The hashtag for the weekend was #MeetTheCousins but little did I know that I’m actually going to meet the four cousins, yes they really do exist and the cherry on top is that they are humble, kind and loads of fun to hang out with. Neil, Phillip, Bussell and Hennie are super legends!

We spent the weekend experiencing the Van Loveren Family Vineyards in Robertson with a couple of fun bloggers and influencers from across South Africa. Our trip started with a very scenic two hour drive from Cape Town International Airport to Robertson (If you are planning a visit make it a weekend one so you can take in all the beautiful views). Once we arrived we were greeted by Bussel, the wine making cousin, who welcomed us with a glass of the  Four Cousins White Sparkling Wine then went on to share the story of the third generation of Retief cousins with us. Listening to him share their story as Four Cousins celebrates it’s 18th Birthday with the utmost passion and enthusiasm was nothing short of inspiring.

As the day went on Bussel took us through a wine cellar tour and treated us to a tasting of some of the wines direct from the barrel, the Chardonnay is truly something special. After our tour we then got the opportunity to be assistant wine makers for the day as we attempted to recreate the Four Cousins Sweet Red Wine. After our many failed attempts lol, we all finally created our own unique twists to the wine that we got to bottle and keep. Thanks to all that wine making we all worked up quite the appetite and we were pleased to find out that we would be treated to a family dinner at Cousin Hennie’s house.

Once at Hennie’s we finally got to meet all the cousins and from the go we were welcomed with big smiles and lots of jokes. Hennie and his beautiful wife Chrislene spoiled us with the cousins favourite family traditional meals which ended off with a guava dessert that totally blew my mind it was so delicious (to be honest I wanted more of the dessert but was too shy to go for seconds lol). The night continued with lots of Four Cousins sparkling wines, Fiver and laughs a perfect way to end the perfect day.

Day two of our adventure started off with a Vineyard Tour, learning about the vines and taking in all the spectacular views. So special to see something built on such great family values, makes you truly feel like a part of something special. Once we were done with the vineyard tour we headed to the Four Cousins restaurant where once again we were treated like absolute gold. At the restaurant we enjoyed a wine and food pairing, the Marula Cream and Marula Fudge being my favourite pair, oh so sweet and delicious. After trying out all the different Four Cousins products it’s safe to say Four Cousins is perfect for any occasion, there’s a little something for everyone, even you non-drinkers something special is coming soon, keep an eye on the blog for that. For lunch we got to enjoy dishes from the restaurant menu which has everything from burgers, steaks, salads to calamari. All absolutely tasty of course, the winning meal off the day that I also ordered out of FOMO was the beef burger, fresh ingredients and mouthwatering flavours. We ended day 2 with a hearty dinner and more wine at Kokkemans Kitchen just down the road from our hotel in Montague.

As you may know, all good things come to an end and Sunday was our last day of our epic weekend and we ended it with brunch with Neil, Phillip, Bussell and Hennie in “A Seat At the Table”. The breakfast menu has plenty options for every pallet, I opted for the Eggs Royale which is had the freshest salmon and absolutely divine homemade hollandaise. Once brunch was over it was time to say goodbye but not before we all got in a little bit of shopping at the restaurant store. This was by far one of the best experiences I have ever had and will forever cherish. Now every time you guys drink Four Cousins just remember  “I am the legendary 5th Cousin” lol. For all the wine snobs out there you are missing out on being part of something special. Spoil yourself with a weekend escape to Robertson to go and see for yourself. It’s fun, it’s spectacular and it will leave you breathless.

Thank you Pippa, Bonita, Jo and the Four Cousins family for such beautiful memories. I can’t wait to make many more. A special thank you to AverageSA for inviting me on this trip of a lifetime.