INTRODUCING THE R310 PASSPORT

Passport to taste wines

Travellers and wine lovers alike will be excited to know that the “R310 Passport” launched last winter by five Stellenbosch wine farms situated along the R310 was so successful that they have decided to repeat the offering this season.

The idea behind the “R310 Passport” is to market the unique offerings at each of the participating cellars, at a specially packaged price, along the relatively short route. Whether a seasoned connoisseur, or just starting to ‘sniff out’ your preferences, all lovers of wine are invited to enjoy the pickings of the participating wineries.

Vergenoegd Wine Estate, Meerlust, The Company of Wine People (Welmoed), Spier and Stellenbosch Hills are the wineries on the R310 route, Vergenoegd being the first estate on your right hand side, having taken the Baden Powell/ Stellenbosch exit from Cape Town.

The offerings have been created to suit the personality of each winery and are so different that the intrepid traveller cum wine lover will feel that they have visited five ‘worlds’ in the space of a day.

Be sure to place aside a good part of your day to explore this route. At Vergenoegd, well known for six generations of classic, elegant red wines, you will be able to taste their Old Cape Colony vintage Port (usually not available for tasting) along with a hearty bowl of soup and freshly baked ciabatta slices.

Experience the icon wines of Meerlust, where winemaking follows time honoured tradition combined with modern techniques, and enjoy their hospitality at the same time.

‘The Company of Wine People’ adds sparkle to the day. Here dry rosés and sparkling wines can be tasted with kettle fried chips.

Spier explores the close relationship and balance between wine and cheese. A wine educator will pair three regional cheeses with three wines from the Spier Classic range.

An authentic South African taste sensation awaits the visitor to Stellenbosch Hills (flags from almost all major countries greet the traveller at the entrance) where you can indulge in a ‘Wine and Biltong’ adventure. Sip five Stellenbosch Hills wines perfectly matched to five variations of biltong. A new addition is the tasting of five different types of nuts, including chocolate covered Brazil nuts, with five specially selected wines.

The “R310 Passport” costs R100 and is available directly from the participating wineries. Times are 09h00 to 17h00 during the week. Booking is essential on Saturdays.