Thursday, April 10, 2014

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
© 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
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014