I was recently invited to lunch at the Terra del Capo Tasting Room on the magnificent L’Ormarins Estate where Anthonij Rupert Wyne’s award winning wines are produced.
The estate itself dates back to 1694 and is quite something to behold. Should you visit, I’d suggest putting the whole day aside because there is so much to see, do and experience. Read all about the various activities available HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
On arrival, we were greeted with a glass of the L’Ormarins Cap Classique and were given the chance to stock up on some Protea wines (I did a post last year HERE on this collection), homemade Italian treats and products from the estate.
On offer is a delectable selection of artisanal pastas, pickles, preserves, olive oil and honey. There’s also Black Angus Beef Biltong, made from beef raised on the estate.
I was interested to learn that the estate started growing truffles a few years back, with this year’s yield being 24 kilograms. The estate even has their very own Lagotto Romagnolo dogs – a breed from Italy specifically bred to sniff out truffles. A few truffle infused products are available to purchase and, as I write this, I’m kicking myself for not buying the truffle butter.
We then hopped on a tram and were given a quick 30-minute tour of the estate and vineyards.
The picturesque vineyards
I was a bit awe struck when I saw the exterior of the winemaking facility. The design is so sympathetic to its surrounding and blends in so beautifully with the landscape.
We were lucky enough to walk through the state-of-the-art winemaking facility where the flagship red wines are produced.
Then it was time for lunch at the Terra del Capo tasting Room, which is situated at the entrance to the property and was designed to showcase the company’s Italian-inspired Terra del Capo range.
Wine tasting here is a relaxed, indulgent experience in elegant surroundings. Guests have a bird’s eye view of the activity in the bottling line through a glass wall, as well as panoramic views of the estate and mountains. Below the tasting room is an antipasti bar, perfect for a quick lunch of freshly prepared local ingredients.
It was a beautiful day and we opted to sit outside, under the dappled light of the olive trees.
While perusing the menu, we were served freshly baked bread which we dunked into the truly magnificent Terra del Capo olive oil that’s produced on the farm.
And yes, obviously I bought a bottle & I recommend you do to!
The menu at Terra del Capo consists of a wide selection of “small plates” and you’re encouraged to choose a few options to share.
The Artichoke & Romaine Salad was finished with pickled onions, parmesan and a white Italian Balsamic dressing. It was delicious.
We couldn’t resist ordering the Zuccini Fries, and boy oh boy were we glad we did! They were incredible and the chipotle mayo was the perfect accompaniment.
I’m a stickler for calamari and I find so often I’m disappointed when I order it. This was certainly not the case with the Salt & Pepper Squid which was accompanied by a citrus aioli. I’d go so far as to say this was the best fried calamari I’ve tried in years and I can see why this particular dish has been a menu favourite for years.
I couldn’t possibly pass on the Confit Smoked Franschhoek trout. It was bought to our table encased in a glass cloche, under which we could see the gentle smoke swirling around the fish.
It was delicious and smoked to absolute perfection. I also enjoyed the accompanying cucumber, caper and dill mayonnaise it was served with. Perfection on a plate.
We couldn’t possibly pass on trying at least one of the truffle infused dishes, and we settled for the Pork Truffle sausages which are delicately flavoured with truffle. They were everything I expected them to be; rich, tasty, aromatic and utterly mouthwatering.
At L’Ormarins Estate, six brands are produced: Protea Wines, Terra del Capo Italian varietal wines, Jean Roi Premium Rose, Cape of Good Hope site specific wines and the Anthonij Rupert flagship range.
Read more about the Terra del Capo Tasting Room and book HERE
