Cape Town - There is plenty of choice when spending a day or two at Spier. Guests can picnic on the lawns next to the river under shady trees, or enjoy wholesome food fresh from the farm at Eight Restaurant.
There is a selection of award-winning wines served with delectable treats. Walks and tours include the Protea Walk, or a vineyard tour on Segways. Guests can also visit the birds of prey at Eagle Encounters and learn about conservation, or support local crafters at the craft market, making it a fun day out for the whole family.
Spier is located on the banks of the popular Spier dam, with stunning views of the Helderberg mountains. Eight Restaurant offers a pioneering farm-to-table eating experience. Natural and organic ingredients are combined to create nourishing, healthy and delicious food, which diners can enjoy in a beautiful setting.
The picnics at Spier have been revamped. They offer ready-to-eat food, lovingly prepared according to the same principles as at Eight Restaurant. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail with bar snacks or light meals on the terrace of the Spier Hotel wine bar.
Visit the Spier vineyards on the Segway PT (Personal Transporter), a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle.
Spier has one of the most extensive collections of contemporary art in the country. A small selection is displayed in the public spaces at Spier, including the Manor House, conference centre and hotel. The work is rotated once a year to give exposure to as many of the artists as possible. The art chosen for display aims to show the richness and diversity of the South African experience and artistic talent.
Spier believes that the visual arts can provide both guests and staff with new insights. Regular exhibitions are held in the Old Wine Cellar Gallery.
As part of its conservation initiative the estate donates land, electricity and water for its facilities on the farm. It is a bird-of-prey rehabilitation, conservation, education and eco-tourism project.
The centre receives birds that have been injured, poisoned or illegally removed from their nests, and works towards re-releasing healthy, fit, successfully hunting and able-breeding raptors into the wild. Guests at Spier are invited to enjoy the daily flying display.
The craft market and craft shop at Spier Hotel are projects of the Spier Craft Development Programme. Together they promote the work of more than 90 different craft enterprises, the majority of them previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa.
Products at both venues are selected on the basis of quality and variety and the bulk of income from any purchase goes back to the craft producer.
The hotel shop, in particular, showcases pieces which reflect vibrant contemporary aesthetics and special commissions are undertaken on request. – Weekend Argus