Stellenbosch Wine Tour – RY Marketplace

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Marketplace

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Join us as we treat your palate to some of SA’s most sought after wine tasting and food destinations. The Stellenbosch wine route serves up incredible scenery, a host of unforgettable vineyards and historical cellars. Award winning wines, stunning farms and touring companions who aim to please, this is a celebration of smaller vineyards driven by passion, quality and remarkable winemakers

ITINERARY
PERFECTLY TUCKED AWAY – KEERMONT VINEYARDS

Our first stop is on the Eastern side of Stellenbosch at the picturesque Keermont Vineyards. This is a special location tucked away in the most northern corner of Paradyskloof (Paradise Valley). Pockets of special vines produce at one of the highest sites in the area produce a superlative, memorable and generous first tasting setting the benchmark for what’s to come. We often have the place to ourselves being the first tasting. Nothing wrong with 6 wines before noon ; SMALL TOWN CHARM – STELLENBOSCH TOWNWe then pass through the historical town of Stellenbosch with it’s culture rich, foodie haven and vibrant streets. A place close to our hearts having spent a large part of our youth here. We’ll take a slow drive through the tree lined and quaint streets in what is quite often described as South Africa’s most charming setting. The classic Cape Dutch architecture has been beautifully preserved and is well represented by both the main town buildings and the grounds of Stellenbosch University to which this home for over 28 000 students. We’ll stop for a grab and go coffee on request.A TRUE SENSE OF PLACE AND TERROIR – OLDENBURG VINEYARDSOldenburg Mountain Vineyards: These breath-taking views set the tone for an unforgettable experience – with the focus on letting their guests understand the sense of place and connect truly with the wines. Heritage, careful planning, and a large amount of good fortune has allowed them to be custodians of a small corner of Stellenbosch, tucked away in the mountains in an area known as the Banghoek Valley. You’ll ne hard pressed to find a better setting to sample wine anywhere in the region.LUNCH BREAK GEMSWine is not the only thing the region has to brag about. Some of the Cape’s most loved foodie destinations appear along the way. We stop for lunch at one of 4 different destinations depending on availability, weather conditions and of course your preferences. Boschendal Deli Restaurant. Babylonstoren Greenhouse Restaurant OR Hillcrest Berry Farm. An Alfresco Style Lunch can also be enjoyed at the final winery for 220.00 ZAR per person on request. MEET AN INDUSTRY MATRIARCH – MITRES EDGE WINE ESTATEWe’re then personally invited by the Nicholls family to share in their family owned winery, Mitres Edge Vineyards. The winemaker, Lola, hosts the tasting in her manor house or underground cellar. This is red wine terroir, par excellence, and special care is taken in the vineyards through meticulously cultivating, pruning and harvesting by hand. Her remarkable wines are paired with a selection of local and delicious cheeses to make for a memorable experience at the end of your day. You’ll most certainly leave with a new friend as we like to call her ‘lovely Lola!’. This is also your chance to meet Lola before engaging with her in your women in wine experience later in the month.

WHAT’S INCLUDED
Transportation – Round Trip – Pick up and drop off to and from accommodation , either SUV, 7/12 seater touring van, 20 seater minibus

Local Guide
Drinks – Water – On-board drinking water
Food – Snacks – Snack pack filled with South African treats, cheese board @2nd winery and cheese pairing @3rd winery
Drinks – Wine – 3 x wine tastings (6 wines @1st stop, 5 wines @ 2nd stop, 5-6 wines@3rd stop)
Private tour – you will only tour with the group/party you have booked WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Food – Lunch is an extra cost – We stop for lunch at one of 4 different destinations depending on availability, weather conditions and of course your preferences. Boschendal Deli Restaurant. Babylonstoren Greenhouse Restaurant OR Hillcrest Berry Farm. An Alfresco Style Lunch can also be enjoyed at the final winery for 220.00 ZAR per person on request. Extra Drinks – Additional wine/beverage tastings

