Franschhoek, wine country

Thursday we were picked up and driven to the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, which is known as the wine and gourmet capital of South Africa. The drive took just under an hour and we arrived into the Franschhoek township just after 8am. We were not disappointed with the breath-taking scenery, surrounding this well maintained township and valley. Here we were to board a wine tram and bus, which will take us to five different wineries.
The Huguenots first settled in this spectacular valley over 300 yrs ago, they bought with them their traditions and knowledge in wine making and viticulture from their native France and transformed the wilderness around them into one of the most beautiful valleys in the world.
This proud heritage can be seen and felt today in the village on the surrounding farms.
There are a variety of cellars to visit, we chose to visit, Allee Bleu, Solms Delta, Boschendal, Plaisir de Merle and Verde en Lust, where we chose to have lunch.
DH and I did not sample, but we had coffee and beer at different locations, personally I do not like the taste of winE and DH decided that he just wanted to have beer, there are a few craft breweries available, but the tram did not stop at them.
We spent 4 to 5 hours visiting the wineries, having lunch at Verde en Lust in beautiful surroundings of the vineyards.

DH organising out timetable

Some of the sampling rooms

More sampling rooms

Boschendal seating area, a gorgeous setting amongst the rose gardens, apparently roses are planted next to grapevines, to check to see if the soil is any good, if the roses continue to bloom all is good with the soil.

Garden setting

Tasting rooms

The mountains surrounding the valley, so tranquil.

Allee Blue.

We had coffee here.

Entry to Plaisir De Merle

Artistic statues throughout the town.

Our tram, there was sampling on board, DH and I had a taste !!.

Tasting rooms

Gorgeous gardens

Mountains in the distance.

Entry

Our bus before the tram.

The tram station.

Lunch, salad and corn fritters.

Lust restaurant 

DH had haddock fish cakes and beer.

Theses small homes are provided for the farm workers

Statues throughout the town and vineyards

The old train station, now a bar and cafe..

Small homes for the workers

Vineyards, now is autumn going into winter.

Franschhoek is a little like Margaret River in WA, but a lot more beautiful due to the surrounding mound set in a valley. The town is very arty and has a huge array of cafe’s, shops, art galleries and boutique shops. After our tour of the vineyards we spent a couple of enjoyable hours window shopping and of course a little purchase for me.

All things quirky appeal to me, so I bought a nigemi doll and some more bead wire animals.

Let me share with you some of the art that appealed to me, my fascination with rabbits and all things quirky.

Lion and elk made out of beads

Card art collage

More bead art

Rabbits

A giraffe pelvis with bone carved flowers

Rabbits

More bead art, a bull.

Gotta love these signs

More rabbits

Rabbits

So many beautiful things, hard to resist it all, but very pleasurable to view, a wonderful time in this beautiful part of SA.

Back to hotel for dinner and tomorrow we tour Afrogem and Table Mountain. 

Till next time.