Small winelands towns like Franschhoek may be considerably more popular in summer than in winter, but they should be no means be disqualified for a quick winter breakaway. Klein Oliphants Hoek Boutique Hotel offers visitors a comfy refuge no matter the weather.

An escape for all seasons

Lounge the afternoon away next to the roaring fireplace

During the heat of summer, sip cocktails next to their guest swimming pool (cocktails can be ordered from after 17:00 till closing). Or settle down with a good book on the shaded veranda overlooking the rose garden out back. In winter, huddle up on a couch around the fireplace. Or join a chocolate making class hosted in the kitchen down the passage. Stay in the Sundeck Jacuzzi Room and take full advantage of the facilities.

Elegant yet comfortable suites

The spacious and cosy Elephant Room

Stay in the Elephant Room, and enjoy views of your very own little private pool and sounds of the elephant fountain from your sunroom/lounge. This feeling of elegance extends throughout the guesthouse. Each of the eight rooms has their own story to tell, but shares the same colonial style.

Getting fired up in Franschhoek Valley

The garden is magical at night

Klien Oliphants Hoek is conveniently situated just off Main Road, and a stroll through their rose garden will land you right in front of well-known Reuben’s Restaurant (021 876 3772). Looking to try something a little more casual? Turn left to find Kalfi’s (021 876 2520) right next door. They serve some Cape Malay dishes that’ll warm you right up.

Warm up on hospitality

Enjoy a couple of drinks in the cigar bar.

Or stay in and enjoy the hotel facilities. Breakfast is served between 8:30 and 10:00. Lounge around and enjoy the free wifi, library or play a little chess. And there’s a small bar area where coffee, cigars and drinks are served until late into the evening.

Contact Klein Olifants Hoek Boutique Hotel | Franschhoek
Phone: (021) 876-2566
Web: www.kleinoliphantshoek.co.za
Email: info@kleinoliphantshoek.co.za

If Viognier were a person, she would be my best friend’s sister.  Blonde, curvaceous and with an air of beguiling perfume about her.  An easy mixer in social circles. Once in a relationship with her, you’re in it for the long haul.  But she’s not my best friend’s sister, she’s a grape!

Where the more delicate Chenins, Colombars and Sauvignons are spring and summer outdoorsy wines, Viognier has a bit more guts and slips down very easily in the cooler Autumn months and even when there’s a fire in the hearth.

Viogniers origins

Vineyards in the Rhône Valley, France

Image from Flickr profile Roger4336

Viognier is one of those classical Rhône whites that had somewhat of a previously disadvantaged background. For centuries it was grown on the poor soil slopes of the Northern Rhône, producing few bunches per vines and almost fading away out of existence. Until about three quarters of the way through the 20^th century, when the French realized that they had a good thing going with Condrieu (a wine made by Chateau Grillet) and the nurserymen started doing something about it. The variety spread worldwide and now it’s found in Provence, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and California.

South African Viognier

And eventually it made its way to South Africa – more particularly to the vineyards of the great pioneer and vinous performer, Charles Back of Fairview, where the grape was planted in 1993.  Four years later Fairview produced the first single variety Viognier.  Charles and a growing number of other producers have never looked back.

Charles Back, ‘godfather’ of South African Viognier

So what do we look for in a Viognier?

The grapes are citrine colour, and as colour usually means flavour and sugar the resulting wines have guts and a healthy component of alcohol to boot.

As a finished product is has a healthy rich golden colour in the glass. The grapes themselves are highly perfumed with aromas of white tropical flowers and orange blossom, you’ll find whiffs of these as you bring the glass to your nose.  Take your first mouthful – and do make it a mouthful not a little sip – slosh it around, wash it over your teeth and you won’t have to search too hard to find those delicious soft sundried apricots, ripe white fleshed peaches and the

fullness of a ripe winter melon. Some examples may have a fair share of spice too.

Viognier is best drunk young while its aromas still whirl about the top of the glass and while there is still a spark of freshness and limesquirt to it.

Viognier in blends

Wolftrap White: a blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc and Viognier

Viognier, being so aromatic, at times finds its way into Shiraz.  Zonnebloem does a great blend of Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Viognier, the latter showing its presence quite markedly.  Marc Kent of Boekenhoutskloof blends Viognier with Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc, gives it a brushing of oak and presents his Wolftrap White, a wine which over delivers in every possible way without your having to re-mortgage your home. He even puts a dollop of Viognier in the Wolftrap Red together with its old friends Shiraz and Mourvèdre, again a great drop at a great price.

Words by Michael Olivier.

More on Viognier:

Top 10 Viogniers for autumn

5 dishes to pair with Viognier

Autumn is the perfect season for Viognier, offering comforting aromas of white tropical flowers and orange blossom and a rich palate of soft sundried apricots, ripe white fleshed peaches and the fullness of a ripe winter melon. Michael Oliver, a prominent South African wine writer, has a certain ‘weakness’ for the variety and finds himself pairing meals with it more frequently. Here’s his list of 5 dishes to pair with Viognier.

1.Barbecued Yellowtail

Barbecued Yellowtail, a game fish full flavoured, marinated briefly in lime, ginger, garlic, chili and a sprinkle of garam masala. Paint with sunflower oil and show it to hot coals till almost done, it will continue cooking on its way to the plate.

2. Chicken Biryani

A gently spiced yet flavour packed Indian dish of chicken and rice

3. Creamy Mussels

Mussels cooked in Cider with lashings of parsley and cream

4.Duck Confit

Confit leg of Duck, roasted and served with a fruity sauce dotted with whole dried apricots.

5. Mushroom risotto

With porcini popping up all over our forests, a creamy mushroom risotto would match Viognier perfectly.  I cut the stalks into matchsticks and toss them in butter and use them as a garnish.

More on Viognier:

Top 10 Viogniers for autumn

Viognier: South Africa’s best-kept secret

Finding a hearty white wine to drink during the colder months is easier than you’d expect! These 10 Viogniers are great examples of what to try when the fires start roaring.

1. Creation Viognier 2013 | R92

Bright and shiny, masses of fruit and oh those peaches!  Minerals abound, long waning aftertaste.

Contact Creation Wines: tel (028) 212-1107, email info@creationwines.com, web www.creationwines.com

2. De Grendel Viognier 2012 | R75

Apricots, soft sun-dried peaches and ripe pineapple and a buttery undertow from the oaking.  Crisp and dry.

Contact De Grendel Wines: tel (021) 558-6280, email info@degrendel.co.za, web www.degrendel.co.za

3. Eagles’ Nest Viognier 2012 | R145

Stunning ripe stone fruit with white flowers.  Rich mouthful with an undertow of oak and its concomitant spices.  Velvet stuff and a satisfying long slowly abating aftertaste.

