Yes, the Cape is not short of pretty spots to enjoy a picnic. But few, if any, of these spots come complete with a soft-spoken waitress called Latavia, a beautifully set table, and a 300-year-old camphor tree forest.
The sprawling grounds of Vergelegen are truly something to behold. The sheer expanse of the estate in Somerset West seems to extend to the towering Hottentots Holland peaks behind it, and it’s impossible to work out where it all ends.
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On arrival, you are given a map to help you navigate the labyrinth. On the way to the picnic, you pass a few of the 17 unique gardens decorating the landscape. The route begins at a perfectly coiffed herb garden and takes you beneath a tunnel of tall bamboo trees, past an endless cloud of hydrangeas, through an immaculate rose garden, and, at last, to the cool canopy of an ancient forest.
“Welcome to your picnic at Vergelegen,” says Latavia so softly, as if she’s about to let you in on a secret, and rightly so. The forest is indeed enchanted: a carpet of fallen leaves, a soothing soundtrack of whooshing trees, and cascading sunlight illuminating everything with a golden glow.
And then, a beautifully dressed table, adorned with white linen, silverware, roses and neat napkins, in your own private pocket of the forest. It becomes clear that this isn’t just any picnic experience.
A bottle of Vergelegen Florence Rosé goes down well with the al fresco feast. Everything comes out of the picnic basket at once. Where to start? There’s bread, warm and fluffy, and it’s hard to decide which creamy cheese or glossy ribbon of charcuterie will earn prime position on top of the dough. The farm butter alone is a serious contender, and don’t forget the paté!
Picnics are meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. You know: pop a grape into your mouth every now and then, slowly sip on a cool beverage, and nibble away at a tiny sandwich … perhaps an afternoon nap? Vergelegen has all the ingredients for lazy, languid picnicking (even giant bean bags), but the food is just too good to play it cool. Greed sets in, and you’re compelled to gobble.
But who could blame you?
The spread also includes delicious goat cheese quiches, topped with beetroot marmalade, and a collection of salads. There’s a classic chicken coronation salad, a layered summer salad, a Moroccan-style superfood salad, and a country potato salad. And there’s dessert: a little pot of crumbly biscuit topped with something creamy—possibly mascarpone—and coated in a tangy granadilla pulp.
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Now that the feeding frenzy is over and your stomach is fat and happy, you can slow down. Explore the forest, get lost in the illustrious estate with its historic buildings and gazillion gardens, or just flop into that big ol’ bag of beans, breathe in the fragrance of the camphor trees, and watch the world go by.
Details:
Location: Lourensford Rd, Somerset West
Times: November to April | Wednesdays to Sundays | Collection of picnic baskets: 12:15-1:30pm | Closes at 4:30pm
Bookings: [email protected] | 021 847 2111
Website: vergelegen.co.za
Please note that reservations are essential and need to be made at least 24 hours in advance.
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Picture: Kate Walker
