Winter is a magical time in the Cape winelands. Life out in the country seems to slow down to a gentler pace. Vines are hibernating; leafless trees stand like sentinels with majestic mountains as their backdrop, sometimes topped with a light dusting of snow. Roaring fireplaces and robust red wines take centre stage, along with hearty and delicious winter menus that set your soul on fire.
But when the cold, wintry weather sets in, there really is no need to go into full hibernation mode. Especially when Dornier Bodega Restaurant at Dornier Wines in the Stellenbosch winelands is offering a tantalizing 2 course Winter menu for R225 pp or R295 pp for 3 courses. Yes, you read that right!
I was kindly invited to sample their 3 course seasonal lunch at Bodega Restaurant and since I couldn’t resist, I happily accepted the invitation. It really had been too long since my last visit to this lovely wine estate.
REASON #1 – The scenic drive through the winelands
Once you get off the main highways (the N2 in particular), the scenic country roads appear before you. Wherever you look, you’ll be amazed at the natural beauty that can be seen everywhere. It was a sunny and unusually windy day in Stellenbosch as we drove along a winding road towards Dornier Wines.
REASON #2 – The views!
To say that the vineyard and majestic mountain views are spectacular would be an understatement. Seeing the towering Stellenbosch Mountain as you arrive at Dornier is literally breathtaking! Wining and dining with that glorious view was not meant to be as the wind was really chilly. It’s a great reason to return during the warmer seasons for some al fresco dining while taking in the stunning views from the terrace.
We were warmly greeted by Emma as she showed us to a table near the fireplace (yes please to a roaring fire!). Housed in a historic barn which is one of the oldest buildings in Stellenbosch, Dornier opened Bodega Restaurant in 2007. The relaxed environment invites one to indulge in Dornier’s award-winning wines that beautifully highlight the locally-sourced fresh ingredients of Bodega’s seasonal menu. Donovan, the charming Front of House Manager, tells me they’ll soon be adding new tables and chairs and giving the dining area a bit of a revamp.
REASON #3 – The stellar service
Dornier Bodega certainly knows a thing or two about creating contemporary and elegant farm cuisine that is beautifully paired with their fine wines. This is clearly evident when you take a look at their menu. Emma was truly knowledgeable and advised us on the various dishes; kudos to her for remembering each and every detail about each dish, along with the recommended wine pairing.
REASON #4 – Award-winning fine wines
REASON #5 – The deliciously decadent food!
Starters include classics such as Caesar Salad and Soup of the Day, along with Smoked Venison Carpaccio and Steamed West Coast Mussels. I, for, one had a tough time selecting my starter as all the options sounded amazing! I soon decided on the Kudu Carpaccio, while one of my dining partners (DP) chose the Soup of the Day (Potato & Leek) and the other also opted for the Carpaccio.
The Carpaccio was simply superb and unlike any I’d tasted before. Served with Pickled Wild Mushrooms, Fromage Blanc, Caper Berries, Rocket and Truffle Vinaigrette, this dish was a taste sensation with all the components complementing one another. The bold Dornier Pinotage paired beautifully with this meal.
The Potato & Leek soup was deliciously creamy and paired with Dornier’s Cocoa Hill Red, their fun and easy-drinking entry level wine range (The Cocoa Hill Rose is a particular fave of mine – pink drinks rock!).
We thoroughly enjoyed our starters and excitedly awaited our main dishes. Meat lovers will delight in the various meat dishes available, but pescatarians and vegetarians are both catered for. As I don’t eat beef and lamb (I heard some of you gasp in shock and horror) and wasn’t in the mood for fish, I went for the Pan Fried Venison Rump. I simply adore kudu! My DP’s chose the Braised Lamb Shoulder and Beef Ribeye Steak. I can honestly say that all three dishes were out of this world and so delicious. Not only were they beautifully plated, but also so tasty that we couldn’t stop raving about them while we were eating and a long while after that.
The Pan Fried Venison Rump was paired with the spicy (but not too spicy) Dornier Siren Syrah and I enjoyed every bit of it. The Braised Lamb Shoulder was incredibly tender and juicy according to my DP and was served with various Green Veg, Bacon, Parsnip Purée, Crispy Potato and Red Wine Jus.
The Beef Ribeye Steak looked just as juicy and tender as the Lamb, and the addition of Tempura Baby Leeks added a tasty, textural element to the dish. Luckily for hubby, he got to taste the Beef Ribeye at home as my DP just couldn’t finish it all, even though she really wanted to. But hey! We still needed space for the sweet stuff.
I can usually eat two courses at the most, but as both my dishes were fairly light I was confident that I could squeeze dessert in (go on – twist my arm!). We decided to wait a few minutes before ordering dessert and happily sat chatting and drinking wine in the cosy dining area.
Being a BIG Masterchef Australia fan (Psst, don’t tell anyone!), I knew that I wanted the Dark Chocolate Fondant. The Fondant was the popular choice, while one decided to have the yummy sounding Espresso Crème Brûlée. What a delightfully sweet ending to a truly special and memorable dining experience!
The Dark Chocolate Fondant was deliciously oozy (just the way it should be) with a Strawberry Coulis and smooth, creamy Vanilla Bean Ice Cream paired with the Dornier Malbec. I had a little taste of the Espresso Crème Brûlée with Almond Shortbread. It was divine with a perfect caramelised sugar topping.
It isn’t often that one feasts on amazingly delicious and decadent food where EVERYTHING tastes as good as it looks. From the stunning mountain views to the stellar service, beautifully presented dishes that are absolute flavour bombs and award-winning wines that complement each dish superbly; you are in for a culinary treat at Bodega. It’s not surprising they are considered one of the leading restaurants in Stellenbosch.
Will I return to Bodega Restaurant? Absolutely yes! It’s time to get out of hibernation mode and give their Winter menu a try (Lunch – Wednesday to Sunday 11H30 – 15H00). Don’t have time for a leisurely 2 or 3 course lunch? Pop in for some yummy Flammkuchen and Tapas (Wednesday to Sunday 15H00 – 17H00).
Bring the kids along for outdoor fun on the jungle gym. Various beers and non-alcoholic beverages are available, as well as a kids menu for those under 12 years. Wine tasting is not to be missed and is housed in the sleek, modern brick building where the unique cellar can be found. There really is something for everyone at Dornier Bodega.
Take a scenic drive out to Dornier and let me know what you think once you’ve been. I’d love to hear about your experience.
Please note: Our meal was enjoyed at no cost for review purposes. All views and images are my own.
