Bianca Coleman 573 posts 46 comments

WHEN staying in the country, it's perfectly acceptable for there to be animals involved. In fact, it should be compulsory to, at the very least, have a resident cat; more if possible. Dogs...yeah, okay. But cats, definitely. Upon arrival at Hemel en Aarde Cottages (can you guess where?), I…
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WINE is truly a wonderful thing; I adore that I keep learning new things during time spent in the company of winemakers. I’ve never professed to be an expert, heavens no. But I am a wine lover, one who apparently wafts around in a bubble, sipping and savouring but without questioning things too…
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APPARENTLY, it is whale season in Hermanus. I say "apparently" because I have the rottenest luck when it comes to spotting these beautiful creatures which arrive annually from about June till November to calve and frolic. I can sit all day with binoculars, scanning the bay, and I'll not spot…
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AS already mentioned in a few of my other September Stellenbosch stories, I stayed at Bonne Esperance Guest Lodge, which is on the corner of Van Riebeeck and Neethling streets. This puts it only a few minutes' walk from the town, and there is no better way to explore anywhere than by foot, whenever…
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STELLENBOSCH is known for its wines, but there is more to the region than that. At Rozendal, wine production made way for vinegars and tastings by appointment will reveal not only subtle flavour differences of the blends, but the potential health benefits. The farm is right on the border of…
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GLENELLY in Stellenbosch is an estate I've had the good fortune to visit several times, so when it appeared on my recent September itinerary I didn't mind at all. What I wasn't expecting, was for it to take up almost my entire day - in a good way, naturally. There are three aspects to your visit…
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THE first time we went to The Fat Butcher was when we stayed at Roosenwijn Guest House, which just happens to be across the road from where I stayed this time, and a block from last time'saccommodation. Which means the restaurant was close to all those places. In July, The Fat Butcher wasn't…
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The winelands town of Stellenbosch was the first destination in South Africa to be awarded the Safe Travels Stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which allows travellers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which adopted its health and hygiene global standardised…
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SITTING outside in the spring sunshine, tasting wine and chatting to a winemaker is a most agreeable pastime. The place was Yonder Hill in Stellenbosch and the winemaker was Oom Abe Beukes. I got to taste some new 2020 releases, two pies and a sausage roll, and our conversation ranged from…
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HERITAGE DAY on September 24 is also recognised as National Braai Day in South Africa, but my feelings on the matter are: it’s lovely to have Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Chocolate Day, Hot Dog Day or whatever but we don’t really need an excuse to enjoy and celebrate love, parents, sausages in…
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BEFORE lockdown I’d never heard of Zoom. Why would I have? I am anti-meetings in real life; doing it online is maybe even worse…all these strangers looking at me in my home! And me having to look at them in theirs…sometimes it’s just too much information. But then people began doing wine tastings…
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STELLENBOSCH was the first destination in South Africa to be awarded the Safe Travels Stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which allows travellers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which adopted its health and hygiene global standardised protocols.…
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