“Our food mantra is to source ingredients locally and prepare them from scratch to ensure that our guests enjoy freshly prepared dishes that complement our wines,” says the team behind Swirl, the new food-and-wine experience at Stellenbosch Vineyards that opened at the beginning of September.

The team is led by Ruan Willers, Brand Home Manager of Stellenbosch Vineyards, who has worked in the hospitality and wine industry since 2008. The kitchen is headed up by chef Livinia Plaaitjes – a local with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry – and the Stellenbosch Vineyards winemaking duo, Abraham de Villiers and Bernard Claassen. Together the team designed an offering that marries the estate’s wines with diverse food styles and flavours.

The interior of Swirl Restaurant. Photo supplied.

Guests are offered a variety of dining options including pairings, platters and a selection of dishes made to share. Enjoy a local favourite like Cape Malay-style bobotie spring rolls with an apple-and-peach chutney or something inspired by global cuisine, such as lamb bitterballen with mint and mustard aioli. Vegetarians are also catered for.

One of the pairings. Photo supplied.

The wine pairings shouldn’t be missed. There are four pairings on offer, all of which begin with a glass of Infiniti MCC: the four-course Heyden’s Pairing (R155 per person) features the estate’s Welmoed range; the five-course Signature Pairing (R225 per person) showcases the Stellenbosch Vineyards signature blue label range. Then there are also the five-course Winemakers’ Pairing at R340 per person and the five-course Award-Winning Pairing at R395 per person.

If you fancy something a little more informal, Swirl also prepares food platters to pair with the wine tasting. Either way, you can sit back and relax as the children leave you to enjoy your lunch while they have fun on the jungle gym.

Swirl is open Monday to Friday 11am to 5pm, and from 11am to 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. It’s available to host functions, too, but is closed on Easter Friday, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Come celebrate our country’s rich heritage and culture at Stellenbosch Vineyards! We’ve got a special Heritage Pairing and Platter set out for you to enjoy with friends and family whilst basking in the beauty of the Cape Winelands. To book a pairing contact us on 021 881 8056 or email swirl@stellvine.co.za . . #heritage #heritageday #braaiday #localislekker #drinklocal #sipStellenbosch #sippingStellenbosch #doStellies #visitStellenbosch #stellenboschvineyards #wineswithindividuality #welmoedfarm #southafricanwine #winelands #wine #drinklocal #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing

A post shared by Stellenbosch Vineyards (@stellenboschvineyards) on Sep 19, 2017 at 8:33am PDT