[imagesource: Sean Gillies]

Fancy doing something a little different this winter?

Don’t worry, you’ll only have to travel to Altima Estate, near Villiersdorp, and yes, there will be wine involved.

Truffle season kicks off in mid-May, and runs through to the end of July each year, and now you can get in on the action.

Altima Estate has been cultivating Black Perigord truffles since 2009, and started harvesting truffles in 2019. Conditions are perfectly suited for the cultivation of the rare delicacy, and the year-round hard work of trufelau (truffle hunter) Hanene van Dyk and her Lagotto Romagnolo dogs is about to bear fruit.

The original dogs, Dick and Cara, were imported from Alba, Italy.

Here’s Hanene and her hounds in action, doing what they do best:

 

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You can now join Hanene in the hunt, as part of the Altima Truffle Experience.

This features a VIP tour and truffle hunting experience at Altima, followed by a four-course Truffle Lunch at the famous Terra del Capo Tasting Room on Anthonij Rupert Estate, Franschhoek.

Throughout the day, Hanene will offer insight into the cultivation and retrieval of Black Perigold truffles, along with meeting the dogs.

For those who are more interested in the fruits of the labour, rather than the labour itself, you can skip ahead to the four-course Truffle Lunch, where the wines and black truffles from the Altima Estate will be presented as part of a unique dining experience.

After your lunch, you can make a day of it and swing past the Franschhoek Motor Museum, before replenishing your wine supplies with some of the finest winter reds the valley has to offer.

All in all, a great day out and something different when it comes to a birthday treat or special surprise, for those who are tired of the usual shenanigans.

You can book the Altima Truffle Experience here, and the Truffle Lunch here.