Cape Town vineyards

So the girls and I will be spending time in South Africa in October and for us, we love wine. We live in North California so that is expected and these are some of the wineries we plan to visit while there:

Jordan Wine Estate:

Jordan embodies the aspirations of modern South African dining.

The restaurant is simple and open, with wooden chairs and white tablecloths in a room lined with windows overlooking the vines.

The menu is also deceptively simple, and could include a pot roast or smoked fish. But every dish is perfectly prepared.

That yellowtail came from a wine barrel smoker. The pot roast is springbok and makes game a fine dining experience.

Breads are baked in a wood-fired stove, and there's a separate bakery that's worth visiting just for the pastries.

At the end of each meal, guests are invited to explore the walk-in artisanal cheese room and assemble their own plates.

For people who believe in lists, Jordan is regularly ranked among the best in South Africa and in the world.

Hidden Valley:

From humble beginnings eight years ago, the restaurant at Hidden Valley has evolved into one of the country's most innovative restaurants.

The menu includes dishes that many South Africans remember from their childhood supper table: ox tongue, lamb knuckle, apple tarts.

For foreigners, the menu invites questions like, who is this Ouma Jossie and what are her slaaphakskeintjies? A grandmother and tiny pickled onions are the answers.

Here these classic meals are enlivened with fresh, seasonal ingredients, careful preparation, and a modern willingness to experiment with imported flavors like miso.

Even people who shudder at the thought of trotters come away with newfound favorites.

Clos Malverne:

What's better than wine? Wine with ice cream

This restaurant has one simple, insurmountable edge over all the others: ice cream and wine pairings. Only in the summer, and so loved that bookings fill up fast.

Toffee, almond and vanilla ice cream with a glass of Chardonnay are reason enough to visit, but the rest of the menu is a pleasure throughout the year.

Hearty meals with an international flavor can begin with gorgonzola-stuffed litchi, wrapped in smoked ostrich, and move to South Africa's famous steaks.

This is a warm, relaxing restaurant with top-notch food and the spectacular views that the region is famous for.

Rust en Vrede:

For more than 300 years, this Stellenbosch estate has been producing a robust range of reds: full-bodied Cabernets, Merlots, and Shirazes. It has counted some high-profile personalities among its fans: Nelson Mandela had its wines served at his Nobel Peace Prize dinner. These days, Rust en Vrede is perhaps best known for its namesake restaurant, which consistently ranks among the top 10 in the nation.

Mullineux Family Wine:

Andrea Mullineux grew up in San Francisco and worked in Napa Valley before traveling to South Africa, where she met and married local winemaker Chris. These days, their small winery produces award-winning Syrahs, which you can sample at their charming Riebeek Kastel tasting room.

La Mott:
 
The beautiful, French-influenced village of Franschhoek is the heart of the Cape Winelands, and this wine farm, featuring a restaurant, is touted as one of its best. Their Sauvignon Blancs, Shirazes, and Chardonnays are best paired with a decadent meal at its Pierneef à la Motte, one of the country's top restaurants.

Boekenhoutskloo:

The name might be a tongue twister, but this 1776 winery's Boekenhoutskloof, Porcupine Ridge, Wolftrap, and Chocolate Block labels are veritable tongue pleasers. A visit to their lovely Franschhoek tasting room comes complete with stunning views over the Hottentots-Holland Mountains.