Towards love
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in one of three undeniably romantic getaways
FROM cosying up by the fireplace with a glass of red wine to soaking up spectacular sunset views, the Midlands is all about romance.
An easy one-hour drive from Durban and four-and-a-half hours on the N3 highway from Johannesburg, the Midlands Meander is a collection of arranged routes in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal. Boasting an assortment of good restaurants, artisanal crafts and hospitality in naturally beautiful surroundings, it’s the perfect destination for your next getaway.
And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the Midlands is an ideal destination for romance. Here are our top three spots to wine and dine:
Abingdon Wine Estate – Open for the weekend after Valentine’s Day. The Abingdon Wine Bar is small and intimate, catering to at most 60 guests.
Sit under the oaks above the vines with your glass of wine and soak up the late summer sunshine while enjoying one of their gourmet harvest boards.
On cooler nights, relax around the outdoor fire pits or next to one of their three fireplaces inside.
The menu is small and fresh, offering tapas-style dishes. If it is a sunny weekend, guests can enjoy a romantic lunch overlooking the vineyard, or if it is cooler, fires are always going.
Tastings are run throughout the day between 10am and 4pm. Join the family team, Ian, Jane and Laurie, at the tasting bar for a personalised introduction to their wines. Tastings are charged per glass (R15 to R25).
Booking is not necessary for tastings, but the tasting bar can get very busy. Hartford House
You can feel the passion at Hartford; any meal there reflects their obsession.
“We live in one of the planet’s great pantries, a world of rich soils, a wonderful climate and bountiful harvests. ‘In season’ and local, are our keys,” reads their website.
Dinner at Hartford is a spectacular six-course tasting menu, served in the grandeur of a timeless dining room, or in the candlelit splendour of one of Africa’s great verandas.
There might be nine other Top Ten restaurants in the nation, but only one claims the ambiance which accompanies Hartford’s history and award-winning gardens. And if you’re with them on a weekend, a top dance troupe reminds guests that Africa is the home of performing arts. Dinner is 6.30pm for 7pm.
Breakfasts showcase individual masterpieces inspired by a myriad local producers and the fresh pickings of the Hartford kitchen garden.
Lunch is a festival of the senses, the colours, the scents and the quiet sounds of a place at peace with itself.
Lunch served on the veranda from noon to 2pm, Saturday and Sunday, as either a two- or three-course affair from a variety of dishes.
Skye Bistro Restaurant
Skye Bistro is a fine-dining restaurant set in the heart of the Midlands.
From beautiful log-burning fires on cool evenings to watching the sun set from the veranda over the rolling lawns of Fordoun, Skye Bistro is the perfect place to have a relaxing, sumptuous meal.
From farm-style breakfasts and lighter café-style lunches to delicious dinners, Skye Bistro captures the leisure of a bygone era.
From the more health conscious to those seeking more decadent treats, they cater to all needs.
Making use of fresh, mostly local produce, chef Lorenzo Giliomee and his team take great pride in preparing meals with care and attention to detail.
Wine connoisseurs will be pleased by their private wine collection of more than 63 local estate wines, sparkling wines and French champagnes.
All are personally selected by owner Jon Bates.