Day 8, May 24, 2013: Up early again to head off for the winelands to the Northeast. Marlene fetches me first (I’m seeing a pattern due to my location) and we pick up several others from South Africa, Norway and a Chinese family now living in Boston. We were a full van for this tour. We visited 4 vineyards (Zevenwacht in Stellenbosch, DuToitskloof and Rickety Bridge in Franschoek and Laborie in Paarl) and had four tastings at each of the first three; five tastings at the final visit. Interspersed were cheese tastings and I also split a bottle of a local varietal called Pinotage with a South African couple. With that wine I had for my lunch bobotie (be-BOT-ee); a Malaysian influenced dish of beans, cheese and spices. It wasn’t too spicy and tasted great. The wine was terrific. I’m told they are trying to grow it in Sonoma. I hope they succeed. The day was another beautiful one with perfect weather, but all the wine took its toll. We were much quieter on the ride home and I didn’t have the energy to do anything after I got back to the hotel. I ordered an appetizer and a dessert for my dinner and then called it a night. I slept like a baby. Photos from this day are posted here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/df38aa718udeqr0/ocu9W3E5-N