If you have not been to Spier Wine Estate recently, then I suggest you change that. My friend Christelle & I paid an end-of-winter visit to Spier recently & we had such fun! The weather was just perfect – it could well have been spring already.
We kick-started the morning with coffee at Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery where the choice between sitting under the gorgeous oak trees or inside in the cosy bright yellow space with the most beautiful artworks, wasn’t an easy one. The oak trees won thanx to the gorgeous weather.
By the way, did you know that Spier has one of the most extensive collections of contemporary South African art?
Vineyard Segway Tour
Our first activity was the Vineyard Segway Tour. And what a welcome & fun surprise it was. These two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-operated scooters are great for exploring parts of the farm that you would otherwise not see.
You don’t need to be super sporty or an adrenaline junkie to enjoy it. You basically only require comfortable shoes, sunnies & a sense of humour. The session starts out with about 30 minutes of training. Safety is key, so this is where the guides explain all the features & take each individual around to ensure that everyone is comfortable on the Segway. Drinking & driving is a no-no, so no wine tasting/drinking is allowed before stepping onto the Segway.
Our tour guides – Maurice, Abongile & Dylan – deserve a special mention. They took care of everything – safety, take video’s & pictures on the tour. They even have sunscreen for those who forgot theirs. It takes a while to get used to it (“Hy draai nie soos ‘n bicycle nie” said Maurice), but when the tour started everyone in the group was comfortable enough to explore the vineyards at 10-20km/h.
The one-hour tour is the absolute perfect length & just the right activity to work up an appetite.
Lunch at Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery
Next stop, Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery (again) in a shady spot (again) overlooking The Werf & lawns (again). You can never get enough of a gloriously sunny day in Stellenbosch, right?
After spending an hour exploring the farm, we were ready for some gin cocktails: a Scoby Sanchez (with ginger, kombucha, lime) & a Royal Blush with Musgrave Gin, grapefruit juice, tonic, lime juice & bitters. Both really epic choices.
The menu offers a wide variety of meaty & vegetarian options. A Vadas method of low temperature smoking for long periods allow temperature results in delicious soft beef brisket, pork neck & lamb shoulder. We just couldn’t decide on what to eat so we shared a Chef’s Platter which turned out to be the best way to sample some of the very best dishes on the menu. Highlights of the platter included the fresh sourdough bread, the smokey pulled pork, brisket & arancini balls… everything right up to the Fudge Pie that we shared for dessert.
Spring Tasting
We were properly lazy by now, but still manage to get to The Tasting Room – by the Spier Dam – for a preview of The Spring Tasting. This beautiful space was packed even though it was still technically winter. The most impressive feature of the Tasting Room is the magnificent Heath Nash Chandelier made from 334 recycled Spier wine bottles. It is said to weigh 370kg!
Each new season’s tasting celebrates with delightful snacks & selected wines. 
The Spring tasting is light & showcases the light wines for the brand new florally season. It costs R120pp & is available at The Spier Tasting Room until 30 November 2019. The following wines are paired with fresh canapes like a mini cucumber roll with cream cheese, melon & parma ham:
- MCC Brut Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2017
- 2019 Chardonnay Pinot Noir
- The Spier Signature Collection Pinotage
- Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2017
A visit to Spier is a delightful experience. I’d say you should make a plan to head on over this Spring before it gets too scorching outside. You will love the setting, excellent food & friendly, fast service.
Just be sure to book all your activities in advance. Bring a designated driver, comfy shoes, a big appetite & relax!
Next time I will be back for visit to the spa, stock up on some more wine & have a picnic by the dam. And maybe another spin on the Segway! I might have told you about my Ornithophobia (aka I have a fear of birds) so I’ll skip the Eagle Encounters. If that’s your type of thing, then check it out.
Thanx for reading. Mwah.
Yolandi ♥
We were kindly hosted by Spier, but as always, my opinions remain my own & objective.