“(I have) a nagging suspicion that great wines must be made in spectacular surroundings”
Frank Prial, Wine Critic for the New York Times
If Mr. Prial’s conclusion is correct, then surely South Africa is home to some of the greatest wine in the world.
I mean just look at it!
We have been working out way to Cape Town, our final stop on our Africa visit. We stopped in this valley at Franschhoek, one of the main wine centers in the country . The name is Dutch Afrikan for “French Corner”. This part of the Cape was founded in 1688 by French Huguenots. Hugeunots are a Protestant Calvinistic sect that came to South Africa fleeing persecution in Catholic France. They brought the best of French winemaking with them.
As a general rule, grape vineyards do best in regions with long warm summers and rainy winters.
Greg Jones writes, “Climate is arguably the most critical environmental aspect in ripening fruit to its optimum quality to produce a desired wine style. Wine, which captures aspects of history, art, romanticism, geography, cultural identity, gastronomy, investment potential, and science — all in one agricultural pursuit — provides countless avenues for research and enjoyment, both academically and by wine aficionados everywhere.”
We visited Haute Cabriere winery today. It is one of many vineyards here in the region. This beautiful valley used to be an elephant nursery. Great herds would migrate here to calve then return to the Eastern Cape. Those elephants are gone now and in their place are thousands of vineyards.
We were treated to a display of Saberage, a French tradition for using a sword to open a champagne bottle. I so want to try that for out next Thanksgiving dinner.
After a great lunch at a French Bistro we made our way into Cape Town. We will be here for the next 5 days before starting the trip home.
You may notice the picture below. There is a significant perimeter fence complete with electric wire just behind our room. Why you may ask?
Simple, it is the local locked inpatient Psychiatric Hospital. (this is true)
“Hello Clarice…”
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