Friday, Nov 24—Wine country

Here we are getting started on our Le Pique Nique lunch on the grounds of the Boschendal estate and vineyard. Today was Diana’s tour of the wine country around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and lunch was on this glorious estate. This is an area she knows very well as she lived here for a number of years and her husband and children all attended Stellenbosch University.

We were picked up by Diana in her loaner car as hers was still in the shop waiting for parts to arrive from Germany. There was significant damage done and the repairs were going to take some time. With her was a close friend, Jitty, who lives in Aberdeen in the Great Karoo. The three of us would get to enjoy what Diana had planned for us for the day.

The day was not being very cooperative as it was grey and rain was falling off and on. Not knowing what access would be where we were going we left LRW at home and took the manual chair. Time for Edward to do a little work. Once loaded we were on our way. No dogs today!

We took the coastal route as Diana had heard there had been accidents on the N2 slowing traffic. From the coast we turned inland and shortly after crossing the N2 entered this wine area. Beautiful hills and valleys covered in vines and orchards and magnificent old farm buildings on both sides. As we drove Diana received a phone call from our lunch stop letting her know the restaurant was full and asking if we still wanted Le Pique Nique given the weather. She left the pique-nique order in place and on we drove.

Our first stop was at Oom Samie Se Winkel in Stellenbosch. This is on the lines of what we know as an old general store. There were items both current and old. Of course there was an extensive wine selection and quite a food section. Diana bought koeksisters for Marcia to take home. And Jitty was able to sell some of her handiwork to the shop.

Then it was a quick drive through parts of Stellenbosch, some of the university and an estate turned hotel that had been owned by friends of Diana. Quite a beautiful town that deserves considerably more time than we have today. Guess that will have to wait until our next visit to SA.

It is off to Boschendal estate and our pique-nique lunch. The skies have begun to clear a bit and the rain is not falling and we arrive before serving ceases and so Le Pique Nique we will have. The table is set in the sun and the basket and wine are brought and the feast begins. What a spread of delicious food it was! Here is what was contained in that seemingly bottomless basket.

Tartlet of Smoked Franschhoek Salmon Trout


Snoek Pâté
Smoked Aubergine, Apricot and Sweet Onion Dip
French Baguette


Rare Roast Beef with Wholegrain Mustard
Smoked Coronation Chicken
Country Ham


Lemon and Herb Baby Potato Salad
Three Bean Salad


Cheese, Biscuits and Fruit Confit
(Mature Cheddar and Camembert)


Macadamia Chocolate Brownies


Coffee or Tea

We ate and we ate and then we packed the food remaining so it could be enjoyed later. What a feast, and what a setting! Off in one direction were the mountains, today with a blanket rolling down them. And behind us was the manor house with its tree-lined entrance way. Quite a location for a pique-nique! Stunning!!After lunch we toured the manor house and some of the grounds. We poked our heads into the restaurant and quickly decided we had made the correct decision about where to eat lunch. Then to the gift shop. Quite a nice offering of items, many were things we had not seen before. And of course some of these had to come back to Cape Town with us.

From here Diana drove us to the little farm community, Groot Drakenstein, where she and her husband Buck lived when they were first married. The community has gotten a bit larger and the farm on which they lived has been expanded considerably, but the church and the sporting club were as they had been. Quite a treat to get to see and learn about some of Diana’s life. Thank you Diana for sharing this with us. It was great fun.

Time to head back to Cape Town as the afternoon was running away from us and we had a bit of a ride home. Franschhoek would also have to wait for next time. Got stuck in a bit of traffic on the N2 but not too bad. All in all another great day spent with Diana. Her sharing her special places with us has added so much to our trip. Such a special friend!