Smoky, smoky… I detect gooseberry, aromas of cut grass, hints of citrusy tropical fruit. The way people talk about wine is almost absurd. It makes poets of us all. We are utterly seduced by finding the right words to describe the precise flavours that tickle our palates and noses. ‘Wine is sunlight, held together by water,’ said Italian physicist, mathematician, engineer, astronomer and philosopher, Galileo Galilei. In those words he perfectly captured what it is that spurs the world’s love affair with vino and vineyards. Sunlight, beautiful sunlight. But it doesn’t take a physicist to see that. A philosopher, perhaps – a few sips of good wine definitely have me contemplating the fundamental nature of life.
Nowadays you can enjoy a bottle from just about any wine estate right from the comfort of your chaise longue at home. But nothing beats going to the source of the magic. There are wine farms, and then there are wine farms. Ones that stay with you long after you leave, like the subtle layers of honey and almonds in one of Delaire Graff‘s Chardonnays. A five minute drive from Stellenbosch, Delaire, a member of Relais & Chateaux, has always been one such estate for me. It is an affair that started the moment I made my way up its meandering driveway to a look-out point with the most magnificent views in the whole of South Africa’s Cape Winelands (Galileo would agree). It just happens to also be a world-class winery, restaurant, hotel with villa-style suites and a spa.
Something you can enjoy right from your chaise longue at home are our two new videos of Delaire Graff… Our videographers recently visited the estate to film the grounds. Take a look at our exclusive footage below, including interviews with key players at the farm. The second video focuses on the magnificent food and wine on offer. Dig in…
Start planning your Winelands sojourn
For more information about Delaire Graff and the Cape Winelands of South Africa, and to book a tailor-made itinerary to suit you, contact one of our travel experts. Take a look at some of our Winelands tours for a taste of what to expect.
Delaire Graff Estate | Address: R310, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch
