City escapes 90 minutes from Cape Town: go wild in Worcester

We went to Worcester to find the forgotten and incomplete Trappe van vergelyking (degrees of comparison) in Afrikaans that goes: “Woes, Worcester, ____?” (Wild, Worcester, _____?).

We expected a wild time (or should I say woes?) and although things got rowdy, we also found a side of Worcester that showed off its caring spirit, sophistication and ingenuity.

Ingenuity

Glassblowing

Situated outside The Barn cafe, is a glass-blowing studio, casting a constant hue over the courtyard.

In a restored 1789 wine cellar are a gallery and cafe. The Barn coffee shop is a great brunch stop to have a coffee but situated behind the restaurant is the studio of a world-renowned glassblower, David Reade.

Lorna and David Reade are two artists who decided to make Worcester their home, building their studio in 1986 and opening The Barn in 1992. Both fully invested in the town – Lorna was central to halting a massive mall being constructed in a historical square of the town.

There is a constant hue from the back of the cafe, where the buzz of the studio and glassblowers create beautiful pieces, as well as free entertainment and informative sessions while you enjoy your lunch.

Sophistication

Wining

Queen Elizabeth visited Leipzig Wine Cellar during her grand tour in 1947, and is said to have enjoyed the Leipzig white (left). Leipzig still produces this white wine, which was served during her platinum jubilee in 2022.

The greater Breede Valley region is shaking off its old connotation of being a bulk wine producer, which is a gross discredit to the region.

Leipzig Wine Cellar, for example, was visited by Queen Elizabeth during her grand tour in 1947, having savoured the Leipzig White. We were told that it was even served at her recent Platinum Jubilee.

Good enough for royalty,  good enough for me and my wild (woes) compatriots. In the same Nuy Valley is Nuy Wine Cellar, with an extensive range of quality wines. But a special bottle of their Barbieri Idro Red Muscadel, named after an Italian prisoner of war who worked on the farm in the 1940s, and died after a vat of muscadel destined for the UK rolled over him.

A bottle of this muscadel now sits in the Italian prisoner of the war museum in Italy, a testament to the region’s quality wines that the Worcester region has been producing for generations.

Dining

I dined at Fowlers Grill on Church Street during my first night, a bistro-style steakhouse with delicious burgers, wood-fired pizza, pasta and, uhm, steak.

Worcester’s Church Street is an idyllic road to roam for a stroll after dinner from Fowler’s, especially if you’ve checked into one of the many great guest houses nearby.

Further afield, Saggy Stone Brewery short distance outside of town, with live music, pizza and beers, of course. Gone are the days of just driving through Worcester and only stopping at the 1stop for Wimpy chips – Worcester is, and has been, a destination in its own right.

Fine foods

What’s the point of trying great food and wine when you can’t enjoy them at home? Pure Boland Market takes place on the first Saturday of every month, showcasing the great deli products that come from this region.

Getting there early gives you time to peruse the surrounding stalls before the crowd mosey on in and the live music starts.

From fresh veggies, honey, balsamic vinegar, olive oils, fudge and cured sausages to name a few – you can sample some delectable treats. There’s even a “Worcester Sauce” – yes, Worcester sauce (I wide range if I may add) straight out of Worcester.

With home shopping out of the way, you can indulge in some of the meals, such as vetkoek, quiche and even jaffle sandwiches.

Caring spirit

Innovation for the blind

Unbeknownst to so many people, Worcester is known as the “Care Capital of South Africa” and is situated on Church Street in the centre of town Innovation for the Blind has cared for the visually impaired since 1881.

Also looking to empower the visually impaired, there is skill training and a cafe where Joseph, a blind barista, serves up a frothing good flat white (by appointment only). Persons with visual impairments are also running two shops, “Ons Winkel” and The Wool spot, selling products made by those with visual impairments

We didn’t find the answer to the missing degree of comparison, maybe because the town is incomparable? But I’ll keep coming back to find out

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