Spit or Swallow is a website for wine enthusiasts who visit a lot of wine farms. You can log your experience here and also read what other had to say about specific farms. We do not edit comment, so straight-shooters are welcome. Do you spit or swallow?
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Beautiful wine farm with a modern tasting room that has vista like views. Friendly and helpful staff. Sadly my favourite Chardonnay was not on offer but tasted more of their reds which I had yet to sample. Cab Sav “Mint” is wonderful as is their port. Thelema Chardonnay still ranks amongst the best in my opinion.
Decided on the Standard Tasting comprising of Cheeses and Wines Lovely friendly staff who go out of their way to make sure you are accommodated. Loved the Sweet red which went amazingly with the Blue Rock cheese. A huge selection of cheeses, wines and other beverages on offer. Beautiful estate with picturesque gardens. The restaurant is said to be outstanding too but sadly I never got that far.
Finally managed to taste some wines. Sadly the Chardonnay I’d been trying to taste was sold out and as such none was available for tasting. Tried the Sauvignon Blanc even although I’m not a SB drinker, it was absolutely amazing. A beautiful light fruity wine that would go well with many dishes. Red blends were the best in my opinion. This vineyard is all about quality and not quantity so the wines are produced in limited quantities. I put my name down for 6 Chardonnay and the list was already almost full… R200 a bottle is not cheap either but what a wine from the previous time I had tasted it. Well worth it for the views and pleasant hostess.
Arrived on a rain come shine day and it took me ages to actually find the tasting room. Perhaps I’m just daft but it would seem the signs need to be checked. Went inside and was the only person there. The young lady was very helpful and sweet and even although I opted to order the wines online rather she never charged me for the wines I tasted 3 in total. The PORT was the best of the trio! Beautiful Brandied type port with a beautiful rum and raisin nose and a velvety finish. Pricey at R240 a bottle though…
Sadly we arrived just as the tasting closed and as such missed an opportunity. The drive is well off the beaten track but offers spectacular views as you travel down long single land tar roads up to the top of the hill where the farm is situated. From experience the Uva Mira Chardonnay is one of the finest available!
R25 for the tasting experience but they offered the glass to me at the end of the experience. The R25 only allows you to taste 5 wines which is a bit of a rip off. I’ve paid the same price elsewhere and been able to taste the while range… Staff are friendly and accommodating. I was lucky enough to get to taste and purchase the Aurum Chardonnay which is a limited release only sold at the farm. Only 5 barrels were made but it is deliciously creamy and Vanilla like. If you like wooded Chardonnay and don’t mine spending more than R260 a bottle, you will die for this exquisite chardonnay!
We tasted the wines over a Christmas Eve dinner on the estate, the views from the restaurant area are just spectacular so I would recommend you leave this winery till late in the evening on your tasting experience just to watch the sun set over the valley. Wines are of an excellent quality with beautiful bouquets on the nose. Food at the restaurant was superb and is a great venue for a business lunch or a family get together.
Lovely wine tasting venue! Wines are a tad pricey but of no doubt good value. Restaurant has excellent service and the food is of a high quality.
Stunning experience, the wine farm was stumbled upon by chance as I waited for the Franschhoek Motor Musem to open, a shuttle is provided to take wine tasters up from the parking area to farm higher up however if so desired one can also drive there him/herself. We were greeted by an Ivania or the like who is extremely pleasant and exceptionally well read on her wines and the farms history in general. Tasting is done in a sitting where each wine is carefully explained together with its history. The non-vintage port was exceptional and the Sangiovese Italian red is worth a try. Over all very satuisfying and professional.
Stunning farm with a very picturesque setting! We were greeted immediately by Emarencia who is extremely pleasant and vibrant, she knows a lot about the wines and the history of the farm itself. A choice of wine tastings is given which is a nice option, the options included the standard wine tasting comprising of 6 wines for R30. A food tasting where a little bit of food is served with 4 different wines to explain how the food influences the taste, the chocolate tasting where you enjoy chocolates with a selection of their wines and lastly the export wine tasting. Wines are of a stunning quality albeit it slightly pricey but in my opinion worth it. Chardonnay is exceptional and Merlot is one of the best I have had with a velvety finish. I would highly recommend this farm and the tastings.
Bit of a cheek to charge for tasting but then again R35 for 12 odd wines is not at all bad. Excellent selection of Sauvignon Blanc’s and Chadonnay’s for the white wine enthusiasts. Rhinefields collection is of particular interest, buttery chardonnay with hints of litchi and pepper. Prices excellent, amazing venue and friendly staff make it a must try!
Wines seem to be from a different planet, Chardonnay smelt, looked and tasted like a Sauvignon blanc, had it not been for the bottle label I would have thought they were tricking us. Wines average in general, can’t say anything stood out particularly over others. Coronata is as close to a Chardonnay I got which was a good buy. Pinotage was one of the better wines.
Excellent setting down a dusty road through a mini forest to the picturesque venue. Although I never tasted the wines I had a Shiraz with my meal at the brilliant restaurant, superb food at reasonable prices. A must try for a little wine and dine in the sun.
Very pleasant staff, knowledgeable without being forceful about information unless probed. Excellent selection of wines at remarkable prices. Chardonnay reserve of particular interest! A must try is the Private Collection red which is excellent!
Excellent selection of wines to taste with one of the best Chardonnays I have tasted in a long time, prices are reasonable and staff friendly. Staff could be more attentive of visitors, the assistant we had did not know much about the wines nor did he entice one to try something specific to the taste of the visitors. That said he did open up a bottle of a reserve bin for me despite it being ‘off grounds’ for tasting and I ended up buying 3 bottles of the said wine. Check your slips as you leave as the assistant made a boo boo with my totals necessitating me going back to pay an extra R300 as he came waving and shouting at or car as we drove off.