A NEW family- and pet-friendly dining experience has opened at Diemersfontein, the celebrated wine and country estate in Wellington, just 40kms from Cape Town’s northern suburbs.
Called PROE, the deli-style offering provides visitors with the broadest choice of top quality charcuterie, goat and cow’s milk cheeses, fresh bread, preserves and more to be enjoyed in a laid-back setting – as a picnic on the shaded lawns or at a table in PROE’s air-conditioned venue. Diemersfontein’s award-winning wines remain very much part of the mix and in fact, even more so at PROE.
“PROE means ‘taste’ in Afrikaans and as such, reflects not only local cultural flair, but also the all-round epicurean offering that awaits visitors,” says Diemersfontein sales and marketing manager Hannelize Louw. “This is a wine and food experience that lets visitors select what they’d prefer to enjoy with their wine. You get exactly what you want, and in the amount that you decide.”
The produce available at PROE is sourced locally and showcases many of the quality food brands people know, but perhaps never associated with Wellington and its immediate surrounds. Supporting local also means Diemersfontein can keep its carbon footprint low, and in line with goals for environmental sustainability.
Visitors to PROE first make a selection from the deli, then hand their baskets to a waiter for plating and serving wherever they choose to enjoy their meal. Both the deli seating and shady lawns below provide views from the elevated estate across the farm dam to adjoining lands with ducks, horses and cattle, and the mountains beyond. Large, colourful picnic blankets are available for use by visitors.
Included in the smorgasbord on offer is a wide selection of cheeses and charcuterie – including children’s ever-popular cheddar and hickory ham; delicious cold-smoked trout and other flavoursome cold cuts; olives; a range of natural fruit juices and artisanal cordials; a diverse variety of preserves made from, among others, caramelised onions and wine grape varieties; honey; flavoured salts and spices; snacks like fynbos-infused shortbread; and, freshly baked bread.
Diemersfontein also has its own bottled water – sparkling and still; and extra virgin olive oil produced from its own olive grove. A newly established garden will soon provide PROE with organically-grown vegetables as well.
Diemersfontein wines are perfectly suited to the deli experience and include reds and whites, from easy-drinking styles to heavier, more complex versions. Alongside Pinotage for which Diemersfontein is renowned, the Chenin Blanc, Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc are as likely to be the favourites over the summer months.
“The deli space doubles as Diemersfontein’s wine tasting centre, so it’s the perfect place to enjoy a pairing before committing to a single wine,” says deli manager Johann Olivier.
The wine and brandy pairing features three red wines and Diemersfontein’s 10-year-old pot-still brandy, paired with custom-made toffees, nougat and chocolate truffles. Children needn’t feel left out – there’s a non-alcoholic pairing of four cordials to enjoy. The former is R130pp; the latter, R90pp.
Children can also be kept entertained on nearby swings while horse-riding is an option too. In addition to welcoming friends, old and new, to our facilities; PROE also welcomes man’s best friend. “Though we have our own furry family members, Lucy, Sweetie and Alfie will be more than happy to meet other well behaved four-legged friends,” says Olivier. “Our tree-shaded lawns create the perfect setting for endless hours of play, while bowls of water on the doorstep of PROE offer the perfect thirst quencher.”
Open daily from 10am till 5pm, the deli is the latest addition to a world-class destination that has built its reputation on exceptional wines and country hospitality, music, upliftment and empowerment. Diemersfontein hosts weddings and functions and has comfortable country-style accommodation with en-suite guest rooms. Its online wine shop provides easy, efficient and safe shopping, with delivery to your door.
Diemersfontein wine and country estate is off Jan van Riebeeck Drive (R301). For more information call 021 864 5050, send an email towelcome@diemersfontein.co.za, click here, or make contact via @diemersfontein on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.