Sunday lunch at Pomegranate, Vergenoegd wine estate

Our wine club visited Vergenoegd (which means satisfaction has been achieved) 
wine farm near Stellenbosch

for a tasting and lunch at their restaurant, Pomegranate, 
which is in the 1732 Cape Dutch manor house. 

We started with a slightly rowdy tasting of all their current wines in the voorkamer, squeezed about the large dining table. 

Their winemaker, Marlize Jacobs, was very patient indeed with this happy crowd. 

Then it was time to tuck into lunch. Mike Israele, the talented chef patron of Pomegranate restaurant had come up with a super menu for us, 
with three choices for each course at a very reasonable R245 per person. 

We all sat at a long table under the liquid amber trees and despite some harassment from the amusing and fiercely protective pet geese, had a super time.

Geoff, the farm boy, controlling a goose

Lynne treated herself to the mushroom starter 

while John had the eland carpaccio. 

We both had the excellent duck confit. 

John didn’t get pictures of all the desserts, but there was a lovely crème brulée made with duck eggs. We both had to have the chocolate fondants. 

And you can buy duck eggs at the tasting centre.

After lunch we were treated to the Duck Parade, a “not to be missed” event at Vergenoegd 

with chef patron Mike Israele showing his talents as a duckherd

The farm has a flock of over 1000 Indian runner ducks, who roam through the vineyards eating snails and other undesirables. A much better solution to pest control than using pesticides.

The ducks live in a large yard behind the house

Some of the other dishes enjoyed by our friends

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2012