Le Pique Nique at Boschendal
When Derek and I spent a few days in Cape Town in March we booked a picnic at the Boschendal Wine Estate. Now, most of you know that South Africa has a fantastic wine region that produces some incredible wines. I bet your local wine or liqour store has a South African section.
Boschendal sits on the most beautiful property – right in between the Simonsberg Mountains and just outside the town of Stellenbosch. The grounds boast a stately manor house in the typical Cape Dutch style, with an oak lined lane leading right up to it. Very pretty, very picturesque, and certainly very romantic!
When we arrived for our picnic, we picked a nice sunny spot with front row seats to the mountain view. Once we sat down our wicker picnic basket was delivered to us. We just had to giggle, because our server’s name was ‘Shiraz’ – very fitting for lunch at a winery! He was totally awesome though, so hopefully he didn’t notice our amusement with his name…
In typical picnic fashion, the basket was lined a pretty blue and white checkered fabric – very cute. Inside were a bunch of smaller baskets with all the food in them. The food was wrapped in some sort of wax paper, and each one was carefully labeled with a sticker. We opened the big basket like it was Christmas morning, every time calling out what else we found: ”Potato salad!!”, and “Cheese!!”. The hardest part was probably waiting to eat while I quickly took some pictures!
Other than a great potato salad and an assortment of cheese and crackers, the basket contained a selection of cold meats, 3 different kinds of pâtés, a salad and a crusty baguette. Our favourite part was definitely the cold chicken salad tossed in a sweet honey mustard sauce! I need to try to recreate that at home!
Since we were at a winery, we HAD to have some wine, right? We had a bottle of their sweet white wine, and ended up buying a couple of bottles on our way out. And then I was a bad blogger and totally forgot the name – so sorry!
To satisfy my sweet tooth, and to round off the experience, tea or coffee with chocolate cake was served.
Once our bellies were full we walked around the pretty estate before hitting the road for wine tastings at some other wineries in the area.
What a beautiful experience!
I wish when my parents lived there we did this! We always went to Boschendal to pick up wine as it was just down the road, but never did the picnic. Looks lovely! Makes me wish my trips there!
Have you ever been to the Alluvia wine estate? Is small, but I loved it there as well!
Hey Kirsten!
Awww – you should do it if you ever go there again! I can’t believe your parents lived so close to there – it’s such a beautiful part of the world. I have never been to Alluvia and totally wish we had more time to explore lots more wineries. Oh well, gotta leave something for next time
Totally amazing story and photos!
That place looks fantastic. My hubby is from that area (Stellenbosch), we must go there next time we go to SA!
You should totally go to Alluvia – is family owned and they also do a lot of great work in the community. I think one of their wine labels goes toward helping youth which is great!
maybe one day I’ll get to Boschendal again
Amazing pictures Nienke! Now I’m starving, but all I want is a fresh loaf of bread and potato salad – guess what we do NOT have on hand!
Hi Catherine! Lemme guess – bread and potatoes? That sucks
Hey, do you have any good potato salad recipes?
xoxo
Awesome photos! The scenery is breathtaking. I wish I could be there right now!
You look gorgeous in that strapless LBD!
xo,
-S.
*blush* Thanks! I wish I could be there right now too……….
Your pictures have me drooling and dreaming about a vacation to Cape Town! Everything about your picnic looks amazing and your pictures are gorgeous! I had to laugh when you talked about having to wait to dig in so you could take pictures – that’s totally something I would have done (actually I do it more than I’d like to admit!)
Hey Cyndi – thanks for stopping by!
Yeah, our poor families have to be so patient with us, eh?!
That salami made my mouth water.
Ha! That salami was pretty good on the crusty bread….!