Mr Price Home, the most loved homeware retailer in South Africa, recently launched Mr Price Home Online Shopping – much to the delight of many South African shoppers! I was fortunate enough to attend the launch party last week in Durban, which was lots of fun! [Read more…]
Spier Wine Farm and Hotel
I was recently invited to spend a family, fun-filled weekend at The Spier Wine Farm and Hotel , as part of the “Spier New Journey” campaign. We have visited Spier Wine Farm often for picnics and wine tasting but we have never stayed in the hotel before, so I really was keen to experience this for the first time.
Unfortunately in true Cape Town fashion the weather did not play along and we experienced one of the worst storms this winter but this did not stop us from enjoying our new adventure!
The Spier Hotel is situated on the historic Spier Wine Farm, in the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands. Village-style buildings, lush green lawns and spacious rooms, are some of the defining characteristics of the 4 star hotel.
155 rooms are clustered around six private courtyards, each with its own swimming pool. The design is reminiscent of the Bo-Kaap or Mediterranean villages where pedestrians have right of way.
Rolling lawns, gardens and walkways connect the rooms with the reception area, lounge, bar, terrace and restaurant. The décor features a sophisticated, vibrant style with strong colours, patterns and textures, and a collection of art that explores contemporary South African culture.
The hotel is a pioneer in responsible tourism and was one of the first in South Africa to be awarded the Fair Trade in Tourism SA accreditation in 2004. In 2011, Spier won the top award in the Doing It All category in the Condé Nast Traveler World Saver Award. The Spier Hotel has also recently won a Gold at the Virgin Holidays Partners in Sustainability Award.
After checking into the hotel we were whisked off in a hotel shuttle to enjoy some wine tasting – one of my favourite things to do! While the adults enjoyed quaffing a variety of the estate wines the kids were treated to a grape juice tasting. 🙂
Spier’s winery has won multiple awards in recent years, including Producer of the Year (Mundus Vini, Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2011).
We tasted wines from The Spier Creative Block blended wine range, which takes its name from a Spier Arts Academy project, which combines artworks from different artists and rearranges them to create something unique. The Creative Block wines are made with the same principal in mind. The Spier’s winemaking team select grapes from various vineyard blocks, which are blended to create wines, which are said to be “Wines greater than the sum of their parts.” My favourite wine was the Spier Creative Block 3: Shiraz, Mourvedre & Viognier – yum!
After wine tasting we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Eight Restaurant, which was delicious! The restaurant offers a farm to table dining experience and the produce is either grown on the farm or sourced from nearby farms.
We could not the resist the decadent chocolate fondant, which was heavenly! It is definitely one of my favourite deserts and this one did not disappoint 🙂
If you are looking for a slightly more relaxed dining experience then Eight To Go Deli offers sumptuous gourmet picnics. We were unfortunately unable to enjoy a picnic outside on the Saturday afternoon because of the bad weather. {The photo below was taken on the Sunday, which was perfect picnicking weather!}
If its adventure you are looking for Spier offers Eagle encounters which is great for the kids, as well as Segway tours, which was definitely the highlight of our stay at Spier.
After a Segway master class we were whizzing around the vineyards at no time at all! It is a really fun way to explore the wine farm and see the sites. I think my hubby enjoyed the Segways even more than the kids and was attempting all sorts of death-defying moves! 🙂
The Hotel also has a kiddies playroom kitted out with games and activities for the little ones to enjoy in a safe environment. While you are out wine tasting, relaxing by the pool or enjoying lunch, you can have complete peace of mind that your children, ages 2-12 years, are in safe hands.This is a complimentary service for hotel guests and is not only a fun experience for kids but an educational one too.
If you are looking for relaxation and pampering then a visit to the Camelot Spa is a definite must!
We really enjoyed our Spier experience, the service was top-notch and nothing was too much trouble. Any issues that arose were dealt with speedily and professionally! We are planning to go back very soon, the girls are really keen to do the Segway tour again and the grownups are keen for a bit of spa pampering!
Thank you Spier for an amazing stay!
The Easiest Way to Support Conservation in Africa
We’ve all done it. We go on a road trip, take loads of great photos and then never post them anywhere. They’re simply memories lying in a random folder on your PC collecting digital dust.
I was recently inspired after reading an African safari blog interview with Heinrich van den Berg, to never let this happen again. Heinrich is an award-winning photographer who fell in love with Africa and photography, and realised that through his photography he was able to get others to appreciate the places he’d photographed. A brilliant contribution to conservation efforts! This got me thinking… if Heinrich can do it, so can everyone else.
