Eight Feet Village

Eight Feet Village sits at the top of Bothmanskloof Pass above Riebeek Kasteel, a hidden gem with unobstructed views stretching across the Riebeek Valley. The name comes from four brothers -- Pieter-Steph, Johan, Anton and Daniel Du Toit -- whose eight feet once dangled off the back of a bakkie as children, enjoying those same views while growing up on their family's Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate in the valley below.

The Du Toit brothers built Eight Feet Village as a lifestyle destination that brings together wine, coffee and food in a setting of dramatic natural beauty. About two kilometres uphill from the Kloovenburg tasting room, the village perches on the mountainside and catches the golden light and cool breezes of the Swartland. It is a place designed for lingering -- a morning coffee that drifts into a wine tasting that stretches into a long lunch.

The wine side of Eight Feet draws directly from the Kloovenburg cellars. The flagship Eight Feet Red is a Rhone-inspired blend of Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Carignan, with each component chosen to reflect the personality of one of the four brothers. The 2022 vintage runs roughly Shiraz 43 per cent, Grenache 25 per cent, Mourvedre 25 per cent, Carignan 8 per cent -- a medium-to-full-bodied wine with red berry perfume, dark fruit, black olive and spice, supported by soft, silky tannins. The Eight Feet White follows a similar Rhone logic with Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Roussanne and Verdelho.

Beyond the estate wines, Eight Feet Village serves as a showcase for the full Kloovenburg range, which includes Pinotage (the family's first wine, produced in 1997), Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, olive oils and olive-based products. Kloovenburg has earned recognition as a WWF Conservation Champion for its commitment to environmental stewardship in the Riebeek Valley.

The village houses two distinct restaurants. Mura offers a more refined dining experience, while Die Deck provides a relaxed outdoor atmosphere -- both serve food against the backdrop of those staggering valley views. Eight Feet also roasts its own coffee, making the village one of few wine destinations in the Western Cape that takes its coffee as seriously as its wine.

Eight Feet Village is a family affair in every sense. The brothers' parents, Pieter and Annalene du Toit, still run Kloovenburg, and the village extension represents the next generation putting their own stamp on the family legacy. Open most days of the week, the venue is especially popular for weekend brunches and long Saturday lunches that take full advantage of the panoramic setting.