Contact Eagles’ Nest: tel (021) 794-4095, email info@eaglesnestwines.com, web www.eaglesnestwines.com

4. Fairview Viognier 2012 | R70

The first Viognier on the South African market. Oldest vines possibly showing all the positive attributes one expects.  Notes of ripe sliced pears, ripe white-fleshed peaches, white flowers and the delicious undertow of oak spice.  Sappy full palate, beautifully put together with a long aftertaste that takes for ever to ride off into the sunset.

Contact Fairview: tel (021) 863-2450, email info@fairview.co.za, web www.fairview.co.za

5. Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Viognier 2011 | R95

International-awards cupboard rattling with medals.  This is a deliciously creamy Viognier, just packed with ripe firm fleshed fruit.  By not filtering the flavours are stronger.  An excellent glass, intense peach pip flavours and a zesty dry after-flavour.

Contact Fleur du Cap: tel (021) 809-8025, email info@fleurducap.co.za, web www.fleurducap.co.za

6. Kanu Viognier 2012 | R120

Fermented in previous fill barrels, it has the stone fruit one looks for in a Viognier with the welcome addition of citrus peel, delicate rose petal but still offers a big bang of flavour with a dab of residual sugar and brilliantly applied oak.  Crisp zesty long flavours.

Contact Kanu Private Cellar & Vineyards: tel (021) 865-2488, email info@kanu.co.za, web www.kanu.co.za

7. La Bri Viognier 2011 | R105

If I were to commit to a favourite, this might well be it.  Granny Smith apples, marzipan and guava rolls and to drink it on the La Bri balcony with winemaker Irene Waller makes for a special memory.

Contact La Bri Estate: tel (021) 876-2593, email info@labri.co.za, web www.labri.co.za

8. Painted Wolf ‘Penny’ Viognier 2011 | R120

Great balance of exotic Eastern stuff, limes, mango, white fleshed peach, oak spice.  Single vineyard wine made only in small quantities.

Contact Painted Wolf Wines: tel (021) 863 – 2492, email sales@paintedwolfwines.com, web www.paintedwolfwines.com

9. Tamboerskloof Viognier 2012 | R92

Gerard and Libby de Villiers’s enchanting white gold Viognier is a wave of flowers, lime flowers, white frangipani and showers of jasmine.  The flavours have the expected soft sundried peaches and apricots with a lovely long tangy limey ending.

Contact Tamboerskloof Wine – Kleinood Farm: tel (021) 880-2527, email admin@kleinood.com, web www.kleinood.com

10. The Foundry Viognier 2010 | R85

Chris Williams’s marigold coloured wine.  Apricots, as expected, abound, with spring blossoms and creamy dreamy citrus.  Sappy fruited, flinty, exotic drop with a long mineral aftertaste.

Contact The Foundry: tel 082-972-1360, email thefoundry@mweb.co.za, web www.thefoundry.co.za

Words by Michael Olivier.

*Prices quoted are cellar door.

More on Viognier:

5 dishes that pair superbly with Viognier

Viognier: South Africa’s best-kept secret

The risotto serves 6.

You’ll need:

• 500 g arborio (risotto) rice
• 500 g mushrooms (preferably brown, portabellini or chestnut, but white button mushrooms are fine), chopped into chunks
• 150 ml dry white wine
• 125 g parmesan, grated
• One small onion, finely chopped
• 2 litres water
• 80 ml vegetable stock granules
• A handful of Italian parsley (optional)
• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar (optional)

Heat the water, stock and white wine in a covered pot until boiling vigorously. If you have space for two pots on your campfire, keep the stock on a low heat while cooking the risotto. If space is tight, remove the stock from the fire when it’s boiling and put on the other pot, in which you fry the onion in a generous glug of olive oil on a low heat until golden. Add the mushrooms and cook for a few minutes before adding the rice for a minute or two, stirring continuously so the rice doesn’t stick. Add a cup of stock, stir well and put the lid on. Once the liquid is absorbed, add another cup, stir well and return the lid. Keep doing this until the rice is cooked (no longer crunchy but has a slight bite) – this will take about 30 minutes. Mix in the grated Parmesan and parsley, and serve with a drizzle of balsamic.

Tip:
If you can’t take fresh mushrooms with, use dried ones. Soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes before adding them when you’ve started pouring in the stock (don’t fry).

Originally posted on blog.getaway.co.za

CEO of La Motte Wine Estate, Hein Koegelenberg, shares his thoughts on wine tourism in South Africa after winning in the sustainability category for the Best of Wine Tourism Awards. 

Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of La Motte Wine Estate

On 9 May this year, the Great Wine Capitals of the World hosted a Best of Wine Tourism event at La Motte Wine Estate in Franschhoek.

Thinking about this made me realise that Wine Tourism in South Africa has to be a group effort. Of course all wineries do not have the same focus or strengths, but that does not mean that they cannot have an exceptional offering for visitors – whether it is a personal wine tasting around a kitchen table or a conducted tour through a state-of-the-art facility.

In fact, having a diverse offering benefits the whole industry and visitors can find something to their liking whether they are adventurous and enjoy horse-back riding or are more culturally inclined and enjoy spending their time browsing an art gallery.

And even though horse-back riding and art galleries might not have anything to do with wine, in South Africa we have managed to incorporate a variety of elements into our Wine Tourism offering. Brands have developed their passions and associations and are sharing these with their visitors.

Celebrated food and wine writer, Fiona Beckett had the following to say after visiting the Cape Winelands in April: “South African wine farms have astutely realised – as not every wine producing countries have – that wine should be just part of the visitor experience. That you can build a much broader audience for your brand by creating an experience around food, art and gardens, not just by offering them a tasting. That way you reach the uncommitted not just the converted.”

And while the focus is on stimulating wine sales, it is also on creating a wider avenue of income that will not only benefit the specific company but the community as a whole. The Winelands can definitely contribute some positive energy to their communities. The culture of food and wine has an infectious energy and it offers many different job prospects for a variety of skill sets and training levels.

Wine Tourism offers the opportunity of education and training in a field much wider than the production of wine. This results in more jobs, better salaries and a sense of self-worth for workers and will also enhance the tourism experience. Positive publicity around the wine tourism offering will eventually lead to an increase in tourism figures – something that is good for the specific estate, the Winelands, the bigger Cape Town area and for South African tourism in general. The part wine tourism plays in contributing to the economy and supporting development cannot be underestimated.

In November last year, my blog Wine Tourism – Entertain, Educate and Employ, was inspired by the Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk saying “The wine industry is actually about tourism.”

Wine Tourism might be a buzzword, but it has a very important role. It is responsible for enthusing tourists about South Africa, it is responsible for uplifting communities, it is responsible for contributing to the economy and with its beautiful scenery and focus on food and wine, it is responsible for bringing some joy to both its visitors and personnel. Not many industries can say that.

