#sawinelockdown Day 12 Tuesday 7 April: Hidden Gems 2. For this topic I have chosen to focus on 2 regions rather than on a specific wine. This second post is about the Swartland Region which starts just over 50km’s from Cape Town. The Swartland encompasses an area between the towns of Malmesbury in the south, Darling in the west, Piketberg in the north, and Riebeek West and Riebeek Kasteel in the east. Translated directly from Afrikaans, the Swartland means “the Black Land”. Originally named “Het Zwarte Land” (the Black Land) by Jan Van Riebeeck because of the endemic Renosterbos shrub which appears grey/black in colour when wet in Winter or dry in Summer. Largely a wheat producing area, olive and wine farming have become much more prominent in recent years. I am including wine and more in this post 😊 Places I have previously visited in this region:- #swartland_winery – Extensive range of wine for tasting, yummy platters and light snacks. #kloovenburg.estate – Great wines, wonderful olives and olive products. I have yet to try the wine and olive pairing. #hetvlockcasteelshop – Extensive range of delicious jams, preserves, dressings, olives, olive oils and wine. The widest range of olives I’ve ever seen locally. Olive Boutique – Yummy olives, olive oils and body products and home of the famous olives in blueberry dressing. #riebeekcellarscollection – Inexpensive is not normally a word you would associate with good wine – you’ll be surprised and delighted by these affordable wines. #delicofarmstyle – Farm style family butcher with tasty lamb, great biltong and droewors. #allesverlorenwine – Intimate tasting of fine range including the “Fine Old Vintage” Port style wine. I still need to try the Pleasant Pheasant restaurant situated on the farm. I still have more places to explore in this region so if you know of a gem that I have missed in the area please get in touch with me or post it in a reply 😊 #malmesbury_tourism #swartlandwineandolives #swartlandindependentproducers #malmesburytourism #swartlandsecrets #swartland #kasteelberg #meetmeinriebeekvalley #riebeekkasteel #swartlandwineandoliveroute #olives #southafricanolives #bubblelicious #welovemcc (at Riebeek-Kasteel, Western Cape, South Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-15PNhpWy2/?igshid=1xrgnxt9cov8w