Waterford’s unique approach to wine tasting

At Waterford Estate, wine tasting is a unique experience: time slows; reality blurs; the daily stresses are left outside the gate.

Past green lawns and old trees and through a naartjie orchard, the entrance road leads to the ranch-style manor house.

image copyright: Waterford Estate

As we walked up to the house, Sean (one of the wine waiters) waited on the steps to welcome us. Instead of taking us to a counter lined with spittoons and glasses, he showed us to a table in the courtyard.

Image Copyright: Waterford Estate

Sean gave us a few minutes to relax into the courtyard’s calm. Quiet. Comfortable. Images of a slower time. He returned with a wine list and a few options for wine tasting. We opted for the wine and chocolate tasting experience (R50 p/p); a seven-course menu showcasing Waterford’s wines and chocolates.

Between tastings, we talked about the wines; the weekend ahead; the peacefulness of our surroundings. And then I saw the unique magic of Waterford: apart from describing the wine in our glasses in detail, Sean left us to ourselves. He didn’t ask whether we tasted the cut grass in the Sauvignon Blanc, and we didn’t need to do small talk. We could simply enjoy the wine and each other’s company.

The last three wines on the tasting menu are paired with chocolate. Unusual, yes, but these pairings are carefully chosen and they work. The Kevin Arnold Shiraz is paired with masala chai-infused dark chocolate. Both are spicy, and both remind of firesides and hearty food.

Waterford’s Cabernet Sauvignon was our favourite (it’s actually a Bordeaux blend, as it contains a small percentage of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc). This was paired with rock salt dark chocolate. Delicious.

Dessert was the Heatherleigh Noble Late Harvest and a rose and pink geranium milk chocolate. I tasted iced cookies, rum and raisin ice cream and Turkish delight.

We stayed an hour longer than we had intended, and we bought a couple of bottles for the weekend (most wines are between R70 and R120).

I recommend setting aside at least two hours mid-afternoon for Waterford. The rest of your day can wait.