We are doing a private day tour of the winelands and are looking forward to tasting the best of what SA has to offer.

Your suggestions for any nice experiences and the best wines would be much appreciated. We enjoy both reds and white and would like to hit about 4 while enjoying the beautiful architecture too. Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl are all up for grabs.

thanks in advance! less than a month to go.

"Goats do roam" - that's what I heard from Lynn

Try Sweet Semillon NV... Am sure you will love it.

The "Goats do Roam" folks have another label now: Bored Doe

We didn't get to see much of Goats Do Roam because it was pouring rain... that said, the shop is nice and it's a great match that they make their own cheese as well.

glen carlou - winderful and thorough tasting! their chradonnay is exceptional!
vergelegen - wonderful restaurant! beautilfu garden!
- boschendal - winea are nit outstanding but great place for a picknick in its garden! they sell picknick basquets!
- moreson - nice wines and very nice restaurant for lunch! belongs to www.lqf.co.za
houte cabriere
neil ellis - very modern winery and outstanding building. but inly by prior appointment

div

I am a tour guide based in Cape Town and wine tours are my favourite to do. There are so many great estates to choose from, I could fill several pages with recommendations but here are a few:

Meerlust: This is the oldest family run business in South Africa. Great wine and one of the most historic estates in the Cape.

Vergenoegd: Tasting is done in the old Manor House which is beautiful. Wine is good (red only) and they have older vintages on offer.

Ernie Else: One of the most modern and stylish estates in the area, they make superb wine (red only) but it is not cheap.

Waterford: Good wine and they do a wine and chocolate tasting!

De Traford: A tiny boutique estate located right at the end of a beautiful valley. Great wine (but sold young so you will have to cellar it) and a fabulous atmosphere.

Rustenberg: This is also a beautiful estate with great wine and a very big range (some very reasonably priced).

Tokara: Another super modern estate with great views and wine. Also has a very good restaurant.

Warwick: Great wine (both red and white) this is one of my favourites.

Sa_Guide,
Which is the farm that Victor Titus is working at now. He, undoubtedly does the best wine tasting in the winelands.

Who is Ernie Else is he by any chance related to Ernie Els the famous SA Golfer (just a joke)

Try the Hemel 'n Arde Valley or the area around Elim, these are where Sa's most interesting wines are now made, but not in farms!

Where is the Hemel 'n Arde Valley? Is it by any chance anywhere near the Hemel 'n Aarde Valley? Just joking.

Yes they are just next door to each other, no joke?

sniktalk,

If the wines are not made <b>in</b> farms then where are they made? You started this now you pay the penalty.

On a more serious note. Even though I dont think there is anything wrong with the Hemel en Aarde Vallei wines, in my personal opinion these wines dont even come close to Stellenbosch wines in terms of choice, quality, price and availability. As already said this is my personal opinion.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

Ernie Els is indeed the golfer; he used some of his winnings to go into business with his childhood friend Jean Engelbrecht (who provides the vintner skills). If I remember correctly, Engelbrecht's father owns or runs nearby Rust en Vrede? Their reds are luscious blends -- absolutely gorgeous views from their patio.

We also really liked Hartenberg (comparing their premium and super-premium wines), as well as Warwick (their Three Cape Ladies blend is a favorite). All are in Stellenbosch area.

Wines are made in vineyards!
Everybody has there own taste I spent 15 years in France so prefer good wine rather that tannin in a bottle.

&quot;....spent 15 years in France so prefer good wine rather that tannin in a bottle....&quot;

that's ludicrous and absolutely &quot;old&quot; point of view!

the &quot;new world wines&quot; - form,ost australia, south africa and more limited california - offer far better value for money at the same or even better quality!
the statement above shows a personal view which dates back to the 80ies - to say the least!

div

one more great winery: neil ellis! very modern! one can buy wine there but when we visited a couple of years back there was no tasting!

regarding meerlust:
the flagship wine RUBICON is still good but nothing compared to the early 90s vintages! value for money is very questionable.
i think meerlust is still gaining money from gorgio's reputation who left the comp a couple of years ago.

div

Div, Neil Ellis' Groeekloof Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favourites of that cultivar. Even though in general I'm back to Chardonnay for white.

arthur
my favourite chardonnay is glen carlou. they have a fantastic tasting atmosphere and ambiance!

cheers!

div

Div,

You really the most ludicrously pompous person ever. You have demonstrated your complete lack of taste so often do you think that anybody cares what you think.

Why do you find it nexcessary to not understand a bit if fun, I could think of several things?

I'm pretty non-confrontational, but really...this nastiness is unpleasant. Can't you give it a rest and stick with the topic without getting insulting?