SA Travel Ideas: Enjoy a Perfect Picnic at 300-Year-Old Wine Estate

Locals and visitors to South Africa, in search of delicious local produce and sun-ripened flavours, served in a glorious heritage environment, can enjoy a summer picnic at 317-year-old Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West.

Available from early November to end-April, the famous picnics are enjoyed in fine style. They are set up in a lush camphor tree forest, seeded from the original giant camphors planted three centuries ago by the estate’s former owner Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel.

Food is served in traditional picnic baskets and guests are seated at tables covered with white tablecloths, shaded by elegant umbrellas.

“The menu evolves every year and the 2017 courses include artisanal bread with truffle-flavoured farm butter, homemade duck liver pâté with port wine jelly, and farm style pork pâté layered with mushrooms.

“The estate is world-famous for its wines, and guests can choose from a selection that suits all tastes and pockets.”

The vegetarian menu includes a rooibos and cinnamon-poached pear with tofu and coconut cream, quinoa salad, plus a fried chickpea, Chinese cabbage and smoky aubergine salsa wrap, and potato sago pops with hummus.

“To make the picnics even more memorable, our redesigned rose garden (adjoining the camphor forest, with 1500 new rose bushes) is now well-established. It will offer glorious views and fragrances for guests to enjoy when they collect their picnic baskets,” adds Sharon.

Vergelegen, which is set on a 60 hectare cultural heritage area, received the International Best of Wine Tourism, Cape Winelands accolade last year for an unprecedented fifth time.

Visitors can try out the estate’s award-winning wines at the wine tasting centre, explore the gardens and visit the restored homestead.