While many Hollywood hot shots are slaving away on film sets in the fairest Cape, veteran actor Robert Redford spent his first visit to South Africa relaxing and enjoying the local wines.
Redford, on holiday with his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, visited several top wine farms in Cape Town and Franschhoek over the past week.
The Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid actor was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people this year. Dubbed "the godfather of indie film" for starting the Sundance Film Festival, Redford owns vineyards in California's Napa Valley and a resort and restaurant in Utah.
Last weekend, he met millionaire businesswoman Wendy Appelbaum, co-owner of DeMorgenzon wine farm. The estate posted a picture of Redford on its Facebook page, saying he had enjoyed DeMorgenzon's "award-winning wines and South African hospitality."
Redford later visited Cape Point Vineyards in Noordhoek and so enjoyed the experience that he returned for a second visit. Estate owner Sybrand van der Spuy said Redford had visited for lunch and had especially enjoyed the Isliedh, an award-winning white blend named after Van der Spuy's granddaughter.
"He was very humble and down to earth and we are quite honoured that he came to visit," said Van der Spuy.
Redford scrawled a note in the visitors' book: "Calm elegance with good food and good wine. No hangover."
Meanwhile, the cast and crew of two films shooting in Cape Town were hard at work. Some of the cast of Sacha Baron Cohen's new movie, Grimsby, were seen filming in the Company Gardens earlier this week. Charlize Theron, in the city shooting her new project, The Last Face, celebrated her birthday on Thursday.
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