Stellenbosch Wine Tour

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Stellenbosch Wine Tour

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DESCRIPTION
Join us as we treat your palate to some of SA's most sought after wine tasting and food destinations. The Stellenbosch wine route serves up incredible scenery, a host of unforgettable vineyards and historical cellars. Award winning wines, stunning farms and touring companions who aim to please, this is a celebration of smaller vineyards driven by passion, quality and remarkable winemakers

ITINERARY
PERFECTLY TUCKED AWAY - KEERMONT VINEYARDS
Our first stop is on the Eastern side of Stellenbosch at the picturesque Keermont Vineyards. This is a special location tucked away in the most northern corner of Paradyskloof (Paradise Valley). Pockets of special vines produce at one of the highest sites in the area produce a superlative, memorable and generous first tasting setting the benchmark for what’s to come. We often have the place to ourselves being the first tasting. Nothing wrong with 6 wines before noon ;

SMALL TOWN CHARM - STELLENBOSCH TOWN
We then pass through the historical town of Stellenbosch with it’s culture rich, foodie haven and vibrant streets. A place close to our hearts having spent a large part of our youth here. We’ll take a slow drive through the tree lined and quaint streets in what is quite often described as South Africa’s most charming setting. The classic Cape Dutch architecture has been beautifully preserved and is well represented by both the main town buildings and the grounds of Stellenbosch University to which this home for over 28 000 students. We’ll stop for a grab and go coffee on request.

A TRUE SENSE OF PLACE AND TERROIR - OLDENBURG VINEYARDS
Oldenburg Mountain Vineyards: These breath-taking views set the tone for an unforgettable experience – with the focus on letting their guests understand the sense of place and connect truly with the wines. Heritage, careful planning, and a large amount of good fortune has allowed them to be custodians of a small corner of Stellenbosch, tucked away in the mountains in an area known as the Banghoek Valley. You’ll ne hard pressed to find a better setting to sample wine anywhere in the region.

LUNCH BREAK GEMS
Wine is not the only thing the region has to brag about. Some of the Cape’s most loved foodie destinations appear along the way. We stop for lunch at one of 4 different destinations depending on availability, weather conditions and of course your preferences. Boschendal Deli Restaurant. Babylonstoren Greenhouse Restaurant OR Hillcrest Berry Farm. An Alfresco Style Lunch can also be enjoyed at the final winery for 220.00 ZAR per person on request.

MEET AN INDUSTRY MATRIARCH - MITRES EDGE WINE ESTATE
We’re then personally invited by the Nicholls family to share in their family owned winery, Mitres Edge Vineyards. The winemaker, Lola, hosts the tasting in her manor house or underground cellar. This is red wine terroir, par excellence, and special care is taken in the vineyards through meticulously cultivating, pruning and harvesting by hand. Her remarkable wines are paired with a selection of local and delicious cheeses to make for a memorable experience at the end of your day. You’ll most certainly leave with a new friend as we like to call her ‘lovely Lola!’. This is also your chance to meet Lola before engaging with her in your women in wine experience later in the month.

WHAT'S INCLUDED
Transportation - Round Trip - Pick up and drop off to and from accommodation , either SUV, 7/12 seater touring van, 20 seater minibus
Local Guide
Drinks - Water - On-board drinking water
Food - Snacks - Snack pack filled with South African treats, cheese board @2nd winery and cheese pairing @3rd winery
Drinks - Wine - 3 x wine tastings (6 wines @1st stop, 5 wines @ 2nd stop, 5-6 wines@3rd stop)
Private tour - you will only tour with the group/party you have booked

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Food - Lunch is an extra cost - We stop for lunch at one of 4 different destinations depending on availability, weather conditions and of course your preferences. Boschendal Deli Restaurant. Babylonstoren Greenhouse Restaurant OR Hillcrest Berry Farm. An Alfresco Style Lunch can also be enjoyed at the final winery for 220.00 ZAR per person on request.
Extra Drinks - Additional wine/beverage tastings
Tips for vendors

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Bring extra cash for for wine purchases - wines are much cheaper at cellar door prices than in the city
Bring Suncream and sunglasses - its gets really hot out in the winelands
Fully charged camera/phone - the scenery is stunning and you will be taking plenty of photos and there are not always facilities on board to charge your phone
If the tour consists of 2-6 PAX we’ll run the tour in X 2 SUV's or 1 X Touring Van
If the tour consists of 7-12 PAX we'll run the tour in 2 X Touring Vans
If the tour consists of 12-20 PAX we'll run the tour in 1 X 22 Mini Bus or 2 X 12 Seater Touring Vans
Private tours available for booking
Tipping in South Africa: Tipping is not mandatory but everyone in the service industry (waiters, guides etc) earns minimum wage and rely heavily on tips. The general amount is 10% but you do so at your own discretion.

