Gabrielskloof Wine and Chocolate pairing

It was a Monday morning after a fun filled weekend and I needed something to help with the post-weekend blues! I decided to drive out to Gabrielskloof as its been ages since I visited them.

Beautiful court yard

Gabrielskloof is a beautiful estate situated in the middle of the canola fields. They produce quality wine and was the host to my fathers 50th birthday party so they will always be a special place for me.

I decided to enjoy their wine and chocolate pairing as a glass of Gabrielskloof wine never disappoints. The grounds and buildings of Gabrielkloof are beautiful and it's equally enjoyable to sit inside or outside during your wine tasting experience. It was a lovely sunny day so we decided to sit on the 'stoep'.

The lovely stoep to relax on

 

 

 

Tasting room inside

The Gabrielskloof wine is paired with Honest Chocolate. Honest chocolate is raw chocolate. This makes them the perfect accompaniments to the wine so that no artificial elements interfere with the taste of it. They use raw and organic cocao from Ecuador  which is high in anti-oxidants. The chocolate contains no sugar, stabilisers ect.

Here are the pairings

• Gabrielskloof Viognier with 72% orange chocolate. This was our favourite pairing as well as my favourite wine. We loved it as it was the sweetest combination out of all.
• Gabrielskloof The blend with 72% with mint. The wine is a Bordeaux blend, my favourite, which is led by Cabarnet Sauvignon.
• Gabrielskloof Shiraz with 72% Kalahari Desert salt. I am a big fan of sweet and salt combination desserts. Although Honest chocolate is not naturally sweet the above combo was still a treat.
• Gabrielskloof Five arches with 88% Dark. Five arches is also a Bordeaux blend with Cabarnet Franc as the leader. This combination unfortunately was too heavy for me.
• Gabrielskloof Swartrivier Shiraz with 72% grains or paradise(spicy citrus pepper from Ghana). This was my other favourite pairing. The pepper in the chocolate worked well with the pepper flavour in the wine.

Honest chocolate

 

Pre-wine

 

Awesome pairing

 

My tasting companions

At R60pp this was an awesome experience. Next on my to do list is the food and wine pairing that they now offer at the following prices

• White wines only (4) - R60
• Red wine only (4) - R70
• Complete tasting - R130

Current food and wine pairing menu

You can also just enjoy winetasting at R30pp and the fee is wavered if you purchase any wine. It has been a while since I've dined at their restaurant but all my previous experiences have been excellent, hearty food at reasonable prices.

Also remember about their Our Favourite Things Market the 12th&13th December that I've mentioned in a previous post.

As you can see Gabrielskloof has a lot to offer. My suggestion would be to enjoy one of the wine pairings and then head over for lunch or dessert at the restaurant. You will definitely want to spend as much time as possible here.

For more information visit their website
When to visit

• December
• Restaurant
• 09:00-17:00 everyday
• Wine tasting
• 10:00-16:00 everyday
• January-November
• Restaurant
• Wednesday-Monday 09:00-17:00
• Wine tasting
• Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00
• Saturday 11:00-15:00
• Sunday closed

Tweet them @Gabrielskloof
Like them on Facebook
Located near Botrivier(R43).(map link)

Honest chocolate

For more information visit their website
Tweet them @HonestChoc
Like them on Facebook
Instagram honestchocolate
Visit their newly opened store at 64A Wale street, Cape Town

De Hoop Nature Reserve

Hello relaxation!

 

I spent an idyllic weekend at the De Hoop Nature Reserve last weekend. It exceeded all my expectations and it's very close to Cape Town. Just 3 hours and you will be there! Perfect for a weekend getaway.


They market themselves as one of the finest whale viewing spots. Now, I am from Hermanus and during whale season I can see them from my bedroom, but I must say De Hoop does offer spectacular views. Just look at these pictures.



Heading down from Potberg



Nature at it's best

You won't miss a whale at this spot



Only 1 km and you will be next to the sea
 

Perfect photo spot

Cheese!



