodies. The boyfriend and I only managed to finish half of it. They really spoil you with quantity and variety and I can confirm that they offer one of the more affordable picnics in the wine-lands. Usually you will pay between R300-R400 for picnic basket without wine so that culinary trip can become very expensive.
 
Our basket contained the following

• 2 x baguettes
• Snoek pate
• Pesto Hummus
• A selection of cheeses
• A selection of chacuterie
• Bocconcinis( which are small balls of mozzarella cheese), tomatoes and basil salad
• Baby potatoes, fine beans and wholegrain mustard salad
• Caramelised onion and goats cheese tartlets
• Meaty terrine
• Preserved figs and meringue

Everything was delicious but my favourites were the snoek pate and cheese tartlets. The selection of chacuterie was also really impressive. The one thing that did not impress me was the preserved figs and meringue. The meringues were soft and squashed and not my ideal dessert option. They should rather stick to something like a chocolate brownie.
 


The yummy basket



Some of the delicious goodies!

 
While you are wining and dining you can make room for some more by playing some of the garden games. You can choose between croquet, boules and jenga!
 

The boys playing some boules



Fancy a game of croquet?



Hartenberg also offers wine-tasting, wine and canapé pairings as well as lazy bistro lunches underneath their veranda. I will pop in again to try all of that!

 

The lawn bustling with people

A tucked away corner for couples..

They have vegetarian and halaal options available. All picnics should  be booked  at least 24 hours in advance. They also cater for children under 12 at R65 per child.
 
Hartenberg provides you with a delicious picnic, in a very relaxed atmosphere, that is affordable. You can enjoy it as a couple, family or a group of friends and you will leave as happy customers. They are definitely on top of my picnic recommendation list.
 
Book your spot now! You can't say you've enjoyed summer without at least going to one picnic!
 
Contact them at 021 865 2541 or info@hartenbergestate.com
For more information visit their website
Like them on Facebook
Tweet them @HartenbergWine
Located :  33° 52' 44.94" S | 18° 47' 32.73" E

Directions to Hartenberg