Follow this topic on Twitter: #BOWT2013 and  #winetourism

Entries are open for first round of The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award 2013 and candidates are urged to enter soon as entries close on the 31 May 2013.

The high standards attained by previous winners, Wayve Kolevsohn in 2012 (Sommelier at The Roundhouse at the time and currently Sommelier at The Test Kitchen) and Joakim Hansi Blackadder in 2011 (Sommelier at The Roundhouse at the time and now at Rust en Vrede), have set the benchmark for aspirant sommeliers. As with the 2011 and 2012 competitions, the winner of the 2013 competition will be announced in November 2013 and will win a trip to France including a trip to the prestigious House of Champagne Bollinger. Wayve Kolevsohn is presently in Champagne enjoying her prize and celebrating her victory, no doubt with a glass or two of Champagne Bollinger.

Wayve Kolevsohn presenting red wines for the 2012 competition

This annual competition, which is aimed at enhancing and recognising the calibre of local sommeliers and wine service staff, was launched in 2011 and proved to be a resounding success.

Ginette de Fleuriot, Marketing Manager at Vinimark The Wine Company and organiser of The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award anticipates more entries this year, “We look forward to an increased number of entrants for The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award 2013 and to wider representation from all of South Africa’s premier tourist regions.”

Champagne Bollinger is proud to be the main sponsor of the prestigious The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award. The competition is a joint initiative between Vinimark The Wine Company (importer of Champagne Bollinger and South Africa’s largest independent specialist wine wholesaling company) and The Reciprocal Wine Trading Company, importers and distributors of Riedel Glassware.

Ginette de Fleuriot comments further, “This industry-wide initiative was established to advance the interests of all of the country’s fine wine producers, as well as those who make their living from the sale of wine in hotels, restaurants and wine bars. The sponsors and organisers trust that this competition will continue to act as a catalyst for the hospitality industry to expand training facilities and support local sommeliers and sommeliers-in-training, in the interests of all those who enjoy dining out.”

Neil Grant, Chairperson of the South African Sommelier Association (SASA), states: “Wine service has a poor history in South Africa and only with incentives such as these will we find an improvement within the industry. Chefs in South Africa over the past 10 years have proven how good they are and now wine stewards/sommeliers need to be part of this movement so we can challenge the international markets.” SASA has committed to mentoring the winning candidates to further assist in guaranteeing continued professional wine service of an international standard.

The competition entry criteria are:

• Those currently employed in the service of food and wine and with a history of a minimum of three years of such service.
• Contestants are required to have substantial knowledge of the local wine scene and of the professional service of both food and wine.
• An adequate knowledge of international wine appellations and styles of wine is also a prerequisite.
• More importantly, however, the contest examines the ability of those selling wine in the hospitality industry to relate what is produced in South Africa to the expectations of international visitors more familiar with the major wine producing regions of the world.

Competition dateline

First round: registration forms and the completed question paper are to be submitted no later than 31 May 2013.

Second round: The second round will take place in August 2013 at venues to be announced.

Final round: finalists will compete in Cape Town in October 2013 at a venue to be announced.

Competition winner announcement: The winner of The Bollinger Wine Service of Excellence Award will be announced in November 2013.

Judges

Judges at all rounds of the competition will include internationally trained sommeliers; Cape Wine Masters; and members of the hospitality trade.

To enter

Go to: www.wineserviceaward.co.za

Contact information

Ginette de Fleuriot

Vinimark Head Office

Email: ginette@vinimark.co.za

Tel: (021) 886-9165

or

Michael Crossley

Reciprocal Wines & Riedel Glassware

Email: crossley@reciprocal.co.za

Tel: (011) 482-9178

La Mouette is doing a six-course autumn tasting menu, and it was time to figure out what all the fuss was about. I’d heard a lot about this French restaurant in Sea Point (and its cheese croquettes) and, as it turns out, it’s completely worth the hype.

1.  Sweet potato and harissa soup, with lavoche and truffled cheese croquettes (Môreson ‘Miss Molly’ MCC)

Miss Molly and I are already firm friends, and her crisp appley flavours are always welcome at my table.

The soup was great, but once I’d tried a croquette, suddenly nothing else mattered. A crunchy coating gave way to warm, melting, smoky filling, and my senses of sight and hearing grew dim. I’d have been perfectly happy with a bowl of them alone. I’m not known for my stomach capacity however, and decided to exercise some restraint so I’d be able to finish the meal. This was one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made. I still think about that poor abandoned croquette all the time.

Recommendation: Eat every one of the croquettes. Ask for more. Be ruthless.

2. Butternut and fontina ravioli,  butternut purée, pickled apple, sage noisette (Alvi’s Drift Viognier 2011)

The pickled apple added a nice crunch-and-punch to the buttery noisette and soft ravioli. We were only just getting to know each other and then it was suddenly finished. Luckily, the wine was still there: this might have been the first pure Viognier I’ve ever tasted (as opposed to a blend) and its buttery-fruity flavour has made me an instant convert.

3. Pan fried line fish with fricassee of gnocchi, carrot emulsion, capers, aubergine puree, braised beef croquette (Villiera Merlot 2010)

or Beetroot tartare with smoked goats cheese, hazelnuts, and toast (Vondeling Petit Blanc [Chenin/Viognier/Chardonnay] 2012) 

Between these two, I have to recommend the line fish. The fish itself wasn’t the best I’ve ever tasted, but the sides! Oh, lord, the sides were heavenly. I could have been satisfied with the gnocchi and aubergine puree on its own. The red wine paired here was unexpected, but the smoky flavours in the fricasee could withstand it.

4. Roasted chicken with caramelised onions, wilted spinach, mash potato, thyme jus  (Journey’s End ‘The Haystack’ Chardonnay 2011)

or Mushroom risotto  with parmesan foam, mushroom ‘caviar’ and crispy mushrooms (Tokara Shiraz 2010)

I have been subjected to so many boring mushroom risottos that I thought I’d never touch one again (thanks, years of vegetarianism). This was utterly different though: the different textures saved it from the awful baby-food mush that sometimes happens, and it had a deep, complex flavour that hinted at more than a spoonful of garlic and old wine. It was much better than the chicken, according to my dining partner. I mean, who hasn’t eaten roasted chicken before? The Shiraz was a little distracting here though: Spice! Fruit! Lots of fruity spice! I had to keep the wine and risotto separate, like naughty kids on a long roadtrip, because they kept interrupting each other.

5. Waldorf salad of gorgonzola, celeriac puree, green apple jelly, candied walnuts, grapes

Deconstructed Waldorf salad

Alright, confession time: I’m a bad foodie, because I’m very, very cautious about mixing sweet with savoury. I can just about manage watermelon with feta, but this deconstructed Waldorf salad pushed too many buttons for me. After tasting the merest slice of a green apple jelly cube, I was content to admire its colour against the slate it was served on, and it sat forlornly with the candied walnuts. The gorgonzola, however, was excellent, and there was a nice generous hunk of it.

