Thursday, October 24, 2013

An extended Weekend at Weltvrede, Bonnievale

When we said we would be visiting Wine on the River, and spending two more days in the Robertson/Bonnievale area, Elzette Steyn, Weltevrede's* Tasting Room Manager, 
offered us the use of one of the farm's four cottages for our visit.
We spent Sunday to Tuesday in Bidsprinkaan (Praying mantis)
The cottage has a verandah with lovely views over the valley and the Breede River. There is a braai enclosure at one end
The decor and equipment are simple and functional, but very comfortable
 The fireplace helped us to keep warm in the cold, rainy weather and we could braai in it
 The bedroom with en suite shower and loo
On a previous visit, we stayed in the charming, but tiny, Ons Huisie
Views over the valley, with beautiful clouds which brought a terrific rainstorm during the night
A rather damp francolin foraging for breakfast on the lawn after the very wet night
The Breede River runs through the farm
The cottages have beautiful views of it,
which change with the weather and times of the day
A special treat, some goose paté given to us by Barton & Guestier in Bordeaux, well-matched with Christina van Loveren Riesling noble late harvest 2008
 
We were visited by a feral cat which thought our supper very attractive, 
but it was not allowed in
 The Bonnievale valley is very well named
Sunset at Weltevrede
 On Tuesday morning, we visited Elzette in the tasting room to thank her for her very kind hospitality
*Weltevrede means "well-satisfied"
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

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