Le Quartier Francais – Franschhoek and the Winelands
But if we stayed in Cape Town forever, we would never get to see the Winelands! Vast, rolling countryside lined with acres of grape vines, farmland, with the added drama of the Cape mountain ranges rising above the horizon.
Our first stop was to Wellington to visit the charming Langkloof Roses Estate, a working rose and organic vegetable farm at the north end of the wine country. This being South Africa’s summer, thousands of roses were in full and spectacular bloom. We strolled the grounds and said hello to the stabled horses – a perfect introduction to an elegant rural weekend.
Next on the itinerary was Franschhoek, one of the most famous wine-towns in South Africa. It was as quaint as we expected, if somewhat touristy. The pretty, whitewashed buildings on the main street were home to cafés with sidewalk patios, endless real estate offices (I admit, I was tempted), and souvenir shops. But what was especially intriguing about the town was its history. Founded in the late 1600s by Huguenots escaping religious persecution in France, Franschhoek (meaning French Corner) is full of French names and references.
Our favourite of these is Le Quartier Francais. Sitting back from the high street, this beautiful hotel is the ideal home base for luxurious Wineland exploration. We sat down for lunch at The Living Room, one of its superb restaurants (be sure to check out The Tasting Room for a gastronomic dinner). Over a selection of tapas-style dishes, we planned out our winery route for the afternoon.
Our goal was to visit vineyards that were known for their beauty, knowledgeable wine tasting, but not for masses of crowds. We chose Babylonstoren and Anthonij Rupert. Babylonstoren is home to sprawling gardens that supply its farm-to-table restaurant. I recommend a private tour with one of the gardeners. Anthonij Rupert is a peaceful setting with wide green lawns and vineyards that creep up the mountain sides. The wine tasting was excellent. We sat on the front terrace of the thatched roof colonial Manor House. Our sommelier walked us through the intricacies of Franschhoek wine production – the history, the terroir, the different grapes that thrived. We each left with significantly heavier bags than we arrived with.
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