By: Bianca Coleman

Last week Sexy Deborah and I got into our Uber and headed extravagantly to Anthonij Rupert wine estate in the Franschhoek valley.

Just as well, because even though something as unexpected and refined as a tea tasting was on the agenda, we were able to relax and enjoy the spectacular day with plenty of wine later.

The activities began up at the Anthonij Rupert tasting room, which is in the farm’s original manor house and which you approach via a tree-lined avenue. It’s been beautifully restored and decorated; you can wander around the two magnificent bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms, although you may not sleep there. There is a drawing room and a diningroom with a massive gleaming wooden table which you can book for larger groups.

Out back is the rose garden with a gazebo where you can take afternoon tea, and in the front is a large veranda overlooking sweeping lawns. This is where we sat for our rooibos tea tasting. There was a card with the “tasting notes” which I folded up and put in my bag for later reference. Or so I thought. It, along with other bits of paper I collected, was not there when I got home.