South African Wine Tour Conclusion

Dornier Barrel Room
Dornier Estate, Stellenbosch, ZA
February 23, 2025

 The final day of the wine tour was highlighted by a visit to the Dornier Wine Estate and a wine lunch at Waterford Estate. The real highlight, however, was the goodbye dinner at Steenberg Estate.

Looking into the Vat
Dornier Estate, Stellenbosch, ZA
February 23, 2024

Dornier Wine Estate provided us with a tour of the barrel room and then a tasting of seven wines. The barrel room tour highlighted yet another approach to producing wines. The three story, largely underground facility is suited for the production at Dornier. 

We were able to see red grapes fermenting in large stainless vats and both enjoy the odors of fermentation and the view hanging over the top of the vat looking at the berries. It was quite a sight looking into the vats from the top as they were filled and then looking at an empty vat for perspective. 

While at Dornier we tasted seven distinctive wines. The wines were 2024 Pinot Grigio, 2022 Chenin Blanc, 2022 Semillon, 2021 Tinta Barocca which was a new grape variety for me. It is a red varietal from Portugal originally. 2020 Equanimity Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019 Donatus Bordeaux Blend, and a 2016 CMD which was the former owner's favorite wine blend consisting of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. 

It was a very enjoyable tasting. 

Lunch
Waterford Estate, Stellenbosch, ZA
February 23, 2025

From there we bussed around the corner for lunch at Waterford Estate. Chris and I had a tasting at Waterford before the wine tour began and we were familiar with their wines. We enjoyed a Chenin Blanc, a Grenache, and a Shiraz with lunch. They all paired very well with the charcuterie platters we enjoyed.  

Sunset at Steenberg
Steenberg Estate, Constantia, ZA
February 23, 2025

After our enjoyable lunch it was back on the bus for the ride to Steenberg Estate on the Constantia region. It was a longer ride, but worth it. We enjoyed luxury accommodations and another gourmet meal to celebrate our last night together. 

We enjoyed some sparkling wine outside mingling and talking about the experiences we had enjoyed during our time together and then it was inside for a scrumptious dinner. 

Our Traveling Companions and Tour Directors
Steenberg Estate, Constantia, ZA
February 23, 2025

It was hard to say goodbye, but we had a 3:15 AM wakeup to get to the airport for our jet to Johannesburg and then onto our safari.

We did subsequently make it to our lodge for the safari and are heading out on our first ride in about two hours. As it was a travel day, the blog is a bit later than expected. Highlight of the flight and drive? We saw three elephants in the wild during our three-hour ride from the airport to the game reserve.

-- Bob Doan, Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa