Sip, Savor, and Celebrate: My 53rd in South Africa

On this day, May 7, 2025, my husband, Wayne, planned what would turn out to be one of my best, yet unimaginable, birthdays. To begin, the weather and day were picture perfect. Not a cloud or hint of rain to spot. We arose early and met our private driver to begin our excursions, which started with the first trip to the Fairview winery.

The Fairview winery[1] was founded as a farm named Bloemkoolfontein (Afrikaans for 'cauliflower fountain') in 1693. The first recorded wine was made there in 1699, making Fairview one of the oldest wine-producing sites in South Africa. It is also a multi-generational family-owned winery. This winery reminded us of the wineries in the Commonwealth of Virginia, from the wine tastings to the layout. You enter the winery, walk, and stand at the wine table to have your tastings. This wasn’t the most inviting establishment, but it was nice enough to start with. Some of our favorite wines were Cyril Back, one of their Flagship wines, as well as Primo Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. I tend to gravitate to red wines, whereas Wayne prefers white. We would also learn that this winery is South Africa’s leading producer of artisanal cheeses, offering more than 20 varieties from goat, cow, and mixed milk. Ah, yes, and Wayne and the Sommelier shared the same name. Onward!

Next, we traveled to one of my favorite wineries called Spice Route[2]. The winery was founded in 1997 by Charles with wines that include Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Barbera, Tannat, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Carignan, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Pinotage, and the original Sauvignon Blanc. This winery was very inviting, and the views as we sat for our outdoor tasting were stunning to say the least. I’m not sure which one we enjoyed the most, the wine or the view. The grounds were manicured, the seats comfortable, and it was simply fantastic. We paired this wine tasting with a chocolate sampler and then walked the grounds. We stayed so long that our driver had to check on us.

Now, it was time for lunch at the Boschendal Deli Restaurant. It was an outdoor courtyard with plenty of seating. As always, the view and the calming breeze were wonderful, but the food was okay, and it's not a place we would return to. Of course, we only had pizza, so other food options on the menu may have been a better choice.

Finally, when we thought we would move forward with this celebration, Wayne was not feeling well. It was pretty bad, and I could tell he was pushing through because it was my special day. But what I know for sure is that any day I have to spend with my mi amor is a special day, but today he needed to be cared for and is on the road to recovery. As such, the day ended with the driver taking us to the doctor, which only cost $35 for the appointment. This cost was outstanding. What was not excellent was that Wayne had the flu, and it was time to put him to bed. All in all, my 53rd birthday was very special. After all, how bad could it be when you are in South Africa with one month remaining? This was a minor setback, and in the days to come, Wayne would be back on his feet and ready for the next big adventure.

Pressing on!!!. Stay tuned to see what the next adventure entails.

[1] The Fairview Winery: https://labri.co.za/?v=59fd721d00e

[2] Spice Route:https://www.spiceroutewines.co.za/