We’ve left the Paarl Wine Region behind and today I’m taking you into the Stellenbosch Wine Region for our last wine tasting of this 8 March 2025 tour — the Blaauwklippen Wine Estate. But before I get to the main review, I’m first going to show you something we visited before this tasting. Below is the entrance to the Drakenstein Correctional Centre, a low-security prison located Paarl and Franschhoek. So, why am I posting about this? Well, Drakenstein, back when it was known as Victor Verster Prison, was the final incarceration facility of a very famous Nobel Prize winner. On 11 February 1992, this man walked down the long, tree-lined pathway you see below, and then out the gate:
Monday of last week I told you that the wines at the Rhebokskloof Wine Estate were passable, but the house-made chocolates were superb. Last Wednesday I revealed that Vrede en Lust had, by far, the most consistently good selection of wines, as well as an incredible burger. Today, I’m sorry to report, we finish with the least favorite winery of the tour —Blaauwklippen Wine Estate. And that’s not just me talking. Ursula agreed, as did several of our table mates. If I were inclined to purchase any wines on this tour, this would not be the vintner I would choose. Even the presentation of the snacks left a lot to be desired:
Since I don’t have a lot of good to say about this venue, I’ll just leave you with some images of our visit here:
Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)
Decisions — Murder in Paradise
The Globe — Murder in Luxury
R. Doug Wicker — Author 