Wines and spirits Cape Town

An alley lined with majestic umbrella pines leads to this estate where everything is order and beauty, from the restaurant to the cellar, from the park to the car park. Here, beneath this magnificent territory, the roots of the vine go back to the time of the very first winemaking in the Cape region. Today, the Neethlingshof holds a perfect balance between its historic heritage and the ever-evolving innovations in the wine industry. It is the home of the Riesling Weisser, Gewürztraminer and Laurentius.

This estate, now owned by the grandchildren of former minister Paul Sauer, offers four superb great reds for laying down, the equivalent of premier crus in our region. It will take ten years for these Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Paul Sauer wines to reach maturity. In order to produce larger bunches, the owner broadcasts recordings of bird songs at high frequency, using the Sonic Boom method. To order, a snoek fish barbecue will be organized. For a little extravaganza, leave with the 91 or 86 vintages from the reserve.

Here, the walls house the beautiful skittles. Gerhard Hempies Du Toit, a former rugby player of great renown in South Africa, is also a descendant of French Huguenots who have been winegrowers for five generations. He'll share with you his love of well-made wine, and perhaps show you some of his fine bottles of Saint-Emilion that have been lying dormant for over twenty years. The wine he produces is a nectar for connoisseurs. Try the Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, the Shiraz 2018 and, above all, the Cavalier 2020. For wine lovers, the house also makes port wine.

Here, once again, is an excellent address to come and taste the wines of the region. Waterford Estate is owned by the Ord family and was developed under the watchful eye of Kevin Arnold. The estate offers a relaxing setting where guests can sit and enjoy a variety of tasting options around the local nectar: I named the wine. Don't hesitate to play the originality card and test the wine and chocolate tasting for example, you might be surprised by this beautiful combination of flavours in the mouth.

Originally from a Bordeaux winemaking family, the owners, in love with South Africa and good wine, bought this estate in 2004. Today, Marianne Wines Estate is renowned in South Africa for its French savoir-faire combined with the country's mild temperatures. You'll find a collection of vintage red wines that have been aged in French barrels. The 24 ha of vines produce a quality wine. They're the only ones to offer wine and biltong tasting! An anecdote: the 2004 Floréal vintage was served for Mandela's 90th birthday.