Wine estate

[elsa hoffmann]

Toured a couple of wine farms today - just to see how the other half lives.
Our wine industry is probably our oldest industry and attracts a huge amount of tourists every year.
Our wines are also award winning and delicious.
But of course there are more things than vineyards on any wine estate.

[Frank Fremerey]

Gosh, I could use some of the sun I see in your pictures!

[Anthony]

One day you will take me there.

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks guys - it was something like 32 C so we fried a bit (for us thats very hot)

[Lowell]

Elsa , 

This is a side of S.A. That I am ignorant of. Could be in Napa. I am curious, what is the natural fauna in this region. As an outsider, my view is greatly affected by the safari kind oh view which focuses on the big five.

Nice pictures.

Lowell

[Peter Connan]

Very nice Elsa

Here we had 100mm of rain...

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks Lowell and Peter

Lowell - most of the Cape Winelands area has been planted - usually vineyards due to it's suitability to the area.
Natural vegetation is fynbos (loosely translated to fine bush) which forms part of the  Cape Floral Kingdom - although the smallest of the floral kingdoms  - it is the richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. It covers only 0,04% of the earth’s surface.

[DougB]

Beauties - especially the first one

Were you "forced" to sample any of their products   

[CS]

I'm not familiar with the S.A. wines, but those images make me want to be.

Both my wife and I love heavy reds, something that our domestic wineries have moved away from in favor of lighter styles which have boosted their sales. We loved touring California wineries and lunching with a good bottle. Your photos trigger memories of some of our past excursions to places that turn grapes into luscious liquids. 

[Akira]

Unfortunately I don't drink alcohol.  The most attractive image in this set is the sunflowers flourishing from one stem and the critter on the pink flower.

Are the grapes planted on a flat ground and not on the slopes facing toward the north (yeah, SA is in the southern hemisphere!)

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks All

We are definitely known for our wines in South Africa.

Dough -  when I am a guiding I am by law not allowed to drink  - but I do know the Delheim wines.
The make a semi sweet dessert wine - SPATZENDRECK  - (Spatz - the owner -  made this wine after someone told him his wine tastes like dreck - so he promptly proceeded to work on a wine to make the person "drink her words" And he was successful (finally)

CS - plenty heavy red wines here - and very very good ones at that. I personally prefer a smooth red (Cinsaut  blend usually)

Akira, we also make good grape juice

I have clients from Oregon in March who wishes to tour a wine estate or two - they do not drink - but specifically want to photograph the vineyards and wine barrels. The wine estates usually serve really good food too, and many people visit for this reason alone.

Grapes are planted on the slopes as well. where it is too steep or unsuitable, you will find fynbos vegetation.

[armando_m]

Beautiful images, make want to visit

[Akira]

Elsa, thanks for the details about the vineyard.  I wouldn't be surprised to see plenty of nice grape juice. 

[elsa hoffmann]

Akira - Locals usually know their wines and capetonians believe you have to drink wine if you live here.   I am not a big wine drinker - perhaps twice a year kind of thing - but then I am not originally from Cape Town so I didn't grow up on wine

Armando - thank you for the kind comment.

There is no education like traveling. It opens one's mind and eyes.

[Jakov Minić]

Beautiful images of beautiful landscapes. I am certain that the wine is not that bad either