Tips for vendors 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Bring extra cash for for wine purchases – wines are much cheaper at cellar door prices than in the city Bring Suncream and sunglasses – its gets really hot out in the winelands Fully charged camera/phone – the scenery is stunning and you will be taking plenty of photos and there are not always facilities on board to charge your phone If the tour consists of 2-6 PAX we’ll run the tour in X 2 SUV’s or 1 X Touring VanIf the tour consists of 7-12 PAX we’ll run the tour in 2 X Touring Vans If the tour consists of 12-20 PAX we’ll run the tour in 1 X 22 Mini Bus or 2 X 12 Seater Touring VansPrivate tours available for booking Tipping in South Africa: Tipping is not mandatory but everyone in the service industry (waiters, guides etc) earns minimum wage and rely heavily on tips. The general amount is 10% but you do so at your own discretion.
HOST INTRO

MINIMUM TO OPERATE
2 people 

MAXIMUM CAPACITY
12 people

DEADLINE TO BOOK
96 hours prior to the start of the experience

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many wineries do we visit in total?3 wineries, all of which are small in size, off the main tourist routes and family owned.

What should we wear?

Anything you’re most comfortable in. The wineries are all stunning and unpretentious at the same time. Let’s bring down the barriers and stereotypes around the activity

What’s the story with lunch?

We choose from a number of different lunch spots depending on the weather all of which can accommodate your dietary requirements.

Can we pay with credit cards at the wineries?

Yes all of the stops on this tour will have card facilities. (You cannot pay with Apple Pay at the first and last winery)

What else should I bring?

Good vibes and sun cream. The African sun can be brutal, particularly in Stellenbosch. What is the refund policy?

For questions concerning refunds, please email [email protected]. Please note most bookings made within 24 hours are fully refundable. Bookings made outside the 24 hour policy are not eligible for a refund. Please keep in mind, we will automatically refund bookings that are disrupted by extreme weather conditions, last minute cancellations from our suppliers or the minimum number is not met by the booking deadline.

What happens if my booking is changed/cancelled due to weather?

We’ll control the weather. Just kidding! Remote Year can’t control the weather or many other factors that go into planning events. In the event of a change due to weather, the City Manager will do their best to provide a make-up option. Due to last minute changes and busy monthly schedules, we cannot guarantee it works for everyone but we’ll do our best! If you are not able to attend the make-up date(s), we will fully refund your booking.

I have a discount or gift code, can I use it to complete my purchase?

Yes, once you add your item to your cart and check out, you will be able to input the code before completing the purchase. If you need help finding your code, please double check your inbox. You received an email from Marketplace with the code.

Can I book for a friend / family member?

Yes! We welcome your friends and family coming to visit you while you travel the world. Please refer to our Friends and Family policy: Friends & Family (visitors of active Remotes and active Citizens) may be granted access to private Remote Year events, Local Experiences, Side Trips, Community Events, Local Amenity and Services at an extra cost determined by the Marketplace or City Team. Remote Year reserves the right to deny access to Friends / Family who are over using Remote Year services. To avoid abuse of services, non-active Citizens, op-out Remotes, or Remotes who have left a Program can not use services as Friends & Family of Active Remotes or Active Citizens.

I haven’t received a booking confirmation email, can you help? If I cannot attend, can I transfer my ticket to someone else?

Yes, you may transfer your ticket to another Remote, Citizen or Family/Friend. Please notify the City Manager as soon as possible to confirm the change. Please note, in the case of special dietary requirements, we might not be able to accommodate special requests on last minute changes. Any bookings that require advanced ticketing linked to an individual’s ID might not be approved.

I’m not currently an active Remote Year participant, can I still book?

As a non-active Remote or Citizen, you forego access to any private Remote Year events including Core Experiences, Local Experiences, Community Events, Local Amenity and Services through the Marketplace. Exemptions will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the City Manager.