Within the lavish valley of South Africa’s Western Cape, about an hour from Cape Town, oenophiles can now visit Paul Siguqa’s Klein Goederust, Franschhoek’s first Black-owned wine farm. Siguqa’s mother was a farmworker, and he grew up in the region. The farm is more than 100 years old, and today it produces Chenin Blanc, a peppery Shiraz 2020, a vibrantly fruity Noble Late Harvest 2020, and a 2018 cab-merlot blend. All can be enjoyed alongside a meal at the estate’s restaurant run by chef Linda Abrahams, a.k.a. Aunty Linda.
Another boutique winery, Dieu Donné Vineyards, opened its new Country Grand restaurant in March, with fresh seafood dishes and delicious pizzas to be enjoyed alongside breathtaking views of the farm and wines from the vineyard.
[video id=by8VqGWH autostart="viewable"]Chef Nanda Cardoso heads Deux Lions restaurant at La Bourgogne Wine Estate, also opened in March this year. Using local seasonal ingredients, Cardoso’s menu features cheese and charcuterie boards, grilled seafood, meat, and vegetarian selections.
For those looking to stay overnight in this idyllic locale, there’s the intimate 11-room Sterrekopje, situated on a charming farm in the foothills of the Franschhoek Mountains, where farm walks, body treatments, breathwork, and yoga are on offer.