6. Chocolate orange: chocolate ganache, orange sorbet, almond finaciers, orange puree (Delheim ‘Spatzendreck’ 2012)

The dessert: Chocolate Orange

This collection of colourful blobs looked like a crazed artist’s palette. I’ve never understood chocolate soil (so, crumbs from the bottom of the Romany Cream packet, then?) but the chocolate ganache was particularly impressive, standing up like a macro-image of a raindrop.  It played ever so beautifully with the cold, sour orange sorbet. By this point in the evening, however, my wine critic abilities were at an all-time low. My notes from the evening confirm that the Spatzendreck was “very, very nice indeed.” Clearly, what I meant was notes of apricot and orange peel.

This was my first outing to La Mouette, but it certainly won’t be my last. This menu will be on offer for the next two weeks, after which it will switch to a new winter menu. I’ll be the girl with the bowl of truffled cheese croquettes and a blissful expression.

La Mouette is in Sea Point, Cape Town.  The tasting menu alone is R185, and with wine pairings  you’ll pay R295 per person. It really is worth it to splash out for the wines too: some of the pairings were expected, some were surprising, but all were delicious. On second though, maybe the pairing is too expensive: you’ll want to invest in six bottles immediately afterwards!

Originally posted on blog.getaway.co.za by Kati Auld.

The latest Top 100 SA Wines reveals an impressive line-up of must-drink South African wines. Take a look at the winning wines on this page. You’ll want to be getting yourself a hard-cover version of the book to carry around with you. Luckily for you we’re giving away one this week.

WIN

Win a Top 100 SA Wines 2013 guide

HOW IT WORKS

We’re giving away one guide for each of the 3 national events. This week we’re accepting entries from the Western Cape only. Now’s your chance – don’t miss out.

Find out more about Cape Town event here, happening on Thursday 16 May.

Western Cape competition runs from 13 – 17 May.

Entries close 17 May @ 12pm.

ENTER

Email sasha.vanzyl@ramsaymedia.co.za with Top 100 SA Wines in the subject line, your contact number and the answer to the following easy question:

Q: of the Top 100 SA Wines for 2013, which is your favourite?

Psst. A full list of winners can be found here.

Everyone loves a Top 100 list: they’re just so usable and accessible. The team at Top 100 SA Wines have created a wine competition that promotes South Africa’s 100 highest achieving wines as scored by a panel of local and international judges, packaged in a user-friendly hard-cover book.

Judging chairman Tim Atkins believes whole-heartedly in the initiative, saying ‘Top 100 has established itself as a permanent part of the Cape wine scene in the space of only three years. I am proud of what the event has achieved in terms of organisation, recognition and, of course, the quality of the wines. This year’s selection is the best yet.’

About the 2013 competition

Entries were up by 15% on last year, with a total of 440 of SA’s top wines entered.

Winning wines included three Cap Classique wines, four Natural Sweet wines, five Port Style and Fortified wines, twenty seven White wines and sixty one Red wines.

View the Top 100 SA Wines for 2013

Comments from winemakers and industry leaders

David Nieuwoudt from renowned Cederberg Private Cellar shares: ‘With five winning wines this year, the quality of our vineyard sites, our focused and committed team and our viticulture practices speak for themselves. We are delighted at the consistency with which our wines are regarded by such renowned international judges. The powerful Top 100 SA Wines brand, its digital strategy and ever growing multi country footprint suits our success at effective distribution, as well as our on-going growth ambitions.’

Paul Cluver, MD of Paul Cluver Vineyards offered: ‘We are humbled by this wonderful achievement. It is great recognition for the hard work of the Cluver team who is passionate and dedicated to produce the best possible wine from this amazing property in Elgin. Congratulations to our fellow wine producers who have also done so well.’

Dewaldt Heyns from acclaimed Saronsberg comments: ‘It is an honour to be associated with Top 100 SA Wines. With four winning wines we are ecstatic that Saronsberg’s wines have been able to keep up their consistent performance. The judging methodology used and world class judges set this competition apart. The results are an endorsement of the quality that South African wines offer the consumer as expressed in a multitude of terroir variations and wine styles.’

Boela Gerber from renowned Groot Constantia’s was pleased: ‘I’m usually quite sceptical about wine competitions and the whole concept of wine judging. The Top 100 wine team has gone to extremes to limit any flaws, with arguably one of the best possible panels of judges consisting mainly of UK Masters of Wine, headed by renowned Tim Atkin. Pithy methodology and attention to detail including serving temperature, decanting of wine and tasting all the wines at least twice, ensure that the result is a true reflection of the top 100 SA wines. Taking the above into account, the fact that entry levels are increasing and therefore becoming a top 100 winner is getting tougher every year, we are extremely proud to have four wines selected for the Top 100 list this year.’

Fairview owner Charles Back says: ‘As with many other winemakers, we usually shoot down competitions other than those we do well at. So I was delighted to enter The Top 100 SA Wine Challenge with its international panel – I have always valued Tim Atkins’ opinion. Our success at this and other recent competitions are evidence of our continued investment in new vineyard sites, innovation and our people. We always feel that we can do better and are constantly striving to improve our wines.’

Higgo Jacobs, tasting director, reflects: ‘We remain steadfast in our aim to set the standard for tasting protocol and ultimate respect for entries. Once again all wines were decanted this year, with a decanted and recently opened pouring of each entry presented to judges for evaluation. Although having received record entries, the highest in the three years of the challenge, this year ran very smoothly. There were higher average scores across all categories. We had the most unusual result where a perfect 100 wines received panel scores above cut-off. This is unlikely to happen again soon!’

Contact Top 100 SA Wines

Tel: (021) 787-9880

Email: info@top100sawines.com

Web: www.top100sawines.com

Find out about the Top 100 SA Wines parties in Jozi, Cape Town and Durbs this May, where you can taste the Top 100 SA Wines in style! Follow this link for all the information you need about this event.

Raise a glass to all Moms this Mother’s Day.

Raise a glass to your Mom in style this Mother’s Day at one of these wine estates. Mother’s Day is just around the corner (Sunday 12th May) and you will need to book, so don’t delay!

Chez Shiraz at Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate
Treat Mom to a sumptuous lunch on this golf and wine estate at the newly refurbished Chez Shiraz restaurant. After a welcome drink enjoy a three-course buffet-style meal from soups and seafood to slow-roasted beef and vegetarian dishes. Don’t forget to leave room for decadent desserts! R215 per person for adults, R85 per kid between five and 15 years and free for littlies under five. Tel (021) 888-4736 or email brigitte@devonvale.co.za.

