Bacchanal

Sunday, 5 Aug - Later

After a powernap, we were ready to face the day. It was such a beautiful day - the cold went away, temporarily, and left a Spring day. The hotel employees suggested that we take an afternoon wine tour and hooked us up with a great tour guide named Christna.

Christna is a young-ish local girl, born in Namibia, but living in Franschhoek for years. She's a former sommelier and now runs her own tour business, mostly specializing in the vineyards of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, and the surrounds.

We visited three "wine farms" and tasted so many beautiful wines. Best of all, we were able to turn our faces to the sun for a while. I don't know about you, but I am the palest I've been in years! London summers are ridiculous.

Dieu Donne - gorgeous view, five wines tasted.

Mont Rochelle, the second stop, had a nice cheese plate and a checkered past. As we sampled four more wines, Christna filled us in. The first owner was a Dutchman who may or may not have thrown his wife overboard on the crossing from Europe to South Africa and who may or may not have married a new, younger woman on that same voyage! Scandal!

More recently, the farm was owned by a land-hungry Italian who wanted to build golf courses but couldn't get the zoning. He bribed a bunch of politicians and was caught. The Italian was deported, the politicos went to jail, and now some Belgian owns the joint.

Anne and Christna

Among the casks

Lushes.

Another fabulous view.

The last place was the most upscale, which is a problem after you've had nine glasses of wine. Apparently all the celebs go there, but luckily we didn't run into any of them. The paparazzi just drive me crazy. Three more wines and I was ready for bed. We had a quick dinner at the FCH restaurant, but I could barely keep my eyes open.