The story of Pinotage, the “signature grape of South Africa”, begins with two prominent grape varietals: Pinot Noir and Hermitage (also called Cinsaut). These two were combined to incapsulate the elegance of Pinot Noir with the hardiness of Hermitage. The experimental vineyards that pioneered this interaction in Stellenbosch in 1925 received little acknowledgement and Pinotage […]
South Africa has many exceptional hiking trails that are internationally acclaimed. Just outside of Robertson, we host a magnificent, biodiverse hiking route in the heart of the winelands. Hiking in the Western Cape are a special experience for anyone interested in unusual flora and fauna or keen on natural geological formations. In this article, we […]
In a similar vein to mountain biking, trail running has grown immensely in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. People are more flexible with their working hours and generally have a better home-work balance. The greater Robertson area offers an astounding amount of trail running routes that are safe, scenic and readily accessible. What makes a […]
Birding is a perfect hobby for families to enjoy together. It is a means to get people away from their devices, into nature and enjoying an activity with a common goal. Our Fish Eagle Hiking Trail boasts an enormous number of birds for its size. Due to our involvement with BWI (Biodiversity and Wine Initiative), […]
When one thinks about traveling and planning activities when away from home, a garden tour isn’t always the first thing to come to mind. In fact, you may be asking what makes the Van Loveren gardens special and why you should be interested. We’ve compiled a list of reasons why you would enjoy exploring our […]
Mountain biking has steadily grown in popularity during the past decade, but it leapfrogged over other outdoor hobbies when working remotely became more accepted and accessible. The small town of Robertson boasts some of the best mountain bike routes in the Western Cape as its dedicated mountain bike trails were built with a variety of […]
It is almost impossible to produce wine of good quality as an individual winemaker alone. From taming and training the vines to managing the harvest, sorting and fermenting the grapes to macerating, pressing and racking. And finally, blending, ageing and filtering the wine before the bottling process. Each step requires a team of people with […]
Van Loveren Family Vineyards offers an array of wine tasting options. From food-and-wine pairings to kiddies sparkling grape juice and treats. There are a couple of spots on the Van Loveren farm for your wine tasting experience – the informal wine bar in our Tasting Room (referred to as “The Pod”) provides an intimate social […]
A whirlwind summary of the top seven things one can do in Robertson this Spring Robertson is a small town in the Wine Valley in the Western Cape of South Africa. For such a tiny spot, it boasts an astounding amount of wine estates, restaurants and romantic activities. Whether you have a penchant for wine, […]
Harvest time was a flutter of activity, orchestrated like movements of a symphony, and conducted by the viticulturists, cellarmasters, and winemaking teams. The grapes were harvested long before the dawn chorus, with the picking schedule navigating changing weather and the rhythm of each vineyard. Rain was a concern during the growing season, however the cooler […]
