I am on my way back into my corner of the Klein Karoo. It was raining when we left Cape Town, but as we passed through the Huguenot Tunnel, the African sun greeted us. I watched as the landscape changed from fynbos to a patchwork of vineyards sprawled alongside the R60.
It feels good getting away from the city.
Scarcely two hours from Cape Town we entered Robertson in the Breede River Valley. It is the heart of the Winelands and is famous for producing great wine. As we arrive in town, the newly constructed Four Cousins building greeted us. What a sight! It stood at the mouth of Robertson, flanking the Willem Nelsriver.
We stumbled out of the shuttle into the 34°C heat. I breathed in the fresh country air. Oh, it is good to be back.
The Four Cousins is a branch of Van Loveren, a well-loved winery in this neck of the woods. They first made their name when they launched the Four Cousins box wine of 1.5 litres in 2000, which very quickly rose to popularity. The four Retief cousins joined the family business in 2000 after completing their studies and have been the driving force behind the company ever since.
The face of the new Four Cousin’s establishment in Roberston, Western Cape.
This inspired them to open up a restaurant, tasting room and brewery at the entrance to Robertson. The new Four Cousins establishment will definitely bring some new feet through the door. The large, open plan restaurant, tasting room and store is light and spacious and invited us to enter.
In the tasting room, we were greeted with a marvellous sight. Trays with wine, whisky and champagne coupled with the most interesting bits of food, including olives and bread, fudge, Turkish delight, and my favourite – a zoo biscuit. This creative mix of snack and drink is exciting to everyone.
Tasty treats in the tasting room at Four Cousins.
Everything is a must taste!
The Scottish Whisky was an all round success and invited jovial cheers remarking on the age and refined taste of the Scottish beverage.
Something to tickle refined Scottish tastebuds: Scottish Whisky.
I much preferred the lighter wine to suit my sensitive palette and eagerly nibbled at the sugary treats presented to us. One of my favourites must have been the Skinny Range. It may skimp on the calories, but it does not skimp on the flavour. There are four wines in this range for festive variety. So grab that guilt free glass of wine!
The Fan Platter has the sweet Rose Granita (left) with biltong, fudge and chocolate.
That being said, there is a little something for everyone. From dark Merlots to fruitier Sauvignon Blancs and even refreshing Grapetiser. The Christina Range from Van Lovern is a creamier range of wines that is smooth on the tongue.
Four Cousins even stocks the more conscious wines. It includes the Rhino Run range, that donates a percentage of its proceeds to the Royal Rhino Fund to help with the poaching crisis. There are currently four wines listed under this banner. Then there is also the Tangled Tree range. These wine bottles are made from plastic, which is more environmentally friendly. The PET plastic packaging has up to a 75% smaller carbon footprint than glass and is easier to recycle. Also, due to its light weight, it is an excellent wine to take with on road trips or picnics.
Enjoy a glass of conscious wine with Van Lovern’s Tangled Tree range. Credit: Too Much Loveliness.
It’s hard not to be excited by the variety at the new Four Cousin’s venue!
After the tantalising wine tasting, it was time for eating. We were seated in the outside area, enjoying the late afternoon sun and the fresh breeze. The menu left us all mouth watering and speechless with the choices. I have a tough time making decisions in general, but here it was impossible. So I opted for a meal I knew I could not easily get or make at home.
My succulent lamb Chateaubriand with vegetables and mashed potatoes at the Four Cousin’s restaurant.
I simply had to steal a little food from my friends. Sharing is caring!
The Four Cousin’s signature flatbread – a must-have starter!
The Four Cousin’s Gourmet Beef Burger was a close second to my meal.
Keen for something fishy? Four Cousin’s has that too.
After we had stuffed ourselves on these delicious gourmet meals, a little birdy whispered the word dessert.
I have already indulged in several glasses of wine at this stage and had ploughed through all the sugary pairings at the tasting. But the word ‘dessert’ stuck. We ended up opting for the Don Pedro with Four Cousins Marula Cream. Then, after several hours of feasting and shenanigans, we were on our way home.
A slightly blurry me enjoying the Marula Cream Don Pedro at the Four Cousin’s Restaurant in Robertson Wine Valley.
