Last updated on May 11th, 2018 at 02:38 pm
One of the oldest wine estates in Stellenbosch, Webersburg is a history-rich Cape Dutch homestead nestled at the foot of the Helderberg mountains. The manor house and cellar date back to 1786 and the farm has been producing wines, many of which are award-winners, for over 200 years.
I’d visited Webersburg a few years back for a wedding and was blown away by how beautiful their restaurant’s patio area was. It overlooks a huge lake reflecting the mountains where a host of wild ducks and geese are in their element. If you’re looking for nature showcased in all its glory and a mood that’s relaxed yet romantic, Webersburg is where it’s at, so I happily accepted a night’s stay over and brought along my bestie, Karisa. (Like I said, it’s pretty romantic, but hey, it fits the bill for a girlie city break too.)
Upon arrival, we were delighted to drop off our bags in the Honeymoon Suite of the Manor House. An enormous room with high ceilings and yellow wood floors, it boasts a gorgeous four poster bed laden with luxurious-feeling linen, throws and pillows that were welcome protection from the cold. 
While the room has an en suite shower and toilet, a beautiful ball and claw bath sits in a corner of the room itself right next to a vanity table laden with pampering bath products and – wait for it – a tray of rose petals. Did I mention that Webersburg was romantic?
As far as décor goes, the whole manor house and the other cottages we peeked into all have a real ‘olde worlde’ feel. Antique furniture abounds and you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time to visit your wealthy grandmother in the country. The words charming, colonial and cottagey yet grand, spring to mind.
After settling in, we headed to the estate’s restaurant, SugarBosch Bistro, to meet wine steward Adam and enjoy a three-flight wine tasting. We got to try three of the farm’s wines – a Chardonnay, Cab Sauv and red blend. As it turns out, Adam is the brother of the farm’s winemaker, Matthew van Heerden, who’s won multiple awards, including ‘Best Chardonnay in the World’ at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, and the bottle we tried was most certainly fabulous and fruity, but I most appreciated the 2013 red blend for as it was easy-to-drink and had lovely notes that included berries, cherries, subtle spice, vanilla and oak.
Once the sun had set over the lake, we decided to nip into town to grab a bite to eat as Webersburg’s restaurant doesn’t operate at night. This was easy to do as the farm’s a mere minute or two away from Annandale Road so it’s conveniently located to restaurants, petrol stations and the popular local market, Root 44, which is a Stellenbosch must-visit if you’re staying over on a weekend.
The next morning, we got to indulge in breakfast with a view after being greeted by a host of friendly geese who’d gathered at the restaurant door. The wait staff we encountered didn’t realise we were there to do a review and yet they were all incredibly friendly and only too happy to ensure we enjoyed our hearty farm brekkie, something that was easy to do as it was absolutely delish.
I opted for the indulgent Eggs Benedict with bacon (R70) and loved that it came with just the right amount of English muffin and lots of dreamy, creamy hollandaise sauce. 
Karisa chose the full English breakfast (R65) and that was a real winner too as well as great value for money. Think bacon, sausage, mushrooms, fried plum tomato and eggs done to your liking.
While eating, we noticed that a family who wasn’t staying over had arrived just to eat breakfast and that’s a great idea. If you’re ever in the mood for a destination break with family and friends, scenic, yummy and pocket-friendly Webersburg is a great pick.
When lunch time rolled around, the great service and good food kept coming. Webersburg has just launched a new winter menu you can view over here. Karisa really enjoyed her light, fresh and delicately-seasoned citrus and buchu crusted line fish (R125), especially since it was served with creamy homestyle mashed potatoes and veg that tasted like it had just been plucked from the earth.
As for me, I really enjoyed my 300g Chalmar beef sirloin steak (R160). The meat was juicy and full of flavour and the chips it was served with were golden and crispy but what really made the meal was the delicious Dijon mustard and brandy cream sauce it was served with. Just thinking of it now as I type is making my mouth water!
To finish, we managed to find a little space for dessert, the Petit Fours plate (R45), that we were happy to share. A selection of handmade delights, it included the most delicious peanut butter square and decadent white chocolate and raspberry topped brownie.
Once lunch was done, we said goodbye to the beautiful lakeside vista and hit the road, appreciating the estate’s perfectly manicured rolling greens on our way out. Now this would be the perfect place to have a picnic, I thought, and it turns out Webersburg provides those too! As soon as summer rolls around you can be sure I’ll be back for more of their good food and beautiful views.
Want to visit Webersburg Wine Estate yourself? To book your accommodation email info@webersburg.co.za. The SugarBosch Bistro is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch from 08:00 to 15:00 and you can make a reservation on (021) 881 3636. For more information on the estate please visit their website.
