Somerset West is home to a real gem of a wine estate, namely Lourensford, a historic farm estate that traces its history back to its founding by then Governor Adriaan van der Stel in 1709, and one which enjoys a vibrant winemaking tradition that was revived when Cape business man Christo Wiese purchased the estate back in 1998.
Stretching up into the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, the estate sprawls across 4000 hectares of forest, fynbos, fruit orchards and vineyards. In recent years it has opened itself up as a hub for local lifestyle and leisure businesses, and indeed, Lourensford has become a big attraction for locals where you can meet up for pretty much anything your heart desires. There is wine, there is coffee, there is beer, there is nougat, there is a family market, there is art, there is antiques and Persian carpets, there is food, there is yoga, and if you are looking for something a little more strenuous or entertaining or for the kids, then there are activities like Artjamming paintertainment, mountain biking, padel, putt putt, sidecar safaries, archery and even clay pigeon shooting!
You also can’t talk about Lourensford without mentioning its immaculate garden setting, with its incredible manicured and thoughtfully laid out gardens and shady pathways (and now also dotted with stunning Anton Smit sculptures as part of his Anton Smit Art Route), which is one of the main reasons we rather quite enjoy visiting it as a birthday breakfast outing venue. Case in point, a delectable breakfast at The Millhouse Kitchen, followed by a lazy amble around the estate with a pop in by the (new at that stage) delectable Wedgewood nougat store.
Basically put, Lourensford is definitely one of those easy to recommend places whose name you offer up to anyone asking what to see and do if they ever find themselves out and about visiting in Somerset West!
It doesn’t hurt that their wine is world class either.
Related Link: Millhouse Kitchen | Lourensford Wine Estate | Somerset West
