斯皮尔酒庄(Spier Wine Farm)坐落在开普敦东部约50公里的斯特伦博斯(Stellenbosch)产区,始创于1692年,是南非最古老的酒庄之一。这座占地约620公顷的庄园不仅是品酒地,更是一个集合了猛禽保护中心、当代艺术画廊和可持续农场的综合体验区。从开普敦市中心驱车前往通常需要45分钟,由于不设大门票,这里成了很多家庭周末郊游的首选。建议出发前查看官网获取最新的季节性活动信息。
酒庄内最出名的非酿酒项目就是这个猛禽康复中心。这里专门收治受伤或被遗弃的鹰、隼、鸮等猛禽,并致力于将它们放归自然。成人入场费大约在R100至R150南非兰特之间。最有意思的是下午进行的飞翔演示,你甚至可以尝试让猫头鹰落在戴着皮手套的手臂上。这和在动物园隔着笼子看完全两样,那种猛禽俯冲时带起的风声非常震撼。项目收益直接用于鸟类保护,逛一圈下来既能拍照也能顺手做公益。
如果你不想只是坐着喝酒,可以报名参加酒庄的平衡车之旅。这个项目分为1小时和2小时两种规格,即便从没玩过平衡车也不用担心,教练会进行约15至20分钟的起步培训。由于斯皮尔酒庄坚持生物动力法耕作,你会骑着平衡车穿过完全不施化肥的葡萄田,路过正在自然除草的鸡群和牛群。2小时的进阶行程还会带你爬上小山坡,从那里能远眺桌山(Table Mountain)的轮廓,视野开阔得让人想喊出声。
在斯皮尔吃午饭,最地道的方式是预订一份野餐篮。酒庄不建议游客自带食物,但他们准备的篮子相当丰盛,包含本地产的芝士、手工面包和冷肉卷,价格通常在每份R300至R400左右。提着篮子走到艾斯特河(Eerste River)边的草坪,找棵老橡树往下一坐,那份惬意是任何高级餐厅都给不了的。要是想吃顿热乎的,Vadas Smokehouse的烤猪肘和慢熏牛胸肉在当地名气很大,尤其是他们家的葡式蛋挞,每天限量供应,去晚了真抢不到。
斯皮尔拥有南非规模最大的当代艺术收藏之一。不同于艺术馆的拘束,这里的作品直接摆在草地、走廊和品酒室里。最有代表性的是一幅巨大的马赛克壁画,由数万块矿石拼成。你可以一边品尝酒庄标志性的白诗南(Chenin Blanc),一边沿着艺术步道漫步。这种随性的观展方式很适合不喜欢严肃博物馆的人。酒庄品酒室的建筑本身也是件艺术品,阳光透过落地窗洒在木质长桌上,拍照效果极佳。
最推荐的交通方式是租车自驾或者打Uber。虽然开普敦有前往斯特伦博斯的火车,但南非火车的安全性不稳,不建议游客尝试。Uber从开普敦市区过去大约花费R400到R600兰特。如果打算品酒,最好叫车或者找专门的私人向导,毕竟南非对酒驾的查处力度非常大。酒庄内部停车位充足且免费,保安会指引你停在靠近接待中心的位置。
如果时间充裕,在庄园里的Spier Hotel住一晚能感受到不一样的宁静。酒店由32座小楼组成,总共80间客房,布局像一个南非小村庄。每个房间都配有壁炉,清晨起床时能看到薄雾笼罩在葡萄架上。住客可以免费借用酒庄的自行车,在游客大批量到来前骑行一圈。这里的早餐食材大部分来自酒庄自己的农场,鸡蛋是清晨刚从鸡窝里捡出来的,那种新鲜度吃过一次就忘不了。
普通的品酒体验(标准品酒组约R70起)通常不需要预约,直接走进品酒室即可。但如果你是周末前往并想预订河畔野餐篮,或者参加下午的巧克力配酒特选项目,建议至少提前48小时在官网预约,否则很容易因为满员而扑空。
出于安全考虑,参加者年龄必须在10周岁以上,且体重在45公斤至120公斤之间。孕妇不能参加此项目。虽然平衡车操作简单,但建议穿运动鞋和长裤,因为葡萄园里的土路偶尔会有石子或泥泞,不适合穿裙子或拖鞋操作。
非常适合。这里有专门的儿童俱乐部和儿童品酒项目(通常是果汁配特制点心)。酒庄拥有大片的开阔草坪供孩子奔跑,老鹰中心更是小朋友了解自然的天然教室。此外,酒庄内的克拉夫特(Craft)集市经常有手工互动,能让孩子在那儿专注玩上半天。
除了标志性的白诗南和混合红葡萄酒,酒庄礼品店售卖的有机橄榄油和本地陶艺品也很值得买。特别推荐这里的21 Gables系列葡萄酒,这是酒庄的高端线,品质非常扎实。如果行李托运不方便,酒庄也提供全球航运服务,当然运费可能比酒本身还要贵。
A Peace of Art Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch offers a wine tasting experience that seamlessly blends heritage, sustainability, and hospitality. Set against the backdrop of the Helderberg Mountains, the estate provides a picturesque setting for both casual visitors and wine connoisseurs.
Carla Van Der Walt So myself and a friend went to the light show. The art itself was beautiful, but we definitely felt there was a bit of a disconnect between the art pieces. We did get a little lost trying to find our way to the main point of where to start.
Y Graves A beautiful wine estate! We had a great wine tasting experience and thoroughly enjoyed the ambience that has been created. It is a high-quality venue that offers lots of options aside from the wine tasting. Very attentive and friendly staff! We did the Spier Tasting, which had a good variety of wines to personalise the tasting. For our particular taste, some of the whites were a bit too soft and easy drinking, but it's all about experiencing and learning! The charcuterie board was also high quailty and delicious!
Wianelle Briers Spier is so much more than a wine farm. It is definitely one of the most special places to visit around Stellenbosch. The gardens are truly magnificent, with great old oak trees, wine tasting, restaurants and many beautiful picnic spots. They are also great supporters of art, and a wide range of contemporary art is on display. The free entry annual Light Art Festival is currently on until the 21st of April, and such a wonderful experience for the whole family.
Erick Macedo We tried Spier because of the tons of negative reviews on the “famous” wineries and was an amazing experience! Thanks we found them. We had great time here and you can spend your full day with family and kids. You will find friendly and receptive staff, entrance control and parking, amazing food and good price. Good wine and bakery. Toilets are very clean and the property has also many art pieces and exhibitions.