Summer has finally arrived and what better way to get out and enjoy the glorious summer rays than to head to the wine country? Nothing says luxury quite like a bottle of wine, a wonderful meal, an afternoon cocktail and vineyards as far as the eye can see. With this in mind we headed out to boutique winery Nitida in the Durbanville hills. Gosh, it’s hard work being a Luxury Cape Town girl.

Nitida Cellars is gorgeous with its sprawling lawns, long lines of trees, vineyards and a picture perfect dam. After a stroll along the lawn, we decided to lunch at Tables. Tables is one of two restaurants on the estate, the other being Cassia. While both menus looked equally appealing, Cassia had a cocktail menu, which we agreed would be of better use later on in the afternoon. After all, we didn’t want to get sidetracked from the quality wine. We were not disappointed with our lunching choice. Tables is farmyard chic at its best, with a small herb garden at the entrance, giving off the most delicious smells as you wait for your meal.

Lounging outside under the umbrellas, it was very easy to polish off some of Nitida’s famous Sauvignon Blanc before having a wonderful vegetarian dish called Imam’s delight. A Middle Eastern plate, it is the most fun you can have with eggplant, feta, tomato, rocket and balsamic glaze. Then, being a sucker for cheesecake, I had to indulge in desert and I must say that the cheesecake was the best I’ve ever had. It was so light and fluffy that I almost recreated the orgasm scene in When Harry met Sally.

After relaxing on the terrace, we set out to the wine cellar for some good old fashioned wine tasting. Sitting in the cellar enjoying the rich smell of barrels, Kerry poured over a dozen wines, including the very interesting Semillon. Although it’s not a huge seller, the soil in Nitida is well suited to this nettle flavoured white and being the luxurious adventurer that I am, I was quite taken by it.

After all that wining and dining, we headed over to Cassia for a cocktail to cap off the day. Cassia is very elegant inside, with its white table clothes and modern minimalist décor. However, on such a beautiful day there is only one spot you want to be and that is outside on the deck, overlooking the dam. Here we sat, cocktail in hand surveying the natural beauty around us. Although Cassia’s cocktail menu is not extensive, it is very glamorous, with some of the favourites containing Nitida Sauvignon Blanc. After a hard day’s work of luxury dining and delicious wine tastings, sipping on a frozen cocktail (the Vanilla Aztec to be precise) was nothing short of heavenly.

Nitida Wine Sales
t +27 21 976-1467                                 
f +27 21 976-5631
Cassia Restaurant
t +27 21 976 0640/ 975 3825
Tables at Nitida
t +27 21 975 9357