Bodega Restaurant at Dornier Wine Estate
Bodega is serving up a decadent set menu including trout salad and Karan steak, ending with dessert, coffee and truffles. R280 per person or R360 per person with wine. Their à la carte menu is also available on the day. Tel (021) 880-0557 or visit www.dornier.co.za.

Bodega Restaurant at Dornier Wine Estate.

Cuvée Restaurant at Simonsig
Head Chef Lucas Carstens has cooked up an assortment of indulgences for Cuvee’s Mother’s Day menu for the whole family to tuck into. A potato and leek soup with bacon toast starter will be followed by a rich mussel risotto with a Chardonnay and saffron cream. A delicious beetroot sorbet with buttermilk and orange will clean the palate before a juicy beef sirloin with wild spinach, sweet onion and tomato relish arrives at the table. To end the afternoon classic apple pie will be served with delicious vanilla bean ice-cream. All Moms will receive a voucher for a pamper session of their choice at Linda van Niekerk Skin Care Clinic. R295 per person, including wine for three of the courses. Tel (021) 888-4932 or email cuvee@simonsig.co.za.

The Eatery at Durbanville Hills Wines
With the spectacular Table Mountain and Table Bay as back-drop, raise a toast to mom over lunch with a complimentary glass of Durbanville Hills Merlot Rosé and chocolates. A buffet with herb roasted leg of lamb, roasted garlic-and-thyme chicken, flash-fried seasonal vegetables and rustic potato wedges will be served along with a selection of sweet treats. R169 per person and R80 for the kiddies menu. Tel (021) 558-1337 or email info@dheatery.co.za.

The Eatery at Durbanville Hills Wines.

Glen Carlou Wine Cellar
Relax with Mom and enjoy a glass of wine under the high wooden beams of the tasting arena or take in the panoramic view over vineyards and Simonsberg Mountain from the terrace. They are offering a sumptuous 3-course set menu for R320 per person, which includes a glass of Glen Carlou wine as well as a gift for Mom. There is also a kiddies set menu (under 13’s) for R120 per person. Tel (021) 875-5528 or email restaurant@glencarlou.co.za.

Ke-Monate Wine Bar and Bistro at Signal Gun Wines
The Bistro at Signal Gun Wines is all about eating great food and enjoying a selection of superb wines from the Durbanville Wine Valley in a relaxed atmosphere. All Moms need time to relax, so treat her to a 3-course lunch at this restaurant on one of the oldest family-owned wine farms in Durbanville. There’s also a special menu for children. R160 per adult and R65 for children. Tel (021) 976-7343 or email info@ke-monate.co.za.

Simonsberg Café at Delvera
Take Mom out for the day to this agri-village with lots of little shops, arts and crafts, restaurants, kids activities & loads more. There will be a 3-course set menu with options for a starter, a main and a dessert. They have plenty to keep the kids entertained while Newton & Co entertain Mom and the rest of the family with live entertainment. R170 per person, including a welcome drink and entertainment. Tel 021-884-4353 or email simonsbergcafe@delvera.co.za.

Simonsberg Café at Delvera.

Slaley Wine Estate
This estate not only produces fine wine and olive oil, they are well known for hosting a variety of events and activities too. You are invited to bring your Mom along to join them in celebrating Mother’s Day with a 3-course lunch. R275 per person, including a free glass of wine for Mom. Tel (021) 865-2123 or book online at www.slaley.co.za.

Spier Wine Farm
Spier is serving up a delicious 3-course menu, paired with a glass of wine at each course. Chef Lolli also has a special homemade gift from her kitchen for each Mom. R200 per adult, R100 for 4-12 year olds. If you have the extra cash and want to really make Mom feel special, treat her to night at the Spier Hotel with a leisurely breakfast in the morning. From R1 150 per room per night. Phone (021) 809-1100 or email reservations@spier.co.za.

Warwick Wine Estate
Warwick has a well-deserved reputation for their Gourmet Picnics that are put together using the highest quality ingredients from local suppliers. Treat Mom to a picnic under the umbrellas on the lush lawn that is also a child-friendly area with a jungle gym to keep the little ones entertained. If you prefer, book a spot at one of their 8 picnic pods (with tables seating up to 12 people in shaded comfort) or grab a table under the trees in their forest courtyard. Their tapas menu will also be available on the day. The Autumn Gourmet Picnic Basket for two costs R299 per basket (vegetarian option available) and a Children’s Picnic Box costs R49. Tel 021-884-4410 or email info@warwickwine.com.

Have a gourmet picnic at Warwick Wine Estate.

We’ve been scouring supermarket shelves to bring you the best deals on red wines, so all that’s left for you to worry about is what you’d like to pair them with for dinner.

Woolworths

Paul Cluver Cabernet Franc Reserve 2010 | R79.95

Paul Cluver Cabernet Franc Reserve 2010

This is a Woollies exclusive from Elgin producer, Paul Cluver, and shows once again how long-term partnerships bring benefits to both sides. This wine was simply too good for winemaker Andries Burger to blend away, but he didn’t want to start marketing a whole new product. Enter Allan and Ivan from Woollies, always on the look-out for small parcels of different deliciousness and everyone’s happy. Especially me – one of my favourite varieties at an excellent price. Chewy blackcurrants with leafy lead pencils.

Simonsig Chenin Blanc/Pinotage 2012 | R49.95

Simonsig Chenin Blanc/Pinotage 2012

A proudly South African pink for winter! Actually, you’d be surprised at how well this manages to stand up to winter food – okay, maybe not lamb shanks, but certainly a nice warm chicken salad or bowl of veggie soup. It’s a blend of South Africa’s signature grapes made in a slightly off-dry style and without any additional wood by Johan Malan of Simonsig. Packed with strawberries and hints of ripe Brie, this is a good crowd-pleaser for an unexpected sunny winter braai – spatchcocked chicken, mmmm.

Pick ‘n Pay

Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon 5600 2012 | R47.99

Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon 5600 2012

This is a fairly new range for Nederburg and commemorates the 5,600 guilders paid by the original winemaster and owner of Nederburg, Philippus Wolvaart for the property in 1791. This range aims to be a little more upfront and funky, appealing to a slightly younger, trendier audience, hence the slick packaging, but as always, it’s the wine inside which has to appeal. And it does – a ripe style of Cabernet with lots of fleshy, juicy, berried fruit and hints of chocolate and mint. Try it with roast lamb or perhaps a rich game casserole.

