Our December holiday is long forgotten – so much has happened in the meantime – but it’s always nice to look back and remember the wonderful time we had on the West Coast of South Africa.
It was with an excited feeling that we landed at Cape Town International Airport in mid-December 2022 for a three-week holiday.
Arriving at Cape Town International Airport
Before we drove to our hometown, Langebaan, our friends in Cape Town organised a get-together for our annual Christmas dinner. This year dinner was booked at a beautiful wine farm.
Signal Gun Wines:
Signal Gun Wines is 35km (21 miles) from the city centre of Cape Town. It is on the outskirts of the lovely suburb Durbanville and situated on Hooggelegen Farm. This farm has been in the De Wit-family for over six generations and is one of the oldest, family-owned wine farms in the Durbanville area.
Views from Signal Gun Wines
Of course, with a name like Signal Gun Wines, a gun (or cannon for that matter) will be involved. According to the winery’s website, the VOC mounted more than 50 cannons on hills and mountains around the Cape to form a Signal Gun chain that could call upon the Burher Militia to defend the Cape.
And 300 years later, some of these cannons are still used to fire on Hooggelegen Farm on joyful occasions. If you want to attend the firing of a cannon, make sure you visit the farm every 1st Saturday of every month at 13:00.
One of the cannons at Signal Gun Wines
There is a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere at the restaurant at Signal Gun Wines. You can either choose to sit outside under umbrellas (which would be great while enjoying lunch on a sunny afternoon) or you can sit at one of the tables on the covered deck – which we did as it was a bit rainy.
Seating at the restaurant
One of our friends’ two little girls came along and enjoyed the large soft lawn next to the restaurant. And you know you’re in the Cape Town area when you smell the wonderful aroma of fynbos – the restaurant is surrounded by these endemic plant species.
Beautiful green and soft lawn
Fynbos decorates the outside of the restaurant
We had a great time catching up with everyone while enjoying delicious food. Of course, we couldn’t eat here and not enjoy the delicious wine. We had pre-drinks (gin and tonic) and then ordered a bottle (or two) of their best wines.
Festive Gin & Tonic
Starter of crumbed mushrooms and trio of sliders as the main meal
The restaurant at Signal Gun Wines during the evening
This was the perfect start to our holiday. We looked forward to spending time with my mother and some of Berto’s family, camping by the sea and exploring new places. We will tell you more about this in the next few posts.
Wet and Dusty Roads 
Your visits to wineries and vineyards always make me wish I was there!
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😀 If you ask me what are the top 5 things I miss most about Cape Town, wine farms will definitely be on that list!
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Happy memories!
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Indeed Jo! A picturesque landscape, great friends and good food and wine … few things come close to this!
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Sjoe, dit lyk lekker romanties! Ek gaan dit beslis oorweeg as ons weer in daardie rigting gaan.
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Dit is beslis die moeite werd om hier ‘n draai te maak. Jy kan selfs op ‘n wyn safari gaan … hulle stop op die hoogste punt van die plaas waar jy wonderlike uitsigte kan geniet en ook wilde diere kan sien (dit alles terwyl jy heerlik aan ‘n glasie wyn teug).
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Klink goed, ek gaan dit onthou.
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The Signal Gun winery looks an idyllic place to enjoy a meal and of course a glass or two of wine. How amazing that you can time your visit to coincide with the firing of the cannons. That reminds me of Edinburgh where the (one o’clock gun is fired daily (except Sunday) from the castle ramparts. If you haven’t yet visited the Scottish capital, I heartedly recommend it,
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I must admit the wine farms in the Durbanville area are all idyllically situated and it would be difficult to choose a favourite. Thanks Marion, I will definitely remember the cannon in Edinburgh 😉.
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What a lovely place to kick off the holiday season with friends. Those sliders look delicious!
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Yes, it was a really good start! A get-together with great friends in such a beautiful setting … accompanied by good food and wine too (those sliders were a definite winner)!
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I love the look of the festive G&T. It must feel very odd posting when so much has changed as you look back – I definitely found it weird writing happily about trips that happened before my near death ectopic, after my ectopic. My whole world had changed in that time. This looks a beautiful break though, I’d love a glass of that wine right now 🙂
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This is very true Hannah. One’s perception of life itself takes a whole new turn after a traumatic experience (as you will know all too well). It was a great start to our holiday … and yes, the G&T not only looked beautiful, it also tasted great 🙂.
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Such a gorgeous part of the world. I only wish I could have seen more. At one time I had quite an acquaintance with South African wines! Look forward to reading more about your holiday.
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The Cape Winelands are truly picturesque and always worth a visit. Our SA wines compare well with other countries’ wines … but then I might be biased 😉. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the rest of our holiday posts – there are some beautiful sunsets involved.
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Looks like a perfectly idyllic location to start off your holiday. I hope Berto is doing better!
