Nomadic chefs settle at Weltevrede Wine Estate
After years of being nomads, the husband-and-wife team, chefs Juan Fourie and Samantha (Sam) Morris-Fourie finally rooted themselves on the beautiful Weltevrede Wine Estate. Now, they happily run the recently launched Kapokbos Restaurant.
Weltevrede Wine Estate is located just outside Bonnievale in the Western Cape’s Robertson Wine Valley. The Jonker family has been farming here for a hundred years, which makes it one of the oldest South African wine brands to still be owned and run by the same family. Now in the hands of Philip Jonker, the fourth-generation family winemaker and a specialist in Chardonnay, the Estate (and now also its new restaurant) inspires South Africans with top-quality wine and cuisine.
Kapokbos – named after the indigenous herb found in the veld surrounding Weltevrede – overlooks the newly landscaped rose-and-vine garden of the Estate. With the chef couple’s fine dining and private cheffing background, you’re certainly in for a treat! According to Juan, their menus present contemporary country-style cuisine, incorporating local tastes, culture and creativity. The restaurant’s offering melds seamlessly with the ethos of the Breede River Valley’s pioneering Weltevrede Wine Estate, which is well-known to wine-lovers around the world. It is therefore only a matter of time before Kapokbos is also well-known by foodies around the world.
A full-day experience at Weltevrede Wine Estate
Weltevrede Wine Estate (which forms part of Cape Country Routes) has just undergone an extensive revamp and re-development of the farm’s visitor experiences. The opening of Kapokbos Restaurant followed right on the heels of these new developments. Perfect timing, don’t you think?
In addition to the beautifully landscaped rose-and-vine garden, Weltevrede now also offers a world-class visitor centre, which is open for tastings (in a new tasting venue), as well as underground tours where you get to enter a world steeped in the history of Chardonnay, old books, artworks, memorabilia and historic exhibits, highlighting the Estate’s heritage of winemaking excellence. There is also a lovely new kids’ play area.
Kapokbos has quickly become the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to restaurants in the Robertson Wine Valley. Dishes include traditional South African Skaapstertjies with curried pickle onions and Frikkadel with tomato smoor and brandy sultanas. And, don’t dare to leave without trying their Amarula ice-cream sandwiches with honeycomb! Of course, wine tasting snacks are also available.
The area’s new go-to restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 – 16:00 (last seating at 15:00) and on Friday and Saturday for dinner from 18:00 to 11:00 (last seating at 20:00). Booking is essential.
