New Wine & Food Tours To South Africa

Specialist travel company, The Independent Traveller have added two new itineraries to their portfolio, celebrating the wine and food of South Africa. The ‘Cape Gourmet Meander’ and ‘Cape of Good Flavour’ luxury tours have been tailored to encompass the best of the region’s food and wine, and feature tasty treats of every kind to be found along the Cape coast. Both 12-day tours start and finish in Cape Town and offer the best accommodation and unrivalled hands-on gourmet experiences to excite even the most hardy food and wine buffs.

Departing in April 2006, the ‘Cape Gourmet Meander’ follows a path from Cape Town through to Franschhoek, Montagu and Stanford regions famed for their acres of vineyards and spectacular wine varieties - tastings, are of course, included. Classes unveiling the dutch inspired Cape Malay cooking, African bread making and authentic Potjiekos technique will provide an invaluable introduction to South African cuisine, and lunch stops in Kalk Bay fishing village, picnic-ing on the banks of the Breede River, a fish ‘braai’ on the Bluegum Estate and a ‘Rainbow Nation’ township tour, all offer an authentic insight into Cape traditions. Not forgetting drinks on Table Mountain and optional excursions to horse ride through vineyards or even dive with great white sharks at Gansbaai beach, this trip is an action packed and exciting adventure of the Cape.

Coinciding with peak whale watching season and the spectacular Cape spring flowers, the ‘Cape of Good Flavour’ tour runs throughout September 2006 and takes a route through Franschoek, Riebeek Valley and Arniston vineyards. As well as classes incorporating fynbos (some of the 450 species of plants and vegetation native to the region), guests will try their hand at Cape Malay cooking and dine in the Cape’s finest restaurant in Buitenverwachting. On day 6, after a rustic seafood lunch on the beach at Riebeek Valley and afternoon tea at the Darling wine cellars, an opportunity to relax at the hotel spa is followed by a demonstration of Table Art and boerekos, traditional Afrikaans ‘farm food’. Travelling onwards into the rolling hills of Arniston and Caledon, boasting hot mineral springs and world famous malt production, a ‘braai’ on the cliff top and boat trip out to watch the whales and dolphins round off this amazing tour of Cape cuisine.

Tour prices start from £2295. Single supplements apply. For exact tour dates and information on other tours, visit www.independenttraveller.com