Expressions of Franschhoek at the Taj

Gaby Palmer-Bolton, Mount Nelson PR with Willem du Toit, Taj F&B Director

Darran Stone, winemaker at Mont Rochelle

Riaan Nolan of Zando Shoes & Fashion and Jan Laubscher of WineTimes

Francois van der Merwe introduced guest chef 
Michelle Theron of Pierneef restaurant at La Motte

Potato crusted Salmon served with braised Fennel, Parmesan Gnocchi, 
Cape Curry and Coconut Velouté

La Motte Brut 2007 - Haut Espoir Viognier 2008

Wild Mushroom open Lasagna, Porcini & Hazelnut Velouté with deep fried Egg

La Motte Chardonnay 2010 - Holden Manz Big G 2009

A special substitute for John: spicy paneer and salad from Bombay Brasserie

Crispy Lamb’s Soutribbetjie with Gremolata crushed Potatoes, 
Parsnip Puree, Quince & Bacon jus

Moreson Magia 2006 - Haut Espoir Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Chocolate “Melksnysels” with spiced Milk punch, Milk Chocolate mousse 
and Salted Honey comb

Pierre Jourdan Blanc De Blancs 2009

Tamo von Arnim introducing his family's wines

La Motte winemaker, Edmund Terblanche

Wayne Buckley, head of Holden Manz PR and Marketing

Irina von Holdt CWM discussing wine with a visitor from Brazil

Anne Armstrong, mother of Rob, the owner of Haut Espoir

Clayton Reabow, Moreson winemaker

Chefs at attention

The Mint restaurant

Photographs © John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2012

Morvino trade tasting at the Vineyard

Lynne with Joakim Hansi Blackadder, sommelier at Rust en Vrede and his wife

Painted Wolves Jeremy and Emma Borg

Tyrrell Myburgh of Joostenberg

Lynne with Alison and Steven Digby of Manuka at Southey's

Rudi Schulz

Miles Mossop with Chris and Wendy Bertie

Natalie Opstaele of Almenkerk with Mark Herd, Sunset beach Wine & Deli

Joris van Almenkerk and Natalie Opstaele

De Morgenzon team: winemaker Carl van der Merwe 

and Katie Barratt, Sales & Marketing Manager

International Wine & Food Society's John Grant & Eugene Mori and a friend

Miles Mossop with wine boxes

Photographs © John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2012

The great trek. Day 2 - through the Transkei to Port Alfred

Leaving Kokstad, there are several stops for one way traffic while they rebuild the N2. This one took half an hour

The Transkei has many clever entrepreneurs selling just what you might fancy while you wait to get going

A small settlement on the way. 

This lady did NOT want John to take her photograph. She was selling fruit, sweeties, chips and toffees.

Yet another stop, but a lot of money is being spent improving and widening the roads.

Lovely blue and green paints give a faintly Mediterranean feel and some very smart houses are being built. Everyone seems to have a good plot of land with livestock and a vegetable patch. Traditional Rondavels seem to be out, square houses being built instead and thatch seems also be on the way out.

The Superspar in Mtatha where you can buy Samp and beans with wors for only R20 a good helping. We bought some wine for a sundowner and some sandwiches for lunch.

Crossing the Kei River and heading into the Eastern Cape. Well-maintained roads and good road markings from here on

The riverfront at Port Alfred at dusk

Borreltijd (sundowners) with our hosts, the Colemans, at the Place on the River. Check out their website www.placeontheriver.co.za if you are going to be in the area and need somewhere to stay.

Looks like aliens approaching over the hill on the Kowie river at dusk and low tide

A creditable bottle of KWV Chenin Blanc to go with our meal at Ocean Basket, which is also on the riverside.

Grilled Cob, crispy chips and a top up of Princess prawns.  Very, very fresh and delicious

Our Zimbabwean waiter Norbert, quite a character. Very efficient and friendly too.

A riverside pub. Lovely in summertime, we bet, and probably crowded every night

Town lights looking down the Estuary to the sea

The frontage of The Place on the River.  The well-appointed self catering guest cottage is behind this.

Birds looking for pickings as the tide goes out 

Huge Black backed gulls on the jetty

The bridge span leading to the centre of town

Later, when the tide has come in

Oops, the sea wall is caving in. Lynne is well dressed as the early morning was a little chilly.

A summer place, all locked up till the beginning of the season

There be mud crabs here, apparently very large ones.

Lewis, our host, coping with the early morning

Lulu, their lovely, friendly Staffie dog

This is the house we stayed in at the Place on the River. Upstairs there are two suites sharing a kitchen area. We are just setting off to breakfast at Spur on the small boat harbour before the drive to Calitzdorp.