I should have written my reviews when this was fresh 10 months ago, but here goes:
Restaurants:
La Colombe – worthy as the top restaurant in Capetown. I greatly enjoyed the “special glass” of wine interlude mid-dinner. They describe the experience on the menu and it was a fun break in the action for our group. We ordered wine off the list because the wine pairings were not to our liking (~$1000 USD range for Iconic wines I have in my cellar? No thanks).
Ouzeri – as described above. Very casual but excellent food. Excellent non-white table cloth night
Fyn – always great. Loved their wine list.
Rust en Vrede – Fun lunch. Festive outdoor scene (they also have indoor seating).
Regrets were I did not visit any of the Luke Dale Roberts establishments. The original iteration of The Test Kitchen set the standard for Capetown dining and more than met the mark. It is now more experimental for up and coming chefs. His other restaurants (Pot Luck Club, Salon, etc) were on the agenda but circumstances intervened.
Dining in Franschhoek was the surprise and star of the trip. Their city center is really one long stretch of road with commericial shopping and dining.
Jan at La Motte – Excellent “experience” as a non-native. My South Africa friends enjoyed that I experienced an “authentic South Africa” meal but even though the food was delicious and the memorable experience was worth the trouble, it was more nostalgic for them than a rarified air dinig experience. Still highly recommend for non-natives.
La Petite Colombe – sister restaurant to La Colombe. Beautful outdoor seating where we ate lunch overlooking the rolling hills of SA. Great experience.
Epice – part of the La Colombe family and my favorite dining experince of the trip and ranking among my favorite meals anywhere. Variety, flavor, imaginative, and delicious. I still rave over the bisque and called out the chef to try and fund a food truck in the US with this bisque. She would be a multi-millionaire on just that dish alone.
Protégé — again the La Colombe family (are you sensing a theme?). Brilliant lunch experience. Highly recommend.
Tourist attaction (recommended): “Babylonstoren is a beautiful property. The tasting however is a commercial shitshow and I would only recommend going if you’re planning on eating at one of the restaurants or staying overnight in one of the fynbos cottages which are really nice.” This is accurate but visiting the property was a treat. The wines are a skip (unfortunately) but I loved everything about visiting this property.
Wineries:
You can’t go wrong with any of the following and many had library wine offerings that were brilliant.
In and around Capetown:
Klein Constantia to drink the brilliant Vin de Constance
Hartenberg – their Shiraz was delicious and The Stork (2015 vintage available at the winery was a star)
Stellenbosch/Franschhoek:
Kanonkop – a must visit with top end wines to match its reputation. Had amazing vintage tasting options (30 year old bottlings) as well as the 1990 and 1992 for sale.
Bouchard Finlayson – top end Pinot Noir. Great staff, great vintage variety.
Mullineux – Exceptional Chenin Blanc (“Steen”). Greatly enjoyed the variety of terroir across their white and reds (Shiraz). The dessert wine Olerasay will rival many global peers.
Wineries like Hamilton-Russell and Delaire Graff are must visits.
I’m poasting a list I put together that identified clusters of recommended wineries to help choose wineries that are around one another based on a chosen location. I hope it helps.
Stellenbosch Recommended Itinerary
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Ken Forrester (The FMC Chanin Blanc); nearby winery: Le Riche (Reserve Cabernet)
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Vilafonte Series C Red (and M Red), Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Kanonkop Paul Sauer, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Delair Graf Estate (Botmanskop and Laurence Graff Reserve); nearby wineries: Tokara (Telos),
Glenelly (Lady May Bordeaux blend), Rustenberg (Peter Barlow Bordeaux blend), and Thelema
Mountain Vineyards (‘Thelema’ and Rabelais)
Others to consider, any of whom are stellar:
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De Toren Fusion V (and Z), Stellenbosch, South Africa; nearby wineries: Boschkloof (Epilogue),
Raats (MR Mvemve de Compostella and Single Vineyard Cab Franc), and Meerlust (Rubicon)
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Vergelegen V Red, Stellenbosch, South Africa; nearby winery: Morgenster (Estate Reserve).
NOTE: Vergelen and Morgenster are stellar wineries but they are offset 25 minutes South of
downtown Stellenbosch
Franschhoek/ Swartland itinerary
The Sadie Family ‘Columella’ Red, Swartland, South Africa
[45 minutes South]
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Anthonij Rupert (Optima and Cab Franc), Franschhoek Valley, South Africa (Anthonij Rupert
Wine Farm, R45 wine route, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa)
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Mullineux (‘Schist’ Syrah and Straw Wine), Swartland, South Africa (Roundstone Farm,
Riebeeksrivier Rd, Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape; Dassenberg Rd Franschhoek 7690)
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Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, Coastal Region, South Africa
(Excelsior Road Franschhoek 7690)
Need to locate:
David & Nadia Chenin Blanc, Swartland, South Africa
Hemel-en-Aarde Itinerary
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Crystallum Cuvee Cinema Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, South Africa (2 Harbour Rd
Hermanus 7200)
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Alheit Vineyards ‘Cartology’ Bush Vines, Western Cape, South Africa (HEMELRAND FARM,
HEMEL AND AARDE RD Overberg 7200)
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Bouchard Finlayson Tete de Cuvee Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, South Africa (Bouchard
Finlayson Winery, R320, Hermanus, 7200, South Africa)
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Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (Hemel en Aarde
Valley Hermanus 7200)