Mediteranean Platters at 66 of 800 - Gabrielskloof, BotRiver

I was so excited to finally visit wine farm 66 of 800 -  Gabrielskloof wines which is a family-owned and run wine and olive estate in BotRiver, close to Hermanus. This land was planted with a few vines but mostly wheat and canola for over 150 years by original owner, Gabriël le Roux. Bernhard Heyns bought the farm in 2001 when he recognized its potential and so Gabrielskloof was born.  The logo reflects that of the Angel Gabriel but is also in honor of the original owner.Bernhard proceeded to fill the land with vines in 2002 with cultivars carefully chosen to match the terroir. These are Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Semillon, and Mourvedre, Shiraz, Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. I love Malbec!BOOKINGS: Definitely book to avoid disappointment.  CLICK HERE.WINE TASTING: Free tasting of 4 wines if you get the platter.MEDITERRANEAN PLATTERS: R250 per couple sharing.WHEN TO GO:  Summer or Winter. Really an every season type of wine farm with plenty of options where to sit.SERVICE: It really makes you feel at home. Friendly and relaxed yet also informative.RESTAURANT: There is a great restaurant run by Frans and Mariaan Groenewald. "They are passionate about everything local and source most of their produce from neighbouring farms and villages." CLICK HERE to learn more.ACCOMMODATION: No accommodation.CHILD/PET FRIENDLY? Not recommended for kids or pets. There are friendly dogs on the farm but I would not recommend bringing a pet who is not used to other dogs who are not on the leash.LARGER OR SMALL GROUPS? Best for 2 – 6 people.LOCATION: About a 1.5 hour drive from Cape Town in the Bot River region. Google Map It is a beautiful drive and has plenty of parking. OTHER RATINGS: CLICK HERE to view what others have rated on Trip Advisor.

Here is my experience:

The iconic twin pools as you enter the courtyard of the estate is really what makes this farm unique. Each pool is treated which gives it a dark blue / green tint and if you are lucky, you will spot one of the resident turtles poking their heads up for air. :)Now for those who know the area and wine in general, you would definitely know the Finlayson surname (they pretty much own all the land here) :)  The Finlayson family is synonymous for producing excellent wines in this region for generations and I was lucky enough to meet up with Nicolene Finlayson who conducted the professional tasting. She has a gorgeous dog called Beppe, an Italian Greyhound who is blind and absolutely gorgeous! We felt so welcome.There are plenty of places to sit at Gabrielskloof so you can definitely visit any time of the year. And yes, this is winter in Cape Town.

 This is definitely a farm that you can spend the entire day at. I had a great time!So which farm will be next? :)x