Cape Town, My City.

Eat, drink and be merry in Cape Town

In wine lies the truth, or so maintained the ancient Greeks. Those of us who live in the Cape Winelands tend to agree.

I originally hail from the small wine producing community of Riebeek Kasteel in the Swartland region of the Western Cape. Situated in the midst of what is generally considered a grain growing area, the town nestles at the foot of Kasteelberg, a small mountain range dramatically at odds with the rest of the undulating landscape. It is this little hillock, however, that makes the Riebeek Valley so fertile – rain bearing clouds blow into it, increasing rainfall and with it, the richness of the soil.

Having grown up in this beautiful town as the eldest daughter of a professional winemaker I took my knowledge of wine and the wine industry for granted until I moved to Stellenbosch to study after school. Immersed in that culture since the day I was born I assumed that everybody knew merlot was pronounced with a silent ‘t’ and that pinotage was a uniquely South African cultivar best enjoyed with red meat and venison dishes. To my dismay it turned out most of my new friends’ knowledge of wine was limited to the plonk served at student pubs.

Fortunately, since Stellenbosch is smack bang in the middle of the Winelands, wine tours are a dime a dozen and opportunities to introduce newbies to the culture of the vine abound. Many people are initially put off by the snobbery that seems inherent to most wine connoisseurs and the circles they move in, and rightly so. One can only stand so many references to a ‘forest floor aroma’ or ‘brazenly cigar box aftertaste’ before all of it starts to seem a bit ridiculous.

My opinion is that wine should be enjoyed. Full stop. The truth of the matter is that you don’t need to know all the fancy lingo or name-drop celebrity winegrowers to take enjoyment from a glass of good vino. If you do feel your wine knowledge could do with a bit of a sprucing-up though, don’t hesitate to set out for one of the many cellars and farms that dot the countryside around Cape Town. An informative cellar tour or tasting session might be just the inspiration you need.

Anna-Bet Bester