Allesverloren Danie’s Backyard Blend 2011 | R49.99

Allesverloren Danie’s Backyard Blend 2011

I have to confess to having quite an old-fashioned opinion of Allesverloren wines – to be truthful, a bit of updating on the labels and image wouldn’t be out of place in my opinion. But look – it seems they have started because they’ve launched this fun label which refers to owner/winemaker Danie Malan’s choice of wine to drink at home. It’s a blend of Shiraz with Tinta Barocca and is really very toothsome indeed – chewy black plummy fruit with a nice backbone and good length. I really enjoyed this with a homemade Spag Bol and highly recommend the combination!

Place in the Sun Shiraz 2012 | R49.99

Place in the Sun Shiraz 2012

This is an excellent Fairtrade and empowerment initiative by Distell and commits to providing education and support for many of the workers who have worked on Distell’s contracted farms for several generations. Cellarmaster Deon Boshoff oversees the project and it’s close to his heart as he was a beneficiary of a similar scheme whilst growing up. This was my favourite of the range when I tasted them at the launch last year and punches above its price weight in my opinion. It’s a smoky, spicy, hammy, meaty wine which would go really well with a charcuterie plate or a pepperoni pizza.

Checkers

Oddbins Wooded Chenin Blanc Bin 125 2012 | R49.99

Oddbins Wooded Chenin Blanc Bin 125 2012

Coming from the UK, it seems strange to see the label ‘Oddbins’ and for a wine not to be sold at the coolest high street shops in town! But this is also the name of Checkers’ own label wines and the beauty of these labels is that it allows them to buy one-off parcels of wine at fantastic prices and not worry about necessarily creating a market or following because they just move onto the next bargain. This is one of note – Chenin pretty much always over-delivers on price anyway and this is a cracker with lots of pears and apricots underpinned by the merest kiss of oak.

Oddbins Merlot Bin 517 2012 | R39.99

Oddbins Merlot Bin 517 2012

Another secret stunner from Stephanus Eksteen at Checkers! Merlot has had a tricky ride in the past few years – thanks to ‘Sideways’- but it does seem to be coming out the other end as a stronger, wiser and smarter variety than before. Gone are the alcoholic jam days of yore and in their place comes wine like this – with more than a little poise and refinement, some elegant black berried fruit and a pleasing chocolate twist finish.

Aleramo Barbera d’Asti DOCG | R44.99

Aleramo Barbera d’Asti DOCG

The overseas wines just keep coming from Checkers. This is a variety that’s not terribly well-known in the Cape but it produces some of the finest wines in Northern Italy. Unlike the French, the Italians are generally quite helpful when it comes to labelling their wine so this is made from the Barbera grape and comes from the Asti region in Piedmont. DOCG means it’s top quality with all the restrictions of yield, site, production method and alcohol that that entails and the wine itself is delicious and fresh with red and black fruit, lively acidity and a long finish.

Tops at Spar

Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 | R66.66

Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

I tasted the previous vintage of this wine last year when to be honest, it didn’t massively impress, so it was nice to have my overall impressions of this venerable wine label confirmed by this new wine. I think Zonnebloem is on a steep upwards curve of quality – the Limited Editions range is looking very exciting – and since the prices remain reasonable, these are good, reliable weekday quaffers. This one has plenty of dark chocolate and spiced blackcurrants with firm tannins indicating that you should enjoy it with a good steak.

Jacobsdal Pinotage 2010 | R79.99

Jacobsdal Pinotage 2010

This is a unique estate producing unique wines. Now, I know that word gets over-used but when it comes to Jacobsdal, it’s actually the truth. Because they’ve never used any commercial yeast, ever, anywhere on the farm, researchers believe that a strain of natural yeast has developed spontaneously over the years, giving a flavour to the wines which is unlike any other. Their flagship wine is the Pinotage which they make in a soft and juicy style – but no choc-coff notes here, thank you very much! It’s classic sour cherries and leather and would go well with game.

Wine gadgets make wine drinking fun – and they’re useful too. We found 10 interesting and impressive gadgets, great additions to any wine-lover’s collection.

French Oak wine rack | R1995

Not only does this French Oak wine rack help keep wine for longer by storing it horizontally, it’s also makes storing wine look great. The curved staves of the French Oak barrel are super easy on the eye and this little piece takes up minimal space for the 24 bottles it can store.

Riedel Glasses | between R995 – R2200 for a set of 8

It’s amazing how the shape and quality of a glass can enhance the taste of a wine. In this case it’s a “taste to believe” scenario, but take our word for it this time. Reidel offers a range of stemmed or non-stemmed glasses for almost every type of wine. There’s nothing like a great set of wine glasses for entertaining either.

CorkPops wine bottle opener | R399

This CorkPops bottle opener is supposedly the quickest, easiest way to open a bottle of wine, and that can never be a bad thing. By forcing gas into the bottle, the pressure forces the cork up and out of the neck of the bottle. Simply insert the long needle through the cork and into the bottle, press the top and with a pop, your bottle is open. What’s not to love?

Le Creuset wine bottle pump stopper | R280

You can’t go wrong with Le Creuset. Their range of Wine Accessories incorporates sleek design, high performance engineering, and super durable materials. One of the most stylish gadgets in the range is the Black Nickel Wine Bottle Pump Stopper, as pictured here. It’s widely known that the best way to preserve wine is to ensure that as little oxygen as possible is allowed into contact with it. This wine pump extracts air from the bottle, allowing you to keep unused wine stored for up for 7 days to be enjoyed another day.

Jia Hulu red wine decanter | R1295

Modelled on the shape of the Chinese gourd, the Hulu Decanter is designed to maximise your home’s feng shui. It also decants and aerates wine fantastically and makes for a fantastic feature piece on any table. An all-round winner.

Eva Solo bag-in-box carafe  | R580

The name of this wine gadget caught our eye. It’s self-explanatory: take the bag out of your box wine and decant it into this stylish carafe. Today, quality wines are not exclusively sold in bottles, and boxed wine has found its way into many homes. This carafe makes presenting and pouring boxed-wine a pleasure.

Glass decanter cleaning balls | R165

Decanters come in weird and wonderful shapes, which can make cleaning them am art form of sorts. Well, never fear. These stainless steel decanter cleaning balls remove dirt residue, sediment and stains from the inside of the decanter. Just pour the balls inside, add a little water and swirl the decanter until the stains have been removed. Easy-peasy.

Champagne ice bucket (5L) | R395

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right”, Mark Twain was a man of wise words and we’d be foolish to disagree with this statement. One can never have too much Methode Cap Classique (the term for South African bubbly). As you know the only way to drink MCC is chilled to perfection. Transport and chill your wines in style with this robust Champagne bucket.

Adhoc Champ Champagne stopper | R215

This little tool will enable you to have a glass or two of bubbly, with the option to preserve the rest of the bottle for another day. The Adhoc Champ Champagne stopper ensures an air tight seal with its silicone seal and double locking mechanism. It folds away into a flat disk so its practical too.