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I’m still looking for a wine farm that I don’t like 🙂 … this one has the most beautiful views of the mountains! Berto is doing much better, thank you for asking. We walk a short distance every day (and his lungs cooperate well). He will see the doctor again at the end of this week and we are keeping our fingers crossed that the results will look good.
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I’m with you there; I like them all. I’m so glad to hear that Berto is getting better! Fingers crossed for a full recovery!
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Heerlike herinnerings, soos net jy dit kan vertel 🥰
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Dankie Tannie Frannie 🌸. Dis darem lekker om so bietjie terug te loop in ‘n mens se vakansie in, ne?
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Ons het ook al lekker op die wynplaas gekuier, maar nog nie by die restaurant gewees nie! My dogter Alda , geniet dit altyd om daarheen te gaan. Ek sal ‘n plan moet maak om by die restaurant uit te kom!
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Dit was ons eerste keer by Signal Gun Wines en wat ‘n lekkerte! Hulle kos is regtig lekker en word so mooi voorgesit. Ek sal nie omgee om weer daar in te loer nie … Alda is bevoorreg om so naby al die lekker wynplase te bly 🙂 (ons mis dit nogal hier in Oos-London).
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Ek kan dink julle mis dit!
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Sounds, and looks, like a great spot to kick off a holiday!
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I would say a wine farm is always a good start to a holiday … especially one with such beautiful views of the mountains 🙂 .
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Indeed! Oh, I forgot to ask – how is Berto doing now?
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He is much better, thanks Sarah. Going back later in the week for more tests and then another visit to the doctor to get the results (which will hopefully indicate improvement). But he is walking short distances again without getting tired, which I assume is good news 🙂.
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Looks like the perfect location for a vineyard. Nice to meet with old friends there. Seeing the cannons fired would be fun, I’ve never seen one be fired before. I hope it’s not the cannon that is pointed at the cars!! Maggie
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Haha 😁, no those cannons are only on display (although they are real) … the one firing is on a hill. Yes, it was a great place to catch up with everyone – so much happens during the year, it’s great to just sit back and relax for a few hours.
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Looks like a lovely place, and the treats sound fantastic😉 A wonderful start for a good vacation🥰
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Indeed … who wouldn’t want to start a holiday like that! It’s a lovely wine farm and it’s always a bonus to get good food too.
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Stunning place Corna. Looked like a really good holiday made up of good food and wine, and also so great that you could enjoy it with friends and family.
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I couldn’t think of a better way to start a holiday! The wine farms in and around Cape Town are truly beautiful and we always have a good time at any one of them.
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That looks like a great way to celebrate Christmas and I love that it is in Durbanville. I lived there for 12 months and went to school at Fairmont High when I was a wee bit younger and a Rotary Exchange Student. Fabulous memories. Many thanks for the trip down memory lane. Mel
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When we lived in Cape Town, our house was only a short distance from Fairmont High School. One of our friends was also in Fairmont High (he is the only Englishman among our friends, but such a great guy 😉). I always wondered how you came to know SA so well … now it makes sense!
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WOW! We might have been neighbours. 6 degrees of separation…
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I think it was a few years after your time at Fairmont High … we lived in Cape Town from 1997 – 2018. And it’s not that I think you’re old (because when I read your blog, sometimes I think you’re in your 20s 😉)!
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Oh, you are a comedian!! 🙂
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What a lovely spot to have your annual Christmas dinner with your friends. It’s pretty amazing how it’s been in the same family for so many generations. The atmosphere looks very inviting.
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Yes, we also noticed how long it has been in the same family – it’s amazing, isn’t it! A wonderful place to hang out … especially with good friends who we haven’t seen in a long time 🙂.
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Seems like you have a knack for picking winner wineries!
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Haha 🙂, it’s not really difficult to choose a good winery in the Cape Town area – they are all so beautiful and have great wines. The problem comes by which one to choose!
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What a fun start to your holiday! That looks like quite the place to see. I hope Berto is getting better, still sending prayers.💕
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Who wouldn’t want to start a holiday on a wine farm with good friends 😉. Berto is doing very well, thanks Diane. He was with his doctor again on Friday and there is “great improvement” (dr’s words). Berto only has to have tests done again in 3 months … so, we are very grateful for everyone’s prayers 🙏🏻.
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Precious memories so nicely described in words and photos. That restaurant seems well worth a visit. For sure you had a great start of your holiday!
I would love to visit South Africa and Cape Town but I know I never will be able to. Instead, I get to travel with you through your posts. Thanks for that Corna 😀
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Great friends and good food and wine on a picturesque wine farm … yes, that’s definitely a good start to a holiday! We have seen a few places in the world and for me Cape Town remains one of the most beautiful cities – I hope to show you a lot more of this beautiful city. Thank you for traveling with us 💌.
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