James McKenzie at Nabygelegen, Wellington

James McKenzie is always worth a visit when we are in the Wellington area and we dropped in to Nabygelegen (translation "Lying nearby") for a chat before we returned to Cape Town. He surprised us by giving us a special tasting from barrels and tanks in his cellar and we talked about doing something exciting with him in the winter. James produces a very good range of award-winning wines as well as a Grappa. This historic farm, established in 1712, has an even longer history and  Stone-age implements and hand axes have been found, some dating back over a million years. Most of these finds were discovered in the deep, red, vineyard soils by the vineyard team on their daily rounds. Click here to read more 

James’ tribe of 10 faithful hounds relaxing in the sun outside the tasting room

Inside there is also  small shop selling locally made items

This building is one of the originals on the farm and these were stables. You can see the original "riet dak" ceiling, made from roughly hewn tree trunks, planks and reeds

Lynne discussing the wines and harvest with James and his partner Adele Strachan

Seating in the old Forge

It is a happy place

with happy people

Recently they used only Nabygelegen wines at the Queen's Jubilee Celebrations for the Commonwealth Heads in London. This is the menu.

They run a small restaurant and on good days you can sit under the vine pergola and look out at the countryside

James taps a barrel of a new wine he is developing, so that we can taste it. Stunning, we felt very privileged

And we were allowed to taste a tank sample of his new Chenin Blanc. It is going to be a cracker. They had a good harvest

Faithful hounds follow everywhere, even into the winery

We went into town to Biltong King to buy some good biltong after many recommendations in the valley

Another good reason to visit this beautiful valley

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© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014

An overnight stay at Dunstone, Wellington

Last Friday, we went off on a jaunt to Wellington. We made a short stop at Windmeul wine cellar and had a quick taste of their wines and then, suddenly, it was lunchtime so we visited Twist which is one of the best places to eat when in Wellington. We had a fine lunch and then it was off to Dunstone Country House (formerly known as Bovlei Valley Retreat, and the signage still shows this name) where we had been invited to spend a night and write about it. They have a summer special – dinner, bed and breakfast for R995. We were put up in their Guava cottage, where we spent a relaxing afternoon and evening and breakfasted the next morning. There will be a winter special from May 1st. Check the website for details

Dunstone winery and Guest house nestles beneath the magnificent Hawequa mountains and the Bain's Kloof pass

The owners live in the manor house

Off to our cottage

It is a large cottage with two bedrooms and is very spacious

Bedroom number one with its en suite bathroom

Both bedrooms open up onto the enclosed courtyard

where the cottage has its own small swimming pool

Bedroom number two, showing the outside braai

The open plan lounge and equipped self-catering kitchen area...

... which has a fireplace and a large flat screen TV

The view from the cottage

The main Guesthouse is just a short walk away through the gardens and this has a rim pool in front with beautiful views of the valley and mountains

Looking across to Linton Park

Between 4 and 5 pm, you are invited to taste Dunstone’s wines in the lounge and to have some tea

There are lots and lots of birds and other wildlife to be seen

Lynne calls these amusing birds “Guineafools” - their behaviour is always hilarious

Sitting on the terrace in the evening, watching cloud formations in the shape of .. the British isles?

Dinner and breakfast are served in the winery

There are plenty of tables and the guest house was nicely full while we were there, with guests from Sweden, Zimbabwe and Ireland

Dunstone wines are, of course, on the menu

Privilege took really good care of us while we were at Dunstone; she is a treasure

The Beverage list

The wine list – you can try many by the glass

Our starter of melon and a little Parma ham served, unusually, with a large salad

John chose steak with vegetable

Lynne’s choice was kingklip in a lemon butter sauce with wicked potato wedges – so bad for the diet

Having eaten the chips, we both gave in to pudding. This was the apple pie and bought "ice cream"

Cheese and Biscuits for John

Blackboard menus for lunch...

... the childrens’ menu...

...and breakfast – so we could decide what to have the following morning

The temperature controlled wine cellar is on view

Dunstone’s wine label features a dog and this lovely bit of topiary being encouraged is on the front of the wine cellar

The fruit basket in our room

Outside the winery

As they point out, the restaurant is also part of a working winery

Breakfast for Lynne the next morning was scrambled egg in a croissant with a small dribble of delicious truffle oil

The breakfast menu

John chose an omelette topped with bacon and cheese

The breakfast beverage list of teas is extensive

We then had a wander around the Guest house to see some of the other rooms. This is the courtyard at the back

A lovely view from one of the rooms

They are beautifully decorated and extremely well appointed and comfortable

Our farewell to Privilege, who was busy cleaning the rooms and showed us the rooms that were ready for the next guests

Another of the lovely rooms

Our last look across the pool. We think we might be back for another stay, perhaps in the winter

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© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014