• Paradise Found at Wine Estate and Working Farm, Babylonstoren

    1 May 2017 - By 

    It’s not often that I get to finally check a place off my travel bucket list, for it is, admittedly, something of an ever-expanding, ravenous beast (which I will one day cut down to a manageable size…) – but this past Easter Monday, I was able to do just that when I visited Babylonstoren… where, just outside Franschhoek, paradise was well and truly found. Easter is always a special time of year for me, when family and the most poignant example of loving sacrifice take centre stage in my heart, and this year I really wanted to make it even…

  • Picnic Review: Scenic Riverside Holden Manz Picnic

    4 March 2017 - By 

    Earlier this year I had the pleasure of hopping on the Franschhoek Wine Tram’s Blue Line (see my review for more info) – and in so doing, I was able to visit the beautiful, quintessentially Cape Dutch wine farm: Holden Manz Wine Estate. After being dropped off near to the Franschhoek Kitchen restaurant and inquiring after our pre-arranged picnic, my friend and I asked if we could walk down to front gate to see the small dam, which had caught our eye as we passed by in our chic, yet gamely, tram bus. We were warmly invited to do this, so…

  • Picnic Review: A Stunning Picnic Experience at La Bri Wine Estate

    6 February 2017 - By 

    Recently, my friend and I had the enormous pleasure of being part of the hop-on, hop-off Franschhoek Wine Tram’s Blue Line tour. Because of this, we were allowed to make a maximum of six stops (from an original selection of eight) at various participating Franschhoek wine farms – one such estate was La Bri. I had first encountered La Bri (and their wonderful wines) at the 2015 edition of the Vinimark WineWorx Wine Trade Fair, which took place at the CTICC. On that particular occasion, I was fortunate to meet La Bri’s talented winemaker, Irene Walker, in person. From the…