Olive country: something you will not find in every wine region

Many wine regions have a few olive trees for decoration. The Riebeek Valley has real olive farms, and they are part of everyday life here.

In the village you can taste olives and single-cultivar oils at Het Vlock Casteel on Kerk Street, and buy oils, table olives and olive skincare at the Olive Boutique across the road. Kloovenburg, at the entrance to the valley, presses well-regarded oil, and Goedgedacht off the R46 sells oil that supports its youth programme.

Every September the valley celebrates with the Swartland Olive Festival, a weekend of olives, wine, bread and cheese.

For guests at Huis Agt the practical result is simple: a bottle of fresh local oil, bread from the village bakery and a bowl of olives make one of the best and easiest meals you can have on the terrace.