We have read and heard about the famed Vergelegen (unpronounceable in Afrikans!) and as it looks like a sunny warm day, we have booked to enjoy their picnic under the ancient camphor trees. (I tried to book for yesterday but 24 hours notice is required.)
It’s supposed to be a 40 minute drive but it take us over an hour. We pass dreadful living conditions around and past the airport and people sit and stand around road and street corners seemingly for no reason at all. It’s huge dislocate from the life in other parts of the city and the lifestyle we enjoy.
Somerset West is a nice outshoot from CApe Town with many lovely homes but we zigzag through town and finally come to a vast estate where we pay to enter and park. Only $1 but keeps the other half out I guess.
The gardens are absolutely lovely and still in full bloom. Sitting at the tasting room, overlooking the herb garden is a treat. With perky Delano’s help, we try a tasting of 2 whites, 2 reds ($6) and then get to try the top of the line SB with a shot of Semillion in it. My opinion, the best.
We wander through the rose garden to the shady spot where they have set up our table apart from any others. It is all very well thought out and a friendly waitress brings our picnic tray loaded with enough food for at least 4. You cannot order one between 2 because of the seating arrangement requirements. But you can take home what you don’t eat. Which in this environment with so many hungry people is a must.
The spread is huge: smoked salmon, pork and duck liver pates with chutney and pickles, slaw, Greek salad, teriyaki chicken, 3 cheeses with grapes and home made crackers, panna cotta dessert, 2 loaves of home made bread with truffle butter, bottle of their special reserve Sauvignon Blanc - all for $43 - fasting today! Maybe tomorrow too!
Afterwards we wander some more through the lovely estate, which also houses a herd of special breed cattle just to preserve the genes. Huge old trees with enormous roots spread long and wide and walking through a bamboo forest, you would not believe you were here. We return to the tasting room for a shot of their dessert wine but it’s high in acid and too lacking in body to impress.
It’s an easy drive through downtown on a Sunday and at 8pm we enjoy some leftover salad, pate and cheese.
On TV we catch a frivolous and fun “Mama Mia - here we go again” then a new series of Grantchester. Too tired to read, I hit the bed at 10:30 and alcohol takes over.
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