Have you ever looked at a wine barrel and wanted to jump right in? Zandvliet Wine Estate has created an incredible tasting room that will have you feeling as though you’ve done just that.
The Kalkveld Lounge is the newest addition to the heritage farm that is in the process of reinventing itself. Named for the distinctive range of low limestone hills on the southern outskirts of the farm, the new tasting room pays homage to Zandvliet’s history whilst propelling it into the future. The entrance to the lounge is lined with tables and chairs so you can enjoy a glass of wine while admiring the scenery. The real treat, however, lies inside its walls.
While most tasting rooms offer floor to ceiling windows so guests can enjoy the majestic views that are often a focal point of the Cape Winelands, the Kalkveld Lounge is windowless. Why? Well, to preserve the illusion of being inside a barrel. That’s right: the room is dark yet still homely and welcoming, thanks to comfortable couches and a large chandelier – handcrafted by Stephen Pikus using recycled wine bottles – in the main area.
Don’t be concerned by the lack of windows, though. The room is well ventilated and wonderfully cool, perfect for those extremely hot days the Cape is notorious for. There’s also a huge fireplace to keep out the cold in winter. One of the offerings we enjoyed most was the wine and clementine pairing, a real treat since the farm’s collaboration with ClemenGold.
You can also taste culinary delights such as the ClemenGold marmalade paired with Chardonnay and infused dark chocolate paired with Kalkveld Shiraz, a must-try wine at Zandvliet considering the farm was one of the very first to bottle this type of wine.
The Kalkveld Lounge is one of the first steps of many for the new Zandvliet brand and, if it’s any indication of what’s to come, a testament to the farm’s continued growth.
OF NOTE
When Monday to Friday 8 am – 5 pm, Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm
Where Zandvliet Wine Estate, Zandvliet Crescent, Aston
Contact +27 23 615 1146, [email protected], zandvliet.co.za
Photography African Inspirational Marketing/Annzra Denita