VINE DINING
Joanne Gibson finds wine farms that are turning casual alfresco eating into a fine art
IWE ARRIVED EARLY TO SECURE A PRIME SPOT ALONG THE RIVER BANK
t’s hard to beat a good picnic on a wine farm. Apart from anything else, you can drink wine, which isn’t the case in most parks and other scenic public places anymore. And it’s hard to find one which doesn’t have great views, shady trees and a patch of lawn on which to shake out your blanket.
Often that’s all you have to do these days, because several wine farms do all the hard work for you — filling a basket with lots of things to nibble on, and providing you with utensils as well as blankets. Historic Stellenbosch estate Uitkyk will even be offering an “opulent Georgian celebration picnic” from the end of the month, complete with croquet!
I’ve only enjoyed two wine-farm picnics so far this year, but both were lovely. At Delheim in Stellenbosch, which offers picnics seven days a week (021 888 4607, www.delheim.com), we walked through the barrel cellar to reach a lovely oak-shaded riverside clearing. While the kids splashed in the river and tucked into their smoked chicken wraps, vegetable chips, gouda, yoghurt, fruit juice and fruit dainties (R70 per child), we claimed the table and benches and unpacked our wicker basket.
What a feast! Smoked salmon rolls, ostrich steak salad, cabanossi quiche, snoek pâté, pork rillettes, olive tapenade, homemade pickled pumpkin, two cheeses, brown mini loaf, crackers, bread sticks, fresh fruit, koeksisters and a bottle of dry but fruity Delheim Rosé (R149 pp).
What’s more, everything came in little glass jars and bamboo packaging rather than plastic — as was the case at Solms-Delta in Franschhoek, where we arrived early to secure a prime spot along the river bank (there’s also a clearing in the forest or a shady area next to the dam). It’s a 10-minute walk from Fyndraai Restaurant, where chef Shaun Schoeman makes authentic Cape cuisine, but a tractor drove us and our fully laden baskets to where some rustic benches, blankets and ice buckets were waiting (note: there’s a loo nearby). If I enjoyed the aromatic Rhônestyle white blend Amalie, even out of plastic tumblers, I really loved the food (especially because it wasn’t based around bread, as most picnics tend to be).
For R145 pp you get local cheeses with chutney; coleslaw with pan-fried chorizo; potato salad topped with crispy bacon, fresh rocket and spekboom; wild herb-marinated summer vegetables served with basilflavoured humus; grilled Malaystyle chicken; spiced beef tikka meatballs; grilled and basted pork ribbetjies; smoked snoek, shrimp and salmon pâté served with capers, fresh lemon and farm bread; homemade biltong and droëwors accompanied by spicy toasted nuts; and freshly baked pineapple tart with vanilla cream. Wine costs extra and children’s picnics cost R75, including a choice of cheese burger, chicken drumstick or calamari nuggets. Available until April 30 (021 874 3937, www.solms-delta.co.za).
It promises to be a good summer for alfresco fare. On weekends, Steenberg in the Constantia Valley has boules sets and parasols to add fun and comfort while nibbling on ciabatta served with two different pâtés, Dalewood cheeses, homecured charcuterie, goat’s cheese and caramelised onion tartlets, salads and brownies (R350 for two, 021 713 2211, www.steenberg-vineyards.co.za).
Stellenbosch is rapidly becoming picnic central. Warwick’s Gourmet Picnic is a favourite (R350 for two excluding wine, 021 884 4410, www.warwickwine.com). At Spier, farm-to-table restaurant Eight offers wholesome and delicious-sounding food (R298 for two, available daily, book in advance via www.spierpicnics.co.za), and I love the fact that their children’s picnic includes an activity book and crayons (R75 per child). Zorgvliet seems to offer amazing value, its basket for four including a whole oven-roasted chicken, filled baguettes, two salads, something sweet AND a bottle of wine for just R450 (021 885 1399, www.zorgvlietwines.com). The lovely picnic at Hartenberg (R150 pp) also includes a bottle of estate wine (021 865 2541, www.hartenbergestate.com).