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

 

The Franschoek Wine Tram

One of my favourite Sundays this year was on the Franschoek Wine Tram. This awesome tour started in 2012 and brought new life to the old tram tracks of Franschoek. They provide you with a beautiful ride through the picturesque vineyards of Franschoek and allow you to enjoy a day of marathon wine tasting.
 
The adventure will cost you R200 per person and includes either a free wine tasting or discount on wine purchase at the different farms. I will tell you more about that when I tell you about the specific wine farms we visited.

The tour starts at the ticket office in the town centre (across from the Pick & Pay). You hop on a bus which will transport you to your first wine farm. The blue line starts at 10:00 and the red line at 10:15.

Transport is provided by either a wine bus or wine tram depending on which farms you are traveling in between. Let's be honest, wine tasting on a bus or tram is so much better than riding in a car :) You have a minimum of about a hour at each farm before the tram or bus comes to take you to your next stop. If you are having too much of a good time at a particular farm then just wait for the next one. They were punctual every single time and I mean that to the minute, except at our last stop, but that was okay as we were finished with the tour.

There's a blue and a red line that can be enjoyed. We chose the blue line as it was the one with the majority wine farms that were unknown to us.
 
 

Buy your tickets here!

On the blue line the farms are the following...

Mont Rochelle

We started at Mont Rochelle which was recently purchased and revamped by Sir Richard Branson. Mont Rochelle really was a pleasant surprise. It has a fresh and sleek white look with lovely seating outside. They also have a great restaurant, The Country Kitchen, that serves relaxed lunches that are mediterranean  inspired which I definitely want to try out in the future.

Beautiful view

Inside the restaurant

Here nothing is included in your wine tram ticket. Wine tasting will cost your R20 if you want to taste their two white wines and their rose or R20 for their 4 red wines.



First wine of the day!



You can taste inside or outside

We opted for the 'white' tasting as it was early in the tasting experience :) We tasted their Sauvignon Blanc reserve 2013(R65), barrel fermented Chardonnay 2011(R85) and Rose 2011(R40).

It was such a nice day so we enjoyed our wine and the view outside

Dining spot outside

My favourite was the Chardonnay as I loved its distinct lime and butterscotch flavour.

The bus arrived just in time so we rushed to purchase a few bottles and jumped on to head to the next one!

Our ride for the day

La Couronne

This wine farm was unfortunately closed due to an event that was hosted there. This is one of the wine farms where you receive a complimentary wine tasting.

Holden Manz

Our next stop dropped us off between the vineyards of Holden Manz. Here you can also sit and relax in the sun while you enjoy a complimentary wine tasting. Our wine tasting host was very entertaining and treated us with an extra 'wine'!

Holden Manz situated in between the vineyards

At Holden Manz you can also pair your wine with a cheese and chacuterie platter or dine and their restaurant "Franschoek Kitchen" which is beautifully decorated with an exceptional view over the vineyards.

Outside tasting area

Lovely couches to chill one

The restaurant is situated on the top level

The wines we tasted were the Rose 2014(R60), Vernissage 2012 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot-R60) and Shiraz 2010(R95). I loved the red blend Vernissage but the winner of the day was the extra treat we received. The Good Sport Cape Vintage 2010 (R195) was loved by everyone. It is the perfect night cap where you will be treated to flavours such as vanilla, coconut and raisins.

The Vernissage

I agree that wine saves lives :)

The wine bus was on time again and we ventured to the next stop. If you purchase wine you can leave it on the bus and collect it at the ticket office after your wine tramming. How convenient is that!

Happy tasters!

La Bourgogne

At La Bourgogne you sit and relax on the outstretched lawn shadowed by large trees. You can combine your wine tasting with a olive and olive oil tasting(R20). You can also enjoy a picnic here! You are allowed to bring your own picnic stuff!

This was another spot where your wine tasting is included in your wine tram ticket. We tasted their Rose(R60), unwooded Chardonnay (R55) and Semillon(R120). Here I enjoyed the Semillon the most. I had a quick chat with the lovely owners of La Bourgogne as well as their St Bernard! They were very welcoming and I will definitely return to do the olive oil tasting! La Bourgogne also offers affordable accommodation if you ever plan to do a weekend away to Franschoek.

Beautiful lawn to relax on

 

Our lovely wine tasting host

The wine 'experts'

La Bourgogne

La Bri

We also did not experience this wine-farm as they are closed on Sundays. So I would suggest that if you want to utilise every wine farm on the blue line visiting on a Saturday would be the most ideal time!

Rickety Bridge

To travel to Rickety Bridge you will eventually climb onto the wine tram! The wine tram is modelled after the open sided bill trams of 1890.

We were very excited to climb onto the wine tram

Enjoying the ride

We arrived at Rickety Bridge very hungry! Luckily a table was available for our large group at their restaurant Paulina's! Everyone feasted on different type of burgers. There was a bobotie, ostrich, chicken and beef burger available served with salad or fries. The burgers are +-R90 which would be considered pricey but they really were delicious. The patties were of exceptional quality, the bun was home-made and fluffy and the fries crisp. It really was a burger that was above standard and I would easily order it again!

We paired our burgers with Rickety Bridge Sauvignon Blanc(R85). I really enjoyed the wine and it actually had more fruity notes than expected. If you want to do lunch while you are 'tramming' then Paulina's is definitely a spot to consider. Service was spot on and our food arrived very quickly.

Very hungry tasters

Bobotie Burger topped with an egg

Plain beef burger

Ostrich burger

From the tram station you travel on this bad boy to get you to Rickety Bridge

As our time became limited and the day was almost over we quickly popped into the tasting venue and in record time (5 minutes) we worked our way through a few wines. I left with a bottle of their Rose. Here wine tasting is offered to you at R10pp for five wines. The fee is wavered if you purchase a bottle of wine!

