UP THE N7-2022
‘Near Piketberg’
27th October 2022

Twenty-six of us headed off up the N7 motorway on our day out.  First stop was DESERT ROSE – a ‘pad-stalletjie’ which  was recently voted into the ‘kFm Top of the Road Stall’ category.  Brian and I can vouch for their carrot cake – delicious.  We saw many ladies stocking up from their well-stocked shelves.

The negative of the journey was that they are doing extensive road works on the N7 – so just past Malmesbury the road for about 30km is de-restricted to 60km an hour.  Amazingly not everyone sticks to the speed limit, and when there was a gap, it was quickly filled by a car whizzing by! One lady did say she never minded the reduced speed as it gave her time to admire the fields of wine, brilliant blue dams interspersed with vineyards!

Eleven km from Desert Rose is ORG DE RAC an organic wine estate, just outside Piketberg.

Org de Rac was one of the first wine farms in South Africa committed to 100% certified organic wine-farming. Today it is one of only 18 local wine producers certified for the making of wines from organically farmed grapes.

From the outset, Org de Rac’s motive for organic farming was their conviction that the best, healthiest grapes make the finest wines. And if you want healthy grapes expressing the characteristics of each variety, creating as natural an environment as possible for the cultivation of vineyard, is the best way to ensure quality grapes for the making of premium wines.

Nico Bacon – the Founder of Org de Rac, was an entrepreneur who has worked in the fishing industry for most of his life. After years working for various commercial companies, he founded Viking Fishing in 1980 and built it into a leading South African fishing company.

Outside of commercial fishing, Nico had a love of farming, soils, and natural agriculture – as well as rugby! In 2001 he established Org de Rac on the ethos of organic farming, aiming to make wines from grapes farmed as close to nature as possible. He was still very much involved in the day-to-day operations of his beloved wine farm on the slopes of the Piketberg, until he sadly passed away in June 2020.

On arrival a few selected to do wine pairing – white wines with chocolates was Heather’s favourite – wish they sold the handmade chocolates said a few ladies!

After this lunch was served buffet style – amazing salads with just about everything you could think of – pomegranates; chickpeas; corn off the cob; pickled cucumber; tomatoes; and delicious olives.  Sadly, the chicken pies were cold – but this was quickly remedied, and they were a favourite indeed! Pies, full of tasty chicken and then a dessert of  little apple pies with whipped cream.

We left the estate at just after 15h00 – and somehow the journey home went far quicker – most not even noticing the road works and speed restrictions!

“A LITTLE BIT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE IS SO GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL”

                                                         Some photos:

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