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Now that autumn has arrived in all its colourful glory, we are finally reaching the end of the harvest season in the Stellenbosch winelands and listening to the winemakers, this year was challenging to say the least. It was mainly due to the dry summer and low winter rainfall during last winter but expectations are high as the wines promise to be big with powerful, complex flavours.    The more the temperature drop, the more we look forward to a more relaxed and cosy atmosphere in and around the City of Oaks, with more quality time to spend with friends and family, exploring the beauty and bounty of our beautiful region.

Looking forward to April, Bottelary Hills Wine Route is all fired up for its sizzling series of ‘Pop Up’ lunches and this year we are grilling, charring, smoking and scorching ...    Celebrity chef, Bertus Basson, will fan the flames on 17 April, 14 August and 4 December. Each of the three Pop Up lunches will be hosted at a different wine estate along this sub-route, nestled along the R304 and M23, and celebrates the gourmet side of the grill. For more information or to book your seats, visit www.wineroute.co.za.

Get your taste on ... in the true spirit of next level wine tourism, Stellenbosch Wine Routes members set the bar pretty high when it comes to offering interesting and ingenious pairing and tasting experiences. Did you know you could pair wine with cupcakes at Delheim, match pizza with vino at Eikendal or nibble on biltong with Pinotage at L’Avenir? Middelvlei offers boerebraai tapas (bite-sized braai offerings) with their wines and Fleur du Cap at Die Bergkelder pairs artisanal salts with their cellar gems. There are also several producers offering wine and chocolate pairing pleasures - the perfect combo to perk the palate and mood on a cold winter’s day.    Visit our website www.wineroute.co.za for more information or contact us at 021 886 4310 / info@wineroute.co.za for suggestions or advice.