After a bit of confusion about how to get through Worcestor and sailing past Robertson we finally found ourselves at Goudmyn Farm, where the wine festival Robertson Wine on the River was being held. In one of those poetically perfect moments we were serenaded down the last stretch of road by Funkadelic’s ‘Maggot Brain’ and the Pixies ‘Where is my mind?’ – slightly ominous predictions for where this wine tasting could possibly end up.
The sixth annual Robertson Wine on the River is popular, so much so that we could only go up on Sunday (the last day) as I was greeted by condescending snorts when trying to find accommodation for Saturday night at the last minute. This turned out for the best though as we wandered through the festival, tasting glasses in hand, without having to deal with the crowds that had engulfed that little stretch of river on Saturday.
Responsibly we first stopped off for some food, and were almost immediately presented with a dilemma – a challenge for two incredibly indecisive people – about what to eat. The festival had a surprising range of deliciousness on offer from sushi to Indian to gourmet burgers as well as some more healthy options that I didn’t pay any attention to. Sitting at one of the giant snakes & ladders boards which we assumed doubled as a table due to its largeness; I sat on my hay bale and appreciated my final decision of butter chicken. Accompanied by some refreshing wine from Four Cousins, and listening to the live sounds of a saxophonist, we planned our wine route. After a few minutes of neck twisting I pointed in a vague down-the-river sort of direction and we both nodded in agreement that it seemed like an awfully good direction as it was slightly downhill as well as downstream.
Off we headed, stopping off at various wine estate’s stalls to test their generosity. A full glass of wine cost between R10 and R20 (we had been preparing for R30-R40 when we first arrived until we realised that those were the bottle prices – cellar door you really are a beautiful word) but, even then, everyone behind the counters was very helpful and pleasantly heavy-handed with their pouring so it was hardly necessary to buy a glass.
We finally made it down to the little jetty where you were supposed to book the river cruises. Taking it on as my masculine responsibility I found us a spot on the next boat trip; but, by a strange twist in the conversation, also managed to agree to tow the boat by swimming in the case of a break down. Pondering the implications of this, we headed back toward the two large marquis’ that held all the wine. At this point we discovered the problem with the easy downhill/downstream route is that it necessarily includes an uphill/upstream return trip.
Drowning thoughts of boat-towing with a bag of Hectic biltong (which I deemed necessary in case I did actually have to tow something) we found ourselves resting once again upon a hay bale. Somehow we had also ended up with a bag full of wine bottles – a Wandsbeck cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc as well as a bottle of Graham Beck sauvignon blanc sparkling wine – which appeared in our hands on the short walk from jetty to hay bale. Seated comfortably and wine glasses filled, the challenge was given to test ourselves on the black and white field of battle before us. Saving myself at the last minute by coming up with a cunning off-the-cuff rule, I asserted my dominance and superiority by winning a competitive game of snakes and ladders. The rule did make the game much much longer though, so by the time we finished it was time to head back down the easy route once more to the jetty.
It was only a thirty minute or so cruise but every bottle of wine brought onto the boat got finished. Feeling rather chuffed about the success of the cruise and, personally, that I didn’t have to try and tow anything, we disembarked. Food beckoned my stomach, but unfortunately it was closing time and I had sacrificed the chance to eat by going on the boozy cruise. Following the rule of ‘don’t be the last to leave’ we decided to go have a look at where we would be staying. We made our way to Nightjar, the cottage we were staying at, on Pat Busch Private Nature Reserve, and slumped down for a blissful rest looking out from the hill over the vineyards of Rusticus. A bit later we rediscovered the bag of wine and proceeded to finish it. All.
The nitty-gritty details:
Robertson Wine on the River 2012: 19 – 21 October
Cost: Full weekend – (early bird) R190/ (normal) R220
Pensioner discounts and single day tickets available. For more details visit Robertson Wine on the River.
Online bookings can be made through webtickets (on sale from August 2012).
Robertson accommodation
For all the great places to stay in Robertson click here. (Remember to book early)
Pat Busch Private Nature Reserve:
Standard cottages: From R195 a person a night
Exclusive cottages (Nightjar & Hadeda): From R325 a person a night
Farmhouses (can sleep up to 21 people): From R1500 per night
To book your stay at Pat Busch click here.
