A Quick Break in Stellenbosch

There is nothing quite like escaping the “big city” for the great outdoors. Admittedly Cape Town isn’t too big of a city and the outdoors are right on your doorstep. Still, it’s the change of scenery that counts! My wife and I usually go away for weekends with family or friends but on certain occasions it is great to get away as a couple. This winter we booked ourselves in for a night away just outside of Stellenbosch. We headed to the Alluvia Specialist Winery, which boasts a few small, but cosy, cottages. We stayed in one of their standard rooms, which offered everything we desired including a little patio overlooking the vineyards, a huge bed and bathtub, and big comfy chairs for lounging, watching TV (we don’t have one at home) or reading a good book. The stay came as a package and we were also treated to a bottle of wine from the estate, a breakfast picnic and a voucher for spa treatments. We arrived early on Saturday and went for a trail run in the vineyards before heading for a stroll through Stellenbosh to take in some of the local craft and enjoy a steaming cup of coffee in one of the town’s many cafés. The afternoon was full relaxation, as we headed back for the spa treatment. I had a very relaxing massage for me and my wife had a facial treatment. The treatment room is in an old cellar, warmed by a fire and all of the products used are South African. A great way to spend the afternoon!

Accommodation at Alluvia Winery

The rest of the day was spent recovering from the bliss of the spa and indulging in some quiet reading. We had booked dinner for at Tokara to try their winter special. The Tokara Wine Estate is less than 500m down the road from Alluvia and the view from their tasting room and restaurant is astounding – a full panorama over the Stellenbosch Valley and beyond to False Bay on one side and Cape Town on the other. The food and wine at Tokara were no less astounding, with desserts a real highlight. Replete with food, wine and relaxation from such an ‘active’ day, we rolled back to Alluvia for the deepest sleep, free of any city noise…

Sunday morning was very lazy. We enjoyed our continental picnic breakfast on the stoep, overlooking the misty vineyards. Rested, we slowly headed back home with memories of Stellenbosch, Alluvia and Tokara…

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