Iceorb | R190

This multi-function Iceorb will be your new best friend. Not only does it make ice cubes (fast), it’s also a beverage cooler (pop your contents of choice into the bucket), or as an ice bucket (pop the ice blocks into the bucket).

For more wine gadgets visit YuppieChef.

These 10 easy DIY projects feature handy, usable items made from recycled bi-products of wine.  With Mother’s Day around the corner we thought we’d give you some gift ideas. Your mom will love receiving a handmade gift that she can use around the house, plus it’s a great excuse to drink more wine.

1. Cork heart

There’s nothing that says I love you like a good ol’ fashioned heart made from wine corks. Get creative with the colours you use, you may need to start drinking some hearty reds to get the hues you’re looking for.

How to make this cork heart, once you’ve got the corks.

2. Outdoor wine glass holder

This is one of the most useful DIY items we’ve come across. They only take a few minutes to make, are picture-pretty picnic items and will make your mom one very happy lady.

How to make this outdoor wine glass holder.

3. Wine bottle wall vase

Let tradition be your inspiration this Mother’s Day and give your mom some beautiful flowers, it never gets old. She’ll be blown away by the presentation and she’ll be able to keep her flowers in this handy vase for years to come.

How to make this wine bottle flower vase.

4. Personalised wine glasses

These look like so much fun and are really easy to make. All you need are wine glasses, some chalk paint and some chalk. Tip: don’t venture anywhere near the crystal cabinet. Rather try this out on wine glasses your mom won’t mind being damaged in any way. Once the paint has dried you can personalise each glass by leaving a special message or image on each glass to let your mom know how much you love her.

5. Chalked wine bottle vases

While you’ve got the chalk paint why not make mom a flower vase to match? These you’ll need to paint with a paintbrush. Paint a layer and let it dry – it may need a second coat. Once its properly dry you can take out the chalk and start decorating. Keep it simple, this seems to be the most effective when working on chalk paint.

 6. Wine box bookshelf

This retro bookshelf would be a handy addition to any household. Pop by your local winery and ask for a few spare wooden wine boxes (in South Africa these may not be as easy to come by, but they are around). Then the fun part – putting it together. It’s just like a puzzle, so play around to find the right fit.

How to make this wine box book shelf.

 7. Corkboard

What mom doesn’t need a place to pin important notes, letters and cards? This one’s pretty retro, but you can work with whatever you’ve got around the house.

How to make this corkboard.

8. Cork chandelier

Ok this one may take a bit more work. Reminiscent of those funny Australian hats, this is just way, way cooler!

How to make this cork chandelier.

9. Wine box herb garden

If your mom is the cook of the house, there’s almost nothing she’d appreciate as much as a fresh herb garden, and it’s simpler to make than you’d imagine.

How to make your own wine box herb garden.

10. Wine bottle bird feeder

We’re blessed with an abundance of wildlife in South Africa, with birds frequently visiting our homes. By making this for your mom to put in the garden, she’ll get to enjoy the birdlife as they stop over in your garden for a rest and some grub.

How to make this wine bottle bird feeder.

From manicures to facials and full-body massages, these seven wineland spas are offering an array of specials in celebration of Mother’s Day. Take advantage and treat your mom to a day of pampering.  We’ve included wine tasting and accommodation options, for those who’d like to make a day and night of it.

STELLENBOSCH

1. Mangwanani Spa

Enjoy views as far as the eye can see at Mangwanani Spa

Mangwanani Spa situated on Zevenwacht Wine Estate offers guests panoramic views of Table Mountain in the foreground and The Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the background, surrounded by vineyards at the same time.

Spoiling moms this Mother’s Day, all of the below specials include a Mangwanani Polar Fleece Gown, an exclusive Margaret Roberts Lavender product range and bouquet of roses.

Mum’s Ultimate Day Spa Experience | R2199 per person

Enjoy seven decadent treatments, a light breakfast and sumptuous lunch, limited complimentary bar accompanied by a sinfully decadent desserts plus Amarula and chocolate to round off your experience.

Mum’s Celestial Night Spa Experience | R1899 per person

Enjoy three decadent treatments, a sumptuous dinner, limited complimentary bar accompanied by a sinfully decadent desserts plus Amarula and chocolate to round off your experience.

Mum and Daughter High Tea Experience | R1999 for two people

Enjoy two treatments (Izimanga Full Body Massage with Hot Stone & Neo Maoto Royal African Foot Massage) together with hand-picked selection of our finest teas, freshly baked scones, pastries, quiches, cakes and finger sandwiches to match.*Package includes 1 hamper only.

Contact Mangwanani Spa

Phone: (021) 903-7427

Email: info@mangwanani.co.za

Web: www.mangwanani.co.za

Wine tasting

Wine tasting options include 5 wines for R30, 6 wines R50 and a Chocolate and Wine tasting (4 of each) for R65.

Tel: (021) 900-5700

Email: info@zevenwacht.co.za

Web: www.zevenwacht.co.za

Accommodation

Zevenwacht also offer affordable accommodation options, visit this link to find out about them.

2. Lanzerac Hotel and Spa

Relax in the jacuzzi or pool with a view of the vineyards and surrounding mountains

The Lanzerac Spa is a boutique Wellness Centre that captures the essence of the estate by blending pure relaxation with five star facilities. The Spa is nestled amongst the vineyards and boasts views of the wine estate and majestic Stellenbosch mountain range. Relax on either the indoor or outdoor loungers or in the heated jacuzzi, and admire the magnificent winelands scenery.

The below specials include a Chocolate Foot Mask and there will also be various special gift-packs available for purchase. Offers end 31 May 2013.

Nourishing facial and soothing back massage | R599 per person

This classic treatment is the perfect combination of practical and pampering. Walk out with glowing skin and a tension-free back.

A Theravine Face & Body Glow Experience | R890 per person

This treatment starts off with a face & body exfoliation to remove dead skin cells. Then relax while you receive a pampering face & body massage, awaken to a warm botanically infused compress.

Contact Lanzerac Hotel & Spa

Tel: (021) 883-9444

Email: reception@lanzeracspa.co.za

Web: www.lanzeracspa.co.za

Wine tasting

Lanzerac offers two wine tasting options: the Standard Tasting (4 wines) costs R30 and the Chocolate and Wine Pairing (5 of each) costs R65.

Tel: (021) 886-5641

Email: winesales@lanzeracwines.co.za

Web: www.lanzeracwines.co.za

Accommodation

The Lanzerac Hotel is one of the most sought after 5-star destinations in the Cape. For more about their accommodation offerings, click this link.

3. The Spa @ Clos Malverne

The Spa at Clos Malverne will leave guests with a sense of oneness after soaking up the serene wineland surroundings. The Wet Room spills onto a private deck and swimming pool where pampered guests can enjoy cheese, biscuit and fruit platters, a wine tasting or even a private lunch. Special valid until 31 May 2013.

