South Africa Bimmel Bammel Tour 2024 Day 6

Good morning, Africa!

What a crazy story we had last night! I think we could write an entire book about it, but we'll save that for the bestseller.

Stellenbosch welcomes us today with a radiant 26 degrees and a sky that couldn't be bluer. Perfect weather to explore the wine region and its delicious drops – but first, we need to find out what Stellenbosch Manor has to offer for breakfast. After all, we need a solid foundation to face the wine later!

Unfortunately, the Manor falls short of our expectations. Getting a cup of coffee feels like waiting for the next world record – it feels like we've been running a marathon in slow motion the whole time. The bread is only toasted on request, all in the typical "Hakuna Matata" pace. Welcome to Africa! But hey, we're still full and ready to rock the day.

We’ve chosen the Vine Hopper Tour. This wine tour is the best way to discover the wine route of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the heart of South Africa's leading wine-growing region and offers a selection of internationally awarded wines. The Vine Hopper has put together a fine selection of wineries for us to visit. One could say it’s like a wine roulette tour, where each stop brings a new surprise!

We choose the Southern Route, which will take us to the following wineries:

- Kleine Zalze: Here, there are award-winning wines and a tasting experience that would make even Dionysus jealous.

- Blaauwklippen: A historic estate where you can find not only fine wines but also exquisite restaurants. Perfect for a little gourmet stop!

- Annandale Wine Estate: Here we discover the rustic charm of a vineyard that is so full of history that it could have its own storyteller.

- Alto: Here, the tradition of winemaking is of utmost importance! The bold red wines and the picturesque view make every wine tasting an experience.

- Peter Falke Wines: Where wine and food form a perfect marriage! Here, we can relax in the tranquil surroundings and forget about everyday life.

- Cavalli Wine Estate: Here, we unwind in stunning scenery while enjoying top-notch wines and gourmet cuisine – a true feast for the senses!

With the flexibility to hop on and off at our leisure, this tour is the perfect way to taste world-class wines while enjoying the impressive landscape. And we are ready to test the wines and admire the scenery – it will be an unforgettable day! 🍷🌄

Let’s go wine tasting!

We start our adventure at Kleine Zalze!

It’s a bit crazy to enjoy wine right after breakfast... but hey, that’s why we're here!

We are each served five different wines and already know that it will be impossible to keep up with all six wineries.

Especially since our Bob Marley bus driver announced with a big grin that anyone who throws up in the bus has to pay 500 US dollars! He also laid down a few other “rules”, such as it makes no sense to complain about him – he takes every complaint personally! A really funny guy!

The wine tasting at Kleine Zalze is really nicely designed. Almost all the wines taste excellent. At the neighboring tables, there is a couple from Switzerland and another from Würzburg. We quickly get into conversation and decide to explore the next winery together.

So it’s back on the bus and off to Alto!

There, we are once again greeted with five different wines, this time with a delicious combination of biltong and cheese.

We are a cheerful group of eight and have plenty of stories to tell and laugh about. Everyone has their own funny travel anecdotes that provide much entertainment.

But we quickly realize that at this pace, we won't be able to truly enjoy the evening.

So we decide to lean back a bit – the others head to the next winery while we stay at Alto for a while longer.

Out of pure reason, we choose only one more winery and make our way to Cavalli Winery.

Here, we also run into our wine testers from the first two rounds again. I must say, they have held up bravely, even if some faces were slightly flushed.

Cavallo is a super-modern winery with its own equestrian facility. Some people find it great, others find the decor a bit too cool.

Here we taste our last wine of the day – it’s already 4:00 PM!

Which wine was the best and which one didn’t go down as well is left to everyone’s own opinion – tastes are known to vary, so we’ll leave the wines out of it.

We let ourselves be taken back to Stellenbosch and take a stroll through the lovely streets.

Hunger strikes and we sit down in an Italian restaurant, where we order pizza and pasta.

Right in front of our table, a bright yellow McLaren parks. A boy about 12 years old rides his bike past and can hardly believe his eyes when he sees the car. Suddenly, a man in shorts and a casual t-shirt comes by and invites the boy to sit in the car while he takes a picture of him. The boy can hardly contain his joy – how cool is that?!

We spend the evening in Stellenbosch and let ourselves be swept away by the beautiful atmosphere.

When we are tired from all the hustle and bustle, we make our way to our guesthouse and let the day wind down comfortably.

Good night, Africa!