Beautiful!

 



The view goes on and on...

If it's summer how great would a beach day be here?

You won't only be treated to whale watching but also to beautiful surroundings which is home to endangered fynbos, more than 85 game species and a birding paradise. South Africa's largest antelope, the Eland, is here in large numbers.

Eland

 

Blombos

 


Lepelaar

Bontebokke

The reserve is not big so you can cover it in a day. You can even do it by bike. They offer four mountain bike trails.  If you have some more time you can sit for hours at the wetlands and observe the birds or watch the animals in action. We loved our encounter with a troop of baboons who were very efficient in trying to open doors and climb through windows. It was also so special to observe the game and see how the males challenged each other to a duel match to mark their territory.

The explorers

The wetlands

 If you really want to relax you don't even have to leave your accommodation as the species wander past and inbetween the houses. Just be careful of the baboons. We caught some in the act.

De Hoop Nature Reserve offers accommodation for all budgets.

• Melkamer manor house: Five star service that has four luxury en suite bedrooms. (from R1000 pp)
  
• Melkamer Foreman's Cottage: Charming cottage hidden between milkwood trees. It's walking distance from the above. (From R650pp)
• Melkkamer vlei cottages: This cottage overlooks the largest wetland in the Southern Cape Coast.(From R650pp)
• Opstal Houses: There are three houses with three bedrooms each. Fully equipped kitchen and bathrooms as well as a fireplace inside and outside braai area.(From R650 pp)
  
• Opstal Manor house and suites: This is the central area of the reserve. The restaurant, a swimmingpool and a tennis court is located here. You will also live in luxury here. (From R895pp)
  

 

• Equipped cottages at the Opstal house: Fully equipped cottages for a self-catering stay. (from R595 pp)

 

 

• De Hoop Village at Opstal: We stayed here. These cottages have three bedrooms, a fully equipped bathroom and kitchen as well as a dining area and outside braai.  I will tell you some more just now. (From R595pp)
  
• Vlei cottages: These are two bedroom cottages with an inside fireplace that overlooks the wetlands. (From R650pp)
• Campsite rondawels: Simple and affordable accommodation that has nicer views than some of the more expensive options. (From R395pp)
• Caravan and campingsites:  They have communal bathrooms and kitchens. (From R295pp)

All of the above, excluding the caravan and campsites, provide you with crisp linen and towels. I must say it's not your typical nature reserve décor. Charlotte Rhys products are in the bathrooms and the beds have electric blankets on them. You won't bump into any typical African décor here! There style is country but chic.

Above are just some of the accomdation options. If you check out their website they have even more extensive descriptions and pictures of everything they offer!

As I have mentioned we stayed in the De Hoop Village cottages. They had a great winter special where you only pay for one person per night. Unfortunately that specials ends July. Be sure to check out their social media for any other upcoming specials.

Now we really had a relaxing stay. The cottages have three bedrooms. Each room either as a double bed, two single bed or a bunker bed. The kitchen is fully equipped with a oven, microwave, kettle ect. They even set up a dining area. The outside braai will be the main socialising spot.


Some of the bedrooms



Inside and outside

They also offer a 3 day walking trail and provide you with accommodation and meals. The trail will offer a combination of birding, game viewing and a fynbos and marine experience. A reasonable level of fitness is required and all participants should be above the age of 12.

Just remember that everyone pays  R30 fee when they enter the Reserve. Wild Card holders don't pay. If you are in the Overberg you can also just drive here for the day. Come and enjoy  the reserve followed with brunch or lunch at The Fig Tree restaurant. Dinner has to be booked beforehand.


Reception

 


The Fig Tree

De Hoop Nature Reserve will see me again. What a nice surprise that such a stunning location to relax at is not far away! You will experience mother nature here at her best!

