On 4th October 2020 we leave from Manchester with Emirates via Dubai arriving in Cape Town the following morning for nine truly incredible nights visiting South Africa’s amazing wine regions. SOUTH AFRICA OCTOBER 2020 Join us for a wine tour like no other! In the latter part of 2020 I will be celebrating an incredible thirty years in the world of wine so there’s no better time to share that amazing world, quite literally, with you as we begin our adventures around the world. In partnership with First Class Holidays of Manchester, we have put together a bespoke itinerary showcasing some of the finest wine estates in South Africa with outstanding five star accommodation for our guests to relax in. Our tour will include plenty of free time too, allowing guests to take in the sights and gastronomic delights of Franschhoek, Paarl, Cape Town and Constantia. Designed to replicate the intimacy of one of our Cheshire wine school events, this remarkable wine journey is for a maximum of 14 guests and I will lead the group whilst on tour, naturally assisting with wine selection along the way! There are some exciting bolt-on and upgrade options available for guests wishing to stay longer or take advantage of Emirates amazing business class service. I am immensely proud to introduce you to Julie Molyneux who has worked tirelessly for us to create such a fantastic itinerary. Utilising the hundreds of connections she has made over twenty years living in South Africa, Julie will manage your booking personally. First Class Holidays are based in Manchester and of course are ABTA and ATOL protected for your peace of mind. I look forward to welcoming you to South Africa. Cin Cin! Richard J Smith Founder, The Wine School of Cheshire OUR HOTELS THE LAST WORD, FRANSCHHOEK Set in the heart of Franschhoek this historic Cape Huguenot style residence is within walking distance of gourmet dining experiences, art galleries and boutique style shops. A mixture of classic and contemporary furnishing creates and elegant sophisticated interior. In this secretive sanctuary, you will find both superior rooms and pool suites both offering bright, open plan living and their own private terrace. Comfortable and understated these rooms will make guests feel instantly at home. THE GRANDE ROCHE, PARRL At the foot of Paarl Rock is the Gran de Roche, a 5- star member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Set in beautiful gardens and surrounded by vineyards, the hotel was created from a Cape Dutch manor house dating back to 1717 and declared a national monument in 1993. The 35 stylish rooms reflect the Dutch and Cape Colonial past of this region. Rooms feature air conditioning & underfloor heating, TV, safe, tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer, Wi-Fi, flowers, wine & mineral water on arrival. THE LAST WORD, CONSTANTIA The Last Word Constantia is close to eight of South Africa’s top wine estates and many internationally celebrated restaurants: great attention is paid to peace and tranquillity. An inviting sunken swimming pool and surrounding tanning deck is the focal point of the magnificently manicured garden with rolling lawns, vibrant colours and exquisite mountain views. In the centre of the Cape Peninsula guests are snuggled in amongst oak- lined streets and vineyards spanning far and wide. The hotel is the perfect resting point for tranquil relaxation after exploring the elegant streets of Constantia. Scheduled Itinerary for the Wine School of Cheshire South Africa 2020 Sunday 4th October 2020 – Manchester to Cape Town Depart Manchester on Emirates: 04OCT20 MAN DXB 14:00 - 00:15 EK0018 05OCT20 DXB CPT 03:50 -11:35 EK0772 Monday 5th October 2020 – Franschhoek Upon arrival, transfer from Cape Town international Airport to The Last Word Hotel Franschhoek The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Take a 15 minute walk to the Huguenot Memorial Museum Huguenot Memorial Museum. The museum reflects the persecution of the French Huguenots, their flight, settlement at the Cape and contribution to South African wines. Dinner for own arrangements / account – Franschhoek is known as the Gourmet capital of South Africa and has a variety of restaurants to choose from. Overnight on a bed & breakfast basis at The Last Word Hotel Franschhoek Tuesday 6th October 2020 – Franschhoek 10h30 – after a leisurely breakfast we depart on a day of wine experiences. Our first stop is La Bri one of the oldest Huguenot-based farms in South Africa and an integral part of South African wine history and culture. The original approximately 50 hectares of land of La Bri was originally granted in October 1694 to Jacques (Jacob) de Villiers. L’Abri is French for “refuge”, a perfect name for the property, which provided the Huguenot with a home after fleeing in the imposing Olifantshoek, the Elephant Angle, as Franschhoek Tal was known at that time. Jaques was