Mother’s day pamper package | R640 per person

Start off with a glass of Clos Malverne Sparkling Brut while relaxing in a hydrotherapy bath. Then on to a MusculaVine Muscle-Release Spa Ritual – which includes a warm aroma-infused sugar scrub, followed by a back massage using oil to relieve sore & tense muscles, and ends with a circulating gel. But you’re not done yet. To end off enjoy a Luxurious Babor Spa Facial where you’ll go through a skin analysis, a double cleanse with steam, exfoliation, moisturising and rejuvenating face mask, hand massage, facial massage, eye cream, anti-aging and nourishing day cream and lastly an SPF.

Contact the Spa @ Clos Malverne

Phone: (021) 865-2022

Email: thespa@closmalverne.co.za

Web: www.closmalverne.co.za

Wine tasting

Clos Malverne offers two wine tasting options: taste 4 of the wines for R25 or you can indulge in an Ice-cream and Wine tasting (4 of each) for R65, which needs to be booked for a day in advance.

Tel: (021) 865-2022

Email: info@closmalverne.co.za

Web: www.closmalverne.co.za

FRANSCHHOEK

4. Spa @ Holden Manz Wine Estate

The Spa at Holden Manz is the ideal setting for a relaxing day spent in the winelands

The Holden Manz Wine Estate is in a privileged position deep in the Franschhoek Valley and offers a vineyard, winery and restaurant with enchanting picnic areas along the river.  A 5-star guest house with its own health and wellness spa complete the picture. The Spa is closed on Monday & Tuesday, unless by prior arrangement.

Back, neck & shoulder massage + warm, soothing paraffin manicure or pedicure | R550

Enjoy a relaxing massage in one of the three treatment rooms overlooking the vineyards and mountains. Treat your hands or feet to a surge of moisture before winter with a paraffin manicure or pedicure.

Contact Spa @ Holden Manz

Tel: (021) 876-2738

Email: www.holdenmanz.com

Wine tasting

Holden Manz’ first 6 wines are available for tasting at R30 per person, and an additional R30 to taste their two premium wines.

Tel: (021) 876 3173

Email: www.holdenmanz.com

Accommodation

Holden Manz Wine Estate offers excusive 5-star accommodation in a natural setting. Click here to find out more.

5. Bakwena Spa @ Santé

Flanked by the majestic Simonsberg Mountains, Santé Hotel Resort & Spa combines a luxury hotel an award-winning wellness centre. Enjoy complimentary use of the hydro facilities including a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam rooms, relaxation areas, experience showers etc.

Mom & Daughter time out at Sante Spa | R399 per person

This special includes a welcome drink, a cleansing HydraVine facial (60mins), a relaxing foot massage (15mins) and the use of all hydro facilities. Valid until 31 May 2013.

Contact Bakwena Spa

Tel: (021) 875-5406

Email: sparecepsante@orion-hotels.co.za

Web: www.santesa.co.za

WELLINGTON

6. 5 Mountains Lodge & Spa

The 5 Mountains Lodge & Spa is located near the peaceful town of Wellington, surrounded by magnificent views of mountains and vineyards. Affordability and intimacy are the primary aims of the 5 Mountains Spa, offering an exclusive & peaceful retreat. The below specials are valid from 1 May 2103 – 30 June 2013.

Mother & Daughter Luxury Half Day Treat | R1750.00 for two

This package includes a snack platter with a bottle of bubby, a luxury paraffin pedicure and a relaxing facial including Thalgo collagen eye treatment. Valid from Tuesday – Sunday.

Mother & Daughter 1 night spoil | R1750.00 for two

This package includes one night 4-star B&B accommodation, a two-course dinner and a relaxing facial including hand & scalp massage. Valid Tuesday – Friday.

Mother & Daughter 2 night Treat | R3750.00 for two

This package includes two night 4-star B&B accommodation, a two-course dinner on both nights, a Thalgo purity ritual basic facial including scalp massage & Collagen Eye Treatment and a Back & Neck Hot Stone Massage. Valid Tuesday – Sunday.

Contact 5 Mountains Spa

Tel: (021) 864-3409

Email: reservations@5mountains.co.za

Web: www.exclusiveescapes.com

Wine tasting

5 Mountains Lodge & Spa does not offer wine tastings on their premises. However, they form part of the Bovlei region in Wellington, so farms like Nabygelegen, Val du Charron, Bosman Family Vineyards, Walvanpas and Doolhof are a stones-throw away.

Accommodation

Also available are 4-star Provence-styled cottages as accommodation. Visit this link to find out more about their accommodation offerings.

CONSTANTIA

7. Constantia Uitsig

Constantia Uitsig is famous for being the home of one of South Africa’s culinary icons: La Colombe restaurant. With world-class standards spread across the estate, you can expect a treat when visiting Constantia Uitsig Spa. They’ve put together the following special to pamper moms this year:

Clarins treatments including breakfast or lunch | R1000 per person

This package includes either breakfast or lunch at River Café as well as a Clarins Massage, Clarins Facial and a Clarins Gift.

Lunch: available between 12h30 and 16h30.For this two-course meal choose between a salad or a sandwich, followed by a dessert. Served with either a 750ml mineral water or a glass of Constantia Uitsig Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.

Breakfast: Available between 08h30 and 11h30. A two-course meal, served with either a 500ml carafe of fruit juice, or a 250ml still or sparkling water, and a choice of tea or coffee.

This exclusive offer is available from 1st – 31st May 2013. Please note that specials may not be booked in conjunction with one another.

Contact Constantia Uitsig Spa

Tel: (021) 794-0433

Email: spa@uitsig.co.za

Web: www.constantia-uitsig.com

Constantia Uitsig wine tasting

Taste 6 of Constantia Uitsig’s wines for R30.

Tel: (021) 794-6500

Email: reservations@uitsig.co.za

Accommodation

The highly acclaimed Constantia Uitsig Hotel offers guests the opportunity to soak up the luxurious offerings of this tranquil property for just a little longer. An excellent “stay for 3 pay for 2” special may entice you to stay even longer. Find out more about their offerings here.

It’s never been so easy: enter online at www.bestvaluewineguide.com. 

If you produce a South African wine that sells for R80 or less this competition is for you. The Best Value Wine Guide is once again on the hunt for the country’s Best Value wines. More than 80 000 copies of the 2014 guide will be distributed nationwide into the hands of wine-lovers.

One change to previous years’ competitions is the way in which Best Value scores are calculated. The new formula, which still makes use of price and star ratings, is more robust. It includes reference to more wines within each category in order to calculate value scores that are firstly more representative within each category of wine, but also that are more closely aligned between categories of wine entered in the competition.

Review the entry criteria and rules online here.

Entries close 10 June 2