Contact them at 086 133 4667 or 021 422 4522 or info@dehoopcollection.co.za
For more information visit their website
Tweet them @DeHoopCollectio
Like them on Facebook (They post about their specials here!)
Directions from Cape Town:  Take N2 to Caledon. From Caledon drive through Napier to Bredasdorp. From Bredasdorp take the R319 to Swellendam. At about 6kms turn right – sign posted De Hoop / Malagas / Infanta. Gravel road for 35kms until you see a sign to the right – De Hoop Nature Reserve.

The accommodation area in the distance

ELL at Spookfontein

Welcome to Spookfontein

 

 

I was first introduced to Spookfontein when I had a glass of their Merlot at Tapas a few years ago. It has since been one of my favourite red wines. In the past Spookfontein wine tasting was only open  by appointment. I was therefore delighted when I heard that they now have an open tasting room as well as a restaurant named ELL. ELL stands for Eat, Love and Life.
 
ELL wants to deliver ethical and earth friendly food. The design of the restaurant as well as the interior also reflects this. Glass windows surround the majority of the restaurant and gives you a beautiful view of the Hermanus wine lands.

Interior

 

Beautiful view

 

Myself and the boyfriend visited them on a rainy Saturday afternoon while the Hermanus Fynarts Festival was on-going. Luckily I phoned that morning to make a booking for the last table in the restaurant as ELL was a very popular space that day. I would suggest you should always book if you know you are heading that way.

Red wine and rain... our perfect combo!

They specialise in gourmet pizzas and designer salads but also has a blackboard which is updated often. The blackboard is usually inspired by the fresh and organic produce that they can obtain.We ordered both of our meals off the blackboard. I had a massive bowl of mussels for only R85. I couldn't finish it,  yet I wish I had. What I really enjoyed was that the sauce the mussels were served in was a lovely light broth. I am not a fan of a thick creamy sauce served with mussels, as this usually takes away the natural flavour of them. This was a dish to remember.
 

Blackboard

Dish of the day!

 

 

The boyfriend had the yellowtail served with a side salad and chips. The fish was a bit dry but not inedible. I was told by fishing friends that yellowtail usually is a dry fish so maybe more of the accompanied sauce would have resolved this issue.
 

Yellowtail minus the side salad

 

 

The only big disappointment was the dessert. They charge R60 for this small cheesecake which tasted average. Most of the desserts were small in portion in comparison to what you pay for them.

 

Service was good although the staff looked a bit bewildered. The restaurant was full to capacity and people were anxiously waiting for tables so you could forgive them for that.

 
ELL however is a warm space that serves honest food and the perfect place to spend a lazy Saturday. You can also just stop by to taste some wine and order a cheeseplatter.

Mmm... a glass of Spookfontein Merlot would be perfect now in this raniy weather...


Openinghours

• Tasting room
• Closed Mondays
• Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-16:00
• ELL
• Monday-Sunday 10:00-17:00

Like them on Facebook
For more information visit their website
Contact them at 073 067 7936
Find them on the R320 aka Hemel and Aarde Wine Valley

Fun in December at Creation's sunset market

There's always a bottle of Creation wine in our home and during my vacation time I always schedule a wine tasting session with some friends.

 So I was extremely excited when I heard that they will be hosting a sunset market in December. So if you are planning to be in Hermanus during the December holidays, or you have nothing to do where every you are, pen this down in your diary! You will be wined and dined in the most beautiful surroundings.

Date: 15th of December 2013
Time: 16:00 - 19:30
 
If you think that you are going to attend the event RSVP to salome@creationwines.com . They just need this to roughly have the numbers and ensure that they deliver the best market ever :) BUT if you do just attend without a RSVP they won't keep it against you!

You can also contact Salome if you need anymore information!

Website: www.creation.com
Twitter: @creationwines
Instagram #creationwines

 

 

 

They also host a fabulous canapé and wine-pairing! Here is the link to my visit of last year!

Flocktober Festival in Stanford

If you are in the Hermanus/Stanford area early in October be sure to pay this festival a visit

 

 

For more information visit their Facebook-page

Hermanus Markets

Saturdays in Hermanus can be enjoyed by visiting two very different markets. I recently decided to visit both in one day to see which one I prefer. Both markets start at 09:00 in the morning.

