Cape Town - Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate has belonged to the Sonnenberg family since the 1940s.
David’s grandfather bought the 183-hectare farm in the shadow of the Hawekwa mountains with a panoramic view of Du Toit’s Kloof and Bain’s Kloof. From the stoep of the gabled Groot Huis, blue gums rustling in a hot summer breeze framed my view of the sweeping gardens, paddocks, dam and distant Paarl. The perfect breakfast spot.
The estate forms part of the buchu and olive trail, one of the Wellington Wine Walk trails. I opted for a short walk to the tasting room, where the fruit of the labourers awaited sampling.
Diemersfontein is highly regarded for its pinotages, but there were many wines I had not come across, including Carpe Diem, which was not for sale. I particularly enjoyed the viognier, chenin blanc, Summer’s Lease and, like most, the coffee-chocolate pinotage.
Fortified by the selection, I wandered through the gardens, wondering “Pool or dam, pool or dam?” I opted for the pool since it was closer to my room, before settling, refreshed, on the bench outside my room to talk to my friendly neighbours. From dappled shade, we admired the gardens, abundant with roses, azaleas, shrubs and trees.
Diemersfontein has 30 en-suite bedrooms and several other rooms with shared facilities. There are three cottages with kitchenettes and verandas.
Accommodation in Cape Town might be costly, but here it is surprisingly inexpensive. My room was simple and tasteful, with some lovely touches and air-conditioning.
Horse riding and hiking mountain trails on such a baking day held little appeal, so I set off by car. Wellington has some lovely attractions to explore, but for me the main one is Bain’s Kloof Pass. This feat of engineering provides spectacular views and takes you over the mountains into an altogether different region, with gorgeous views and more wines.
But it’s not all about wine. At a recent whisky event in Durban I met Andy Watts, master distiller of The James Sedgwicks Distillery in Wellington.
I was impressed by the Three Ships Premium select five-year-old blend, which recently won the best blend accolade at the Whisky Magazine World Whisky Awards.
“We have always believed our whiskies are of a quality that place them among the best,” said Watts.
I concur, having stocked up on the Three Ships range as well as South Africa’s first single-grain whisky (another award-winner), Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky.
Hildenbrand Wine & Olive Oil Estate is also on the wine walk (I drove) and Reni Hildenbrand has bucked many a local trend since arriving in 1991. She is a wine farmer and maker, olive grower and producer of excellent olive oils, guest house owner and restaurateur.
Eight golf courses, as well as Franschhoek, Tulbagh, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Cape Town, are all within a 45-minute drive.
David and Susan Sonnenberg created a public school on the estate and launched Thokozani to address black empowerment. Thokozani incorporates a wine brand, art gallery and conference business, plots and cottages.
It’s worth visiting Diemersfontein just for a meal at Seasons Restaurant, or a gourmet picnic.
Room rates start at R825. Call 021 864 5050 or see www. diemersfontein.co.za - Saturday Star