Adventure-obsessed Londoner, Tim Loonen, the lucky winner of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes “Ultimate Bucket List” competition hosted at ITB in March this year, arrived in South Africa on 28 June for an all-expenses paid trip sponsored by The Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes to Stellenbosch and beyond.
Tim’s itinerary included an ultimate Stellenbosch sightseeing guide, with experiences at some of the region’s top wine farms such as Spier, Dornier Estate, Delheim and Die Bergkelder.
He was treated to dine at Lanzerac Hotel, Overture Restaurant and Tokara while enjoying the hospitality of Wedge View Country House and Spa and 22 De Laan Guesthouse where he stayed during his visit to the winelands.
Tim says, “When trying to describe Stellenbosch in one word, the only one that can really do justice is “Hospitality”. Never have I come across a community where hospitality is as core, whether that’s tasting wine at Die Bergkelder or cooking with Mama Lilly in Kayamandi. We’ve never felt so welcome anywhere in the world.”
After his experience in Stellenbosch, Tim and his partner Renee Schreurs ventured further into South Africa for a visit to the magnificent Grootbos in the Overberg region and a safari at Jaci’s Lodges in Madikwe.