Page 76 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2020 South Africa

STEENBERG 1682

A scenic 15-minute drive separates Constantia
Glen from Steenberg. After checking into the ho-
tel, we hopped aboard the complementary golf-
cart transport to Steenberg Winery’s tasting
room and casual dining destination Bistro Six-
teen82.
While the white-washed Cape Dutch hotel
buildings are steeped in history, the winery com-
plex is boldly contemporary, a striking glass and
steel beam structure that opens on to sunny pa-
tios, infinity pools and rolling grounds. The chan-
delier above the tasting bar sets the tone for fun
times here - a glowing circle of almost 3,000
hand-blown glass grapes - or maybe they’re bub-
bles in honor of Steenberg’s much lauded
sparkling wines in the French-style known as
Methode Cap Classic (MCC) in South Africa.
Here our host was Steenberg’s new cellar mas-
ter, Elunda Basson, an awarding winning MCC
specialist, who joined the farm-cellar team only a
few months earlier and was in the midst of her
first harvest. After touring us through the state-
of-the-art wine-making facility and barrel room,
we settled in for a tasting in a sunny room lined
with comfy banquettes and a stylish wall display

76 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020