Tasting room entrance

Lovely glass of Sauvignon Blanc

Inside the tasting room

Mmm what wine to buy...

Grande Provence
Grande Provence is the last stop on the blue line. Here your tram ticket will give you a complimentary glass of wine with dinner. We were unfortunately exhausted and on the quest for ice-cream so we did not visit them.


The red line covers the following farms...

• Maison
• Eikehof
• Leopard's Leap
• Dieu Donne
• Chamonix
• Rickety Bridge
• Grande Provence

... and I will organise a follow-up trip for the red line ASAP as it's just TOO MUCH FUN!

Visiting the Franschoek Wine Tram really is a 100% guaranteed enjoyable activity. I was exposed to wines farms and restaurants I was not aware of at all. It also equips you to visit a lot of places in a small amount of time. My 'to do list' for next year now is very extensive. All the wine farms are informed and equipped to host the customers of the wine tram and as I have mentioned the whole transport system literally works like a well oiled machine.

My tips...

• Eat a big breakfast. You're going to need a good lining :)
• Go as a big group and buy your tickets online to ensure that you all travel together
• Go on the earliest tram or bus that is scheduled for the blue or red line as you want to do and experience as much as possible
• Book a lunch spot at one of the restaurants
• Pack in some snacks for the road
• Have fun and do all the tastings!
• Buy a bottle of wine that really impressed you so that you can reminisce of the fabulous day you had at your next braai!

The golden ticket

For more information visit the official Franschoek Wine Tram website
Like them on Facebook
Tweet them @WineTram
Contact them at info@winetram.co.za or 021 300 0338

Majeka House

Nestled in the quite neighbourhood of Paradyskloof, on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, you will find the hidden gem that is Majeka House. They've  been on my radar since their restaurant, Makaron, made an appearance on the Eat Out Top 20 list in 2012.

It was my last week of holiday before my final year and a half of medicine start, so myself and my awesome mom went for a overnight date at Majeka House.



Majeka House

We were greeted warmly by the staff of Majeka House and given a tour of the grounds. It is such as stylish place and every area of Majeka House was impressive. They have a thing for 'pigs' so see how many you can spot during your visit :)


Majeka House Courtyard

 
We stayed in one of the Premier Rooms. The room is equipped with a flat-screen tv that can be enjoyed while you soak in a long warm bath. The room also has it's own Lavazza coffee machine where you can brew your own cup of coffee. If you really want to relax you can order a DVD from their very extensive DVD selection. You just phone the reception with the DVD code from the catalogue and they will deliver it to your room. While you watch your movie you can indulge in the mini-bar which is stocked with delicious treats such as crisps and fudge. You are also treated to complimentary still and sparkling water as well as  baked goods. We had a delicious tin of fresh biscotti. Needless to say that tin was empty way sooner than we wanted it to be. There also is free Wi-Fi available throughout Majeka House. It did cut out now and then but work relatively well.


Let me give you a tour!




Lovely chairs to relax on



Premier Room

Loved the Lavazza coffee machine

Freshly baked biscotti

Our view

Beautifull ceiling

Luxurious bathroom

His and Her bathroom

The shower

We went to the Majeka spa for an afternoon treat. We were greeted with nice soft robes and white crocs! I had the Hot Stone Massage(my fave) and my mom enjoyed the Deep Tissue Massage. The therapist were professional and I left feeling very relaxed.

We then spent the rest of the afternoon in and out of their heated pool and jacuzzi. It was so much fun to swim in the Winter!


Jacuzzi

Heated pool



Spa slippers



Loved those chandeliers

After freshening up we went for drinks at Majeka House bar, M Lounge. This was the prettiest room at Majeka House! My favourite feature was the 'light balls'. We sat next to cosy fire and sipped on delicious cocktails. This is also a room where you can sit and read while enjoying glass of red wine!



On our way to the M lounge

Cosy fireplace

Love the lights!



Beautiful bar and piano



How interesting is the bookshelf wallpaper

Awesome décor items



Loved our Penicillin and Pimm's cocktail

We had dinner at their restaurant, Makaron, but that is a whole blogpost on its own that will follow soon. The next morning we had to say goodbye. Lying in the large comfortable bed we contemplated how we can extend our stay. We were having such a nice time. 

We packed our bags and went to breakfast. This was the best breakfast I have had at any hotel or guesthouse. The variety you can choose from alone is impressive. It was difficult to choose between all the fresh fruit, homemade yogurt, freshly baked bread and pastries as well as chacuterie and cheese. I wanted it all! You can enjoy the above continental and order something hot from the breakfast menu. I indulged with blueberry pancakes. Oh and did I mention you can add a glass of Villeria bubbly to your breakfast? That definitely is a breakfast for champions! To end of your indulgent breakfast you can cleanse yourself with one of their 'juices'. 



Continental breakfast




Spoilt for choice



Fresh fruit, cereal and loads more



Best way to start the day, bubbly and pancakes!



Juicing!

Another treat when you stay at Majeka House is that you receive a complimentary wine and chocolate tasting at Waterford. I actually visited Waterford two months ago and did this tasting! It's awesome. you can read about it here.

Thank you to  every member of staff at Majeka House that treated us with kindness! You contributed to our lovely stay!

 If you can't come for a sleep over do treat yourself to a spa treatment or a drink in the M Lounge. This is the place to come relax in style!

For more information about Majeka House, including specials, check out their website
Contact them at 021 880  1512 or reservations@majekahouse.co.za
Located at 28-32 Houtkapper street, Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch
Tweet them @MajekaHouse
Like them on Facebook