Hermanus Country Market

This was my favourite market of the day! The market has a great variety of fresh produce, food, coffee and drinks to satisfy all taste buds as well as some pretty goods to buy.

My favourite shopping stall was Helen Silverware Jewellery. All the jewellery are made out of antique spoons. They are not as tacky as those forks you see everywhere that people wear as bangles. These jewellery pieces are extremely well transformed from its original use to great rings. I did not realise at first that the rings were made from spoons. For more information and pictures visit her Facebook-page .

My favourite food stall was where we had the best breakfast for only R35. Two pieces of French toast topped with bacon, rocket, green figs and camembert! Delishes! I still want to replicate this at home. This market really is affordable with most food choices being less than R40.

This for only R35

Enjoying my surroundings and a very great cup of coffee

The market is also great to stock up with some gourmet sausages made by Sanity Farm that you can serve as a o'dourve at a braai. Think of sausages fill with ingredients such as blue cheese, cranberries and almonds.  Invest in some sweet treats or fresh loaves of bread for late Saturday afternoon.

Hermanus Country Market attracted all shapes and sizes. Children played on the jungle gym and loads of doggies were around to play with each other. There's enough seating to accommodate everyone and Piano Ben, a popular artist in Hermanus, was the entertainment of the morning.

Market was bustling with loads of people

This market really made me feel relaxed and was a perfect start to a lazy Saturday morning.

If you come a bit later to catch an early lunch you can do a wine-tasting from some of the local cellars that are there as well and enjoy some craft beers.

Raka wines was one of the local cellars visiting

Food ranges from Mexican to Polish cuisine. Something I did not expect from a "country market".

Mexican breakfast of tortilla topped with scrambled eggs, sour cream and avo and tomato salsa

Polish baguette of cheese and bacon

The market is open until 13:00 and during season time in December they also open on Wednesday evenings!

Locate the market next to the Hermanus Cricketfield!
Open during the summer months from 08:00 -12:00 and during the winter months from 09:00-13:00

For more information regarding the market and its traders...
Like them on Facebook
Follow them @HermanusMarket
Visit their website


Hermanus Pietersfontein Market

Now this market was more for the refined crowd. I did not feel as at home here as at the country market but they also have great food and wine to be enjoyed.

The seating here are long tables. People were not to happy to share so you would sometimes find three people sitting at a large table. In the end we got some seating and tried some sweet treats and dim sum. My only regret for the day was the dim sum. What you receive and what you pay for did not add up and the filling of the dim sum was very meagre.

Something I do looked forward to trying the next time I visit is the chauceterie platter. During a beautiful day underneath the umbrellas this will go perfectly with some bottles of wine and a group of friends or family. Here they also have sushi, perlemoen, pizza and baked goods.

Delicious custard cake for only R15

This stall had delicious brownies

Freshly baked bread

The options at this market are more limited but exclusive. Nothing at this market is repeated at the Hermanus Country market. Quality of all the produce are excellent!

Hermanuspietersfontein is the only wine here as they host the market and is available by the glass or bottle. We refilled our glasses a few times. They have a great variety of wines and the lovely gentleman that worked there the morning we visited had a great charm to him and explained the wines to us in great detail. When the market ends be sure to head to their wine shop to indulge in some more wine-tasting!

If you plan to visit both markets I would first start at the country market and then move over to the Hermanus Pietersfontein Market. Both are a real treat!

Located at the Hemel and Aarde village at the Hermanus Pietersfontein Winery and cellar
Open every Saturday 09:00 - 13:00
Visit their website for more information


During the coming long weekend you can enjoy the Hermanus Wine and Food Festival at the Hemel and Aarde Village. Tickets are R120 at computicket. The festival is the 9th and 10th of August. It starts at 11:00 and runs until 19:00. More than 250 wines will be there for you to taste and local chefs will be there to spoil you with delicious food!