After our hectic full days on our River Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, which followed a busy schedule in Cairo, we were looking forward to some rest and relaxation. So, before things got hectic again, we decompressed for five days in one of our favorite cities — Istanbul, Türkiye (most recent Istanbul blog series at Istanbul — Arrival and Shopping; Egyptian and Grand Bazaars). And since, over the years, I’ve highlighted this destination countless times, including Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque, cruising the Bosporus, and much more, I won’t bore you with yet another Istanbul series. Instead, I’m going to skip that destination and take you straight to our next stop — Cape Town, South Africa. And since long flights can also wear one down, I’ll begin with our relaxing, post-flight, first-day tour of wineries, starting with Rhebokskloof Estate in the Paarl winemaking region.
One look at the surrounding area might lead you to guess what type of wines are Rhebokskloof’s specialty. If you guessed Rhone-style wines from this Rhone-type terroir, you guessed correctly. Their list includes hearty red shiraz and Shiraz blends, such as their Rhebokskloof Rhebok (60% Mourvèdre, 36% Petite Sirah, 3% Shiraz, 1% Carignan).
Of course, it wouldn’t be South Africa without that signature South African varietal Pinotage, which Rhebokskloof also cultivates. But they also drift into some of the more robust whites, such as Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. But what you won’t guess is what they pair with their wines. Fine gourmet chocolates made in house:
At least that’s what was in store for our tour. Other pairing options include wine & cheese and wine & tapas. But, being a certified chocoholic and connoisseur of all things cacao/cocoa, Ursula would’ve chosen this paring over the others anyway.
As you can see, our group was rather large, as this is but one of several tables which we occupied:
Rhebokskloof was one of the better wineries we experienced on this tour. Their reds were better than passable, but the chocolates put this winery over the top. You’ll not find better chocolates anywhere. Now for some other views from this stop:
Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)
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R. Doug Wicker — Author 