When we’re able to trigger appreciation within someone, that person automatically shows a new-found respect to the subject of appreciation. See where I’m going with this? If we can get others to fall in love with the places we go and things we see, then their new-found respect for these things could create massive change in the status of conservation of everything from natural areas to cultural groups.
The great thing about this is that you don’t even have to be a professional photographer nowadays to take a stunning photo – often the things we see, do all the hard work.
Above: Divundu – Namibia. That’s not Photoshop – that’s all Africa.
In the interview with Van den Berg he said, “I want to show the beauty that is out there. Then if people are aware of this beauty, they may think twice before destroying it.” The message? Be part of the solution. Share your photographs and experiences wherever you can – you never know who you may be inspiring to appreciate something new.
Thailand Travel Koh Nang Yuan
This week we travel to Koh Nang Yuan in Thailand, as part of my Thailand Travel Series. We visited Koh Nang Yuan on a day trip, via speedboat, from Koh Samui. We also visited Koh Tao, which was also fantastic for snorkelling. [Read more…]
Warwick Wine Estate Gourmet Picnic
Summer is the best time for alfresco dining and I love nothing better than picnicking on a beautiful wine estate! I was delighted recently when an email popped into my inbox, inviting me to attend a Warwick Wine Estate Gourmet Picnic! The best part is that I could take my family along 🙂
After a very successful picnic season last year, Warwick Wine Estate re-launched their ‘Gourmet Picnic’ for 2013/14 at the beginning of September.
I must admit it was a real treat to be invited to the estate, as we had not been before(shocking I know!) and we are always on the lookout for new places to picnic, especially places that are kiddie friendly.
We were all suitably impressed with the very warm welcome we received on arrival, which can make such a difference to your overall experience! The weather was not the warmest but the sun did eventually decide to peek its head out.
Although we have never visited the wine estate before, we are all to familiar with Warwick wines. I especially love The First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon but we started the day off with a vibrantly fruity Sauvignon Blanc, a perfect summer wine!
The Gourmet Picnic Basket is extremely generous, beautifully presented and jam-packed full of decadent goodies. The menu will please any discerning foodie! There is also a Vegetarian Picnic Basket and Children’s Picnic Basket available. The Warwick Gourmet Picnics are by reservation only, so it is vital to book in advance! You can book your picnic online or you can call 0218844410 or [email protected]. The Gourmet picnic basket is R350 per couple and the Kids Picnic is R49.
Warwick has earned a well-deserved reputation for Gourmet Picnics and their Executive Chef combines the highest quality ingredients, from locally sourced artisanal suppliers. These delicious picnics are perfect for a special occasion, or just for a lazy-day-out in wine country. It is the perfect place for families, as their delicious children’s picnics, are designed by parents who ‘get it’.
There are various picnic areas dotted around the estate, which include:
Picnic Pods
What a novel idea! The Picnic Pods have been created with privacy in mind, the 8 picnic pods provide a combination of sophistication, high-end design and rural country ambience.
The picnic pods are the perfect escape for your small group or family party with tables seating up to 12 people in shaded comfort.
The Forest Courtyard
Where we sat is modelled after the historic Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, the classically inclined forest Courtyard, provides a relaxed ambience under the shade of beautiful trees. This area is also perfect for functions – a beautifully intimate wedding, under the trees would go down a treat!
The Lawns
As with most picnic venues the lawn area is the most traditional space and perfect for relaxing and just chilling out. The lush picnic lawn, is a child-friendly area with a jungle gym to entertain the kids. Sitting back and relaxing under the umbrellas on over-sized cushions, sipping wine and enjoying scrumptious food – it could not get more perfect than that!
The Penthouse
Situated high up in the mountain vineyards at Warwick, the Penthouse offers breath-taking 360 degree views of the Cape Winelands. This unique open-air venue is ideally suited for private group picnics or corporate functions.
Big 5 Vineyard Safari
Visitors from around the world keep coming back for our wildly popular ‘Big 5 Vineyard Safari’. This fun educational Land Rover Safari takes you on a mountain journey through Warwick’s vineyards where we compare the ‘Big 5’ animals with our ‘Big 5’ grape varieties. The ‘Big 5 Vineyard Safari is perfect for all ages. For the more adventurous, our ‘Big 5 Vineyard Safari’ is now also available on horseback. Booking essential.
Contact Details & Location
Warwick Wine Estate is located on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Klapmuts.
Telephone: +27 (0) 21 8844410
For bookings: 021 884 3144 or [email protected] Fax: +27 (0) 21 8844025 Email:[email protected]
Warwick Tasting Room – Open 7 Days a week – 365 Days a year
Sunday to Thursday 10:00 – 17:00
Friday & Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- …
- 94
- Next Page »