Eight wacky wine pairings you have to try

July 20, 2012
by Ineke Coetzee
in Blogs, Things To Do
with 0 Comments
1369 views

Wine doesn’t mind being tasted alone, but the fact is sometimes wine can be shy and when paired with something bold, out-there or flamboyant its true personality comes out ‒ what can we say, wine loves being complemented.

If you are on the lookout for interesting wine pairing options then look no further, these pairings will have you begging for more.

1) Clos Malverne (Ice cream pairing)

Clos Malverne is nestled in the heart of the picturesque Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch and offers a delicious one-of-a-kind wine pairing, where they cleverly pair four unique homemade ice creams with a matching estate wine. Sweeeeeeeeet!

For just R55 you can taste their springtime pairings:

‒ Snow pea, mint and lime ice cream matched with Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc

‒ Gooseberry and macadamia nut ice cream matched with Clos Malverne Chardonnay

‒ Carrot cake ice cream is matched with Clos Malverne coffee-style Pinotage Le Café

‒ Lavender and honey ice cream matched with Clos Malverne Pinotage Reserve

The pairings are available from 1 September until the end of the November after which the summer pairings will follow. The pairings are only served from Tuesday to Saturday between 10h00 and 16h00. Pre-bookings are essential.

For more information or to book call the estate on (021) 865 2022 or visit the website.

2) Asara Wine Estate (Pizza pairing)

Who doesn’t like pizza? Asara Wine Estate and its Sansibar sure do and they are offering a pizza divided into four sections with a different topping on each quarter. Each quarter will have a unique topping that will pair perfectly with wines you choose from their wine list.

‒ The first ¼ will be battered fish

‒ The second ¼ will be salmon

‒ The third ¼ will be beef mince

‒ The fourth ¼ will be mushrooms

You are sure to find the perfect pairing for each topping. And the best part is you get to experiment with your own tastes. Sansibar welcomes walk-ins, but bigger groups should phone ahead and make a booking. The pizza costs only R85.

For more information visit Asara’s website or contact them on (021) 888-8000.

3) Creation Wines (Eclat de Chocolat pairing)

Chocolate and wine, “we go together like (add Grease song here)….” Creation Estate, in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, knows the weak spot of many and has thus incorporated a chocolate and wine pairing with an exceptional difference. Three of Creation’s wines have been paired with three chocolates:

‒ Creation Chardonnay

‒ Creation Merlot

‒ Creation Syrah-Granache

They have been paired with chocolates that are distinguished by their high cocoa content originating from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar and São Tomé. These chocolates are:

‒ Creation Passion

‒ Resonance

‒ Charisma

The chocolate and wine pairing costs R90 per person, but bookings should be placed at least 24h before the time.

For more information or to book phone (028) 212-1107 or visit their website here.

4) Eagle’s Nest (Soup pairing)

Eagle’s Nest in Constantia Valley has found a way to beat the cold this winter and they are doing this through their soup and wine pairings. The soups are made fresh daily and are supplied by Zoop! They are famous for their soup creations that are sold at the weekly Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay. The soup and wine pairings do change weekly, dependent on whatever hearty soups Zoop made with that weeks freshest seasonal ingredient. In the first week they offered:

‒ Mexican three bean soup with a glass of Verreaux 2009 for just R75

‒ Roasted tomato and basil soup with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc 2010 for R65

‒ Wine tasting and soup of your choice for just R75 (bowl of soup+tasting of six wines)

Bookings are essential, contact (021)794-4095 or visit the website.

5) Fairview (Cheese pairing)

Fairview has become well known for their delicious artisan cheeses and this article would not be complete without adding a cheese pairing to it. They boast with over 35 wines and 25 artisanal cheeses and the pairings are presented seven days a week.

At the main tasting room:

‒ Tasting pods have been set up creating a more welcoming and less rigid environment

‒ The tasting pods offer tastings of six different wines with dedicated hosts

‒ The tasting includes a selection of 6 to 8 of Fairview’s Jersey milk and goats’ milk cheeses

‒ These are tasted at a separate pod; allowing tasters to enjoy their wine selection and then move across to the cheeses as they seek out good pairings or their particular favourites.

Standard tasting costs R25 per person‒ includes 6 wines and a selection of cheeses.

For more information contact (021) 863 2450 or visit the website here.

6) Stellenbosch Hills (Biltong and Droëwors pairing)

Biltong and droëwors is a “lekker” snack known amongst all South Africans. Stellenbosch Hills clearly made a logical match when they decided, in 2006, to pair it with their fine wines. For only R40 per person you can taste six of Stellenbosch Hills wines perfectly paired with a biltong and droëwors selection.

You can look forward to:

‒ Springbok Biltong matched with Stellenbosch Hills 1707 Reserve White

‒ Moist Beef Biltong matched with Stellenbosch Hills Polkadraai Pinotage/Merlot

‒ Ostrich Droëwors matched with Stellenbosch Hills Merlot

‒ Smoked Beef Biltong matched with Stellenbosch Hills Shiraz

‒ Kudu Droëwors matched with Stellenbosch Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

‒ Traditional Beef Droëwors matched with Stellenbosch Hills 1707 Reserve Red

Booking is advisable and you can contact them on (021) 881-3828 or visit their website here.

7) Plaisir de Merle (Fudge and Flavour Sensation pairing)

Plaisir de Merle in Paarl offers a bucket full of interesting pairings for clients. Their first pairing is the Flavour Sensation that costs R50 per person and consists of:

‒ Their Sauvignon Blanc matched with sundried tomatoes

‒ Their Chardonnay matched with cashew nuts

‒ Their Merlot matched with frozen berries

‒ Their Cabernet Sauvignon matched with fruit cake

‒ Their Shiraz matched with biltong

‒ Their Grand Plaisir matched with delicious confectionaries

The second pairing is geared more towards your sweet tooth and costs R50 per person:

‒ Pairing their award-winning red wines with a selection of delicious fudges

For more info contact them on (021) 874-1071 or visit their website here.

8) Die Bergkelder, (Salt, food and wine pairing)

Salt aficionado Craig Cormack has taken salt tasting to an all-time high. Craig says “Salt is both good and bad for wine – it can improve or destroy wine”. With this notion in mind, it is only fair to assume that Craig has created some dream worthy pairings that improve both the wine and the meal (salt). Enjoy this experience at Die Bergkelder, also known as the Cellar in the Mountain, located in Stellenbosch.

- Dinners take on a historic and informative structure

- Arrive to canapés and wine

- Sit down to a four course tasting menu paired with Fleur du Cap wine

- Craig uses his personal salt collection when making these dinners

At just R400 per person, this promises to be a unique and special evening out. To book contact Nadia Ferreira on (021) 809-7728.

Ineke Coetzee

My name is Ineke Coetzee and I’m studying for a degree in film and media while also doing a radio production course. I am a born and bred Capetonian and love this place, the people and the sights with all my heart. I am a lover of all sorts: burgers, white wine, hiking, animals, family, friends, sports, summer holidays and media related things. I haven’t been overseas YET, but would love to go to Madagascar, Greece, Switzerland, California, New York, Ibiza and and and….For now, I’m staying in the best place in the world but waiting in anticipation for my overseas trip to make its arrival…