a very successful farmer and bought in 1717 from his brother Abraham Boschendal, where he lived until his death in 1735. The present manor house of La Bri was probably built between 1813 and 1862 by Pieter Eduard Jr. It has a large gable with straight sides, typical of the last stages of Cape Dutch architecture. La Bri was acquired in 1997 by Robin Hamilton, the current owner. Today, La Bri is a bustling boutique winery. La Bri produces estate wines, which means that under the label La Bri only wines are sold, which are grown on the estate and thereby represent the terroir. The wine labels are characterised by their floral patterns, which are reflected in the wine aromas. Wines and varieties which are not grown on La Bri and are purchased from neighbouring wineries, e.g., Semillon or Rousanne, are sold under the label Double Door, which symbolises the two ways, from the outside into the winery and going out from the winery. Irene Waller (de Fleuriot) has been the manager and winemaker of the winery for many years and passionately creates wines in a signature style. She does not let anything out of sight and is the first and the last on the winery at the grape harvest. She was originally a teacher, studied and practiced viticulture and oenology in Australia and Stellenbosch and came to La Bri after many years working with Graham Beck, from where she also brought her passion for the MCC. Since 2008, the wines of La Bri are produced in the state-of-the-art new wine cellar. It has a unique circular structure and the process of wine production is determined by gravity in order to avoid the use of pumps. This allows Irene Waller and her team to produce a variety of high quality and elegant wines in small quantities. To protect and preserve the freshness of the fruits, all the grapes are hand-picked and stored overnight in a cold room. Then they are hoisted in a satellite tank and dumped in fermentation tanks. A pneumatic punch-down system allows continuous skin-contact with the fermenting juice, which in turn allows maximum colour extraction. Automatic temperature controls integrated in the tanks ensure ideal fermentation temperatures. A CELLAR TOUR AND MEETING WITH IRENE WALLER FOLLOWED BY A WINE & CHOCOLATE TASTING HAS BEEN REQUESTED – CONFIRMATION PENDING - SHOULD THIS BE UNAVAILABLE AND ALTERNATIVE WILL BE PROVIDED Leaving La Bri we travel to Rupert & Rothschild for lunch. 13H00 – lunch is a food and wine pairing seasonal menu: SAMPLE MENU RUPERT & ROTHSCHILD FOOD AND WINE PAIRING TO START Crispy Patagonian squid, shaved fennel, citrus coriander dressing, charred lime yoghurt and crispy basil. Wine 2017 Rupert & Rothschild Baroness Nadine Chardonnay MAIN COURSE Chalmar Beef Sirloin, braised beef short rib, textures of beetroot, beef crackling, raspberry jus. Wine 2016 Rupert & Rothschild Classique DESSERT Layered chocolate and blackberry gateaux, bitter-sweet chocolate crémeux, Baron Edmond and blackberry sorbet and hazelnuts. Wine 2015 Rupert & Rothschild Baron Edmond After lunch enjoy the Rupert & Rothschild tasting: Rupert & Rothschild Baroness Nadine (Franschhoek) Rupert & Rothschild Classique (Franschhoek) Rupert & Rothschild Baron Edmond (Franschhoek) Chateau Clarke Baron Edmond de Rothschild (Bordeaux, France) Chateau des Laurets (Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, France) We return to the hotel later this afternoon. Dinner for own arrangements / account. Overnight on a bed & breakfast basis at The Last Word Hotel Franschhoek Wednesday 7th October 2020 – Franschhoek Today is at leisure with a Franschhoek Wine Tram Ticket to explore local estates. The Franschhoek Wine Tram currently offers eight hop-on hop-off lines to choose from each visiting a selection of wine estates showcasing a separate part of the Franschhoek Valley. Passengers will be transported by tram and open-air tram-bus around a loop of stops with a selection of wine estates to disembark at. In addition to the wine tasting activities offered at each stop, several of the wine estates on the tour boast world-class restaurants serving lunches and picnics. The tram or tram-bus passes each stop according to the timetable allowing passengers to hop-on hop-off at their convenience. Wine purchased while on the tour can be handed over to the host for later collection at the end of the tour. Wine tasting fees at each estate (between ZAR25 and ZAR150 per person) are not included in the tour price. Dinner for own arrangements / account. Overnight on a bed & breakfast basis at The Last Word Hotel Franschhoek Thursday 8th October 2020 – Stellenbosch / Paarl Depart Franschhoek and travel to Stellenbosch for a morning walking tour of Stellenbosch. 10h00 Your tour guide will greet you in her red apron at Stellenbosch Wine Route office. You’ll stroll through the heart of town, stopping for a variety of sweet and savoury tastings, including a sit-down lunch.