Vergenoegd Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
www.vergenoegd.co.za
Vergenoegd Wine Farm has recently become a very popular venue due to their Duck Parade and Saturday markets. Time your visit well and your children will be able to enjoy watching the Runner Ducks setting off for work. There are well over 500 ducks that parade from their holding area to the vineyards. Vergenoegd 'employs' these Runner Ducks as their resident pest patrol. It really is a sight to behold!
We arrived at Vergenoegd and were immediately made to feel welcome. We were led to a table but chose to rather sit on a blanket (crawling toddlers require a lot of supervision). We were offered an umbrella and fun toys for our son too. I felt that they were very organised and their service was impeccable. Our waiter was enthusiastic and on the ball, we were never left wanting for anything.
There are 3 picnic basket options: The Driving Duck (R395), The Running Duck (R450) and the Duckling Delight (R125). We enjoyed the Running Duck basket which was more than enough to share between myself and my husband. The Running Duck is served with your choice of either the Runner Duck Red or White. We explored our picnic basket which is neatly presented in a basket with different layers for each course.
The first course consisted of delicious homemade bread, salmon mousse, humus and crackers. There was also a variety of cheeses and olives.
Our main course consisted of a delicious range of salads and a frittata to enjoy. The salads were freshly made and beautifully presented in glass jars. The frittata comprised of chorizo sausage and peppers. Each picnic basket is packed with seasonal produce so it can vary depending on the time of the year that you visit.
Much to my husband's joy, there was carrot cake for dessert. The cake was tasty and bursting with rich flavours. In fact, we were so full from all the food we had eaten, I snuck the leftover cake into the nappy bag!
I can highly recommend Vergenoegd for a lazy Sunday afternoon. There are a wide-range of activities that the whole family can enjoy. Not only is there wine tasting, duck parades and delicious picnic baskets to enjoy, but the farm has also begun Saturday markets which includes a family run at 10AM. They have done a fantastic job at creating a great family-orientated venue.