Fresh from several months in London, writer Jared Ruttenberg returned to the Cape in search of the things he had missed most: wildlife, wilderness and wine. His first stop was Idiom Restaurant & Tasting Centre, set high in the Helderberg mountains, where the landscape is as much a part of the experience as what is poured into the glass.
The approach sets the scene. Farmland gives way to mountain slopes, and Idiom’s striking architecture emerges against the fynbos-covered peaks, its stone arches and expansive glass walls blurring the boundaries between building and landscape. For Jared, the architecture is an attraction in its own right, but the real discovery lies beyond the restaurant.
A two-hour eco-safari, led by restoration ecologist Andrew, takes him through the reserve, where vineyards occupy only a fraction of the land. Zebra, springbok, bontebok and blue wildebeest roam the terrain, while sugarbirds flit between the proteas. At a scenic lookout, a glass of Amphitheatre of Dreams Cape Red provides a fitting pause in the journey.
Back at the table, a three-course lunch explores Idiom’s distinctive meeting of Italian and European varietals with South African ingredients. Sangiovese accompanies ostrich carpaccio, Barbera finds its match in a creamy asparagus risotto, and Zinfandel is served alongside rack of lamb. A visit to the library collection, featuring older vintages including the 2016 Rodanico and the 2015 SMV and Cape Blend, offers a further glimpse into the depth and longevity of the wines.
For a traveller newly returned home, Idiom proves an apt introduction to the Cape anew: a place where wild landscapes, considered hospitality and an unmistakably Italian influence come together in a distinctly South African setting.
Read the full article on Wanted |Download the full article