HOST INTRO

Your host(s) will be Blaine Smith or Ryan Louw, local South African tourist guides. Blaine has lived in 6 of South Africa’s 9 different provinces and currently ventures all over the country on various expeditions. Ryan chose to make the Western Cape his home after a stint up north, you won’t find a bigger patriot for his country anywhere else! We left the corporate world to celebrate South African people, landscapes and products in that order. We’d love for you to join us! You’ll be in the best of South African hands.

*There is a possibility that you may be hosted by a different guide from Blaine's team on this experience and on occasion there will be more than one guide.

MINIMUM TO OPERATE
2 people

MAXIMUM CAPACITY
20 people

DEADLINE TO BOOK
96 hours prior to the start of the experience

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many wineries do we visit in total?
3 wineries, all of which are small in size, off the main tourist routes and family owned.
What should we wear?
Anything you're most comfortable in. The wineries are all stunning and unpretentious at the same time. Let's bring down the barriers and stereotypes around the activity
What's the story with lunch?
We choose from a number of different lunch spots depending on the weather all of which can accommodate your dietary requirements.
Can we pay with credit cards at the wineries?
Yes all of the stops on this tour will have card facilities. (You cannot pay with Apple Pay at the first and last winery)
What else should I bring?
Good vibes and sun cream. The African sun can be brutal, particularly in Stellenbosch.

MARKETPLACE SERVICES
Upon confirmation of your booking and receipt of full payment, subject to availability and at the discretion of Remote Year, Remote Year will reserve your spot on the selected Experience and issue you a confirmation email. Be sure to save this information as it will be required for participation in the selected Experience(s).

It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of the booking, date, and time on your confirmation. Please contact us at marketplace@remoteyear.com if anything looks incorrect on your confirmation.

While the booking may be coordinated by Remote Year, Marketplace Services may not be accompanied by a Remote Year staff member, and are often run/supervised by Other Providers. Logistical information needed for the experience will be communicated prior to the experience by Remote Year or the relevant Other Provider.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
It is your responsibility to meet the transportation provided by Remote Year at the correct time and location for departure. In the event you miss a planned departure of a Marketplace Service, you will bear any extra travel costs required to attend. Passengers who miss a departure time due to delay or cancelation of incoming transportation are not entitled to a refund. It is your responsibility to check in with the contact for the Marketplace Service 15 minutes prior to the specified departure time. Due to the nature of the services provided, Remote Year will not be liable if any service departs or arrives later than the specified time, even if you miss a connecting service or work commitment as a result.

You alone are responsible for your personal belongings and Remote Year is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to any of your personal belongings, regardless of the circumstances.

REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS/CHANGES
Marketplace Services are fully refundable within 24 hours of purchase. No refund will be issued 24 hours after purchase unless we have to cancel or don’t meet the minimum number to operate the Marketplace Service. To receive a refund, please submit a refund request in writing to marketplace@remoteyear.com within 24 hours of booking. Please note, if you do not show up to an event, you are not eligible for a refund.

Local Experience bookings are transferable as long as the City Manager and Program Leader are notified at least 24 hours in advance of the event start date. We may not be able to accommodate any modified food restrictions if you transfer your ticket to someone else. Bookings are non transferable if they require advanced ticketing where your name is attached to a ticket (flights, trains, etc). Bookings are non transferable across different events or experiences.

Marketplace Services may be cancelled or changed by Remote Year due to not meeting the minimum number to operate. You will always be notified by Remote Year when a change or cancellation is made due to not meeting minimum numbers.

Remote Year reserves the right to change the date, time, cost and/or itinerary due to vendor updates, extreme weather conditions, natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances. Remote Year will notify you when a change or cancellation is made.

In the event of cancellation, participants will be offered a makeup date or a refund of funds paid via the Marketplace. In the event that the participant cannot attend the rescheduled date, we will offer a full refund minus any irrevocable expenses.

Vouchers / Gift Cards are non-refundable.

Please send an e-mail to marketplace@remoteyear.com for all inquiries including payments and chargebacks.