"It's a place where you find real people, with real stories. I feel at home and at ease when I visit the wine farms here. It's a rare experience you can't put into words"
- A visitor in the Genevieve tasting room -
The first time I was greeted by the scenery of the town of Bot River, I was about 15 years old.
My grandparents need for hunting down antiques had left me with an affinity for finding small and hidden towns.
Out of the many routes we have taken, the town of Bot River has been a fixed stop for us in our journeys up the coast, and in the welcoming spirits of the towns people, we are able to sit and enjoy the conversation and catch up with the friends we have made.
"People are always in such a rush. Even when going on holiday they rush through all the scenery. I always used to shoot straight through to Hermanus and always passed this quaint town."
The area was a popular spot for bartering butter with the Khoi herders who used the land for grazing pastures for their cattle.
The Khoi people called the river they used to keep this butter cool 'Gouga' meaning plenty of butter or fat. So the name 'Botter Rivier' (Meaning butter river) came into existence later simplifying to Botrivier or Bot River.
Today, there is still a large production of dairy-based products in the Bot River area alongside the fairly sizeable wine production.
The wine farms in Bot River are family-owned and the settings are serene and tranquil. It is the best place to visit multiple farms in a day and get to meet the winemakers and farm owners due to the welcoming ambience of the town.
If you're planning a trip to Overberg anytime soon, don't rush to get to your destination. Enjoy the journey and make a quick stop in the amicable town of Bot River.
A huge thank you to all of our hosts during this trip:
Melissa Nelsen: Owner & Winemaker, Genevieve MCC
Jayne Beaumont: Owner & Winemaker, Jayne's Wine / Founder, Beaumont Family Wines
Sebastian Beaumont: Owner & Winemaker, Beaumont Family Wines
Chris Keet: Viticulturist, Gabrielskloof / Owner & Winemaker, Weather Report Wine
Nina Muller: Winemaker, Gabrielskloof
Albert van Niekerk: Owner & Winemaker, Van Niekerk Vintners
Peter-Allan Finlayson: Cellar Master, Gabrielskloof
Emma Manuel: General Manager, Wildekrans Wine Estate
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