KZN Drinks Menu
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT RUM
Rum isn’t the only beverage that’s crafted in KZN. For “crop to cup” coffee, check out
Beaver Creek Estate
just outside Port Edward. You can join a full tour with tasting, grab coffee and cake, or just buy a bag of beans to take home.
It’s not exactly prime grape-growing country, but there are vineyards in KZN, too. The oldest is
Abingdon Wine Estate
on the Midlands Meander, known for its outstanding restaurant. Nearby is Highgate Wine Estate, whose elegant tasting room serves cheese platters alongside its four flagship wines. Further east in the Drakensberg is
Cathedral Peak Wine Estate, offering tastings looking over the Drakensberg.
Not far away, an ambitious farmer grows hops, a fickle plant not native to this part of the world. Most local microbreweries import their ingredients though, either from the Western Cape or from overseas. The oldest is The Nottingham Road Brewing Company, which opened in 1996. Also on the Midlands Meander is Lions River Craft Brewery, offering fine views and German beers. From here head east to 1000 Hills Brewing Company,
home to three distinct beer brands, and then to Stumpnose Brewery in Kloof with its funky taproom and craft bottle store.