My experience at Avontuur Estate……….29-12-2011

With New Year’s Eve being only two days away we found ourselves on a sunny December day not sure on what to do. So I suggested Monkey Town in Somerset West as I have always wanted to go there. It was awesome but after a while in the blistering heat I really craved a cold drink! We took a drive down the R44 and came across Avontuur Wine Estate. I hadn’t really heard of them before but they had a nice little patio so we gave it a try. My fiancé ordered us an amazing bottle of Avontuur Sauvignon Blanc 2011 – Tropical explosions with green fig and fresh acidity on the palate. It was quite late in the afternoon already so we just wanted something light.

He ordered the Cheese Platter – Selection of local cheeses and preserves served with biscuits. With this cheese platter they also had a wine pairing suggestion – Above Royalty Noble Late Harvest 2009. Something sweet to go with the cheesy flavours. The platter was really good! Exactly what he wanted. Five different types of cheese with preserved fig, strawberries and grapes. On the picture it might not look sufficient but it totally hit that spot.

After all the festive season’s bad eating I opted for the Greek salad topped with strips of Grilled Chicken Breast with extra avo. It was also really good! Extremely fresh and wholesome! Made me feel a little bit better about all the wine I was gulping down! J

We didn’t stay very long as it was close to the end of their day, but we weren’t rushed by them and had enough time to relaxingly finish our bottle of wine and stare out over the farm and the grazing horses.

I didn’t know this until afterwards but Avontuur Estate is also a very well-known Stud farm. Earlier in December one of their fillies, Val de Ra, won the Gr 2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes and another lady (Princess Victoria) won the Gr 1 Fillies Guineas. They will also be part of the 2012 Yearling sale later on in this month.

Definitely a little restaurant that I will be sure to visit again should I be in that area and from now on I will definitely keep my eye out for their wines!

Yours in fun & food,

Elly D

R44

Somerset-West

021-855 4296

Restaurant: openhand@polka.co.za

Wine Estate: info@avontuurestate.co.za

www.avontuurestate.co.za