Buitenverwachting Wine Farm
Buitenverwachting Wine Farm
This is quite possibly the most beautifully named wine farm in the region - Buitenverwachting translates to ‘beyond expectation’. As you enter you'll see the majestic view of rows of vineyards. These lead your eye towards the old Dutch colonial thatch-roofed manor house. Be sure to pull over for a photo (and reminder) that this farm was part of Governor Simon van der Stel’s original Constantia farm.
It boasts a fine dining restaurant (Beyond), coffee shop (Coffee BloC), one of our favourite coffee roasteries (Quaffee). The separate wine tasting space has a cosy indoor space as well as an outdoor stoep. The stoep is glorious in summer as it overlooks their large lush green lawns and huge oak trees.
Buitenverwachting's clear encouragement to linger longer, without any pressure to hasten your tasting, makes this a firm favourite. One is able to explore the vineyards, enjoy a bottle of wine on their lawn, and stroll the property at your own pace.
The Vineyards:
This is one of the largest wine farms in the area with 150 hectares under vine (80% white and 20% red). The soils are comprised of deep, decomposed granite. As with all of Constantia, the climate is influenced by sea breezes from the False Bay coast - giving cool nights and moderate day time temperatures.
The Wine Tasting:
The tasting room offers an array of white and red wine. There’s also ale for those who need a break from wine! All wines are offered at a tasting fee of R100 per person for 5 wines
Reservations are required / Wines are subject to availability
The Restaurants:
Beyond restaurant offers formal dining at their Dining Room, a partially covered patio, harvest table that seats up to 16 guests, and their elevated table with raised seats that can accommodate up to 12 guests.
Coffee BloC is a staple of ours for their friendly staff, more casual dining, and delicious coffees made from beans roasted on their property by Quaffee.
Platters can be ordered with your tasting or enjoyed on the lawn. These include charcuterie, cheeses, bread, tapenades, and jams. But it is the homemade feta, olive & sundried tomato tapenade, and the delicious pâtés and tapenades made by the kitchen staff that are the standout treats.
Hot Take
Watch out for good-weather Saturdays! The recently introduced picnics have made wine tasting slightly uncomfortable on busy Saturdays. You may need to park on the lawn even if you’re not a picnic guest (so be wary of fancy footwear). The tasting space is limited and picnic guests often attempt to encroach on the tasting space. The service lines for picnic and tasting guests can get muddled so you may find yourself stuck in a long queue of picnic guests ordering their platters and wine. Be clear to the staff that you’re tasting to save yourself a tedious wait.
On a quiet day (i.e. not a busy warm Saturday), Buitenverwachting is still one of our favourite tasting experiences because of its classic decor, bird and squirrel watching from the peaceful stoep area, and range of white and red wines that include a few unusual cultivars for the region. Let's not forget to mention the friendly OG Coffee BloC staff. We have mixed feelings about Beyond.
The picnics are hella fun, especially for large birthday parties. Sitting under the trees, allowing your friends to choose whether and how much they’d like to consume, people watching, and afternoon snoozes on the lawns is a wonderful Saturday activity. Note that chairs are not allowed, nor is bringing your own food/drinks. Bring your own picnic blankets and cushions for extra comfort.
Contact Details
Location: 37 Klein Constantia Rd, Constantia
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10h00-16h00 | Closed on Sunday
Contact: 021 794 4095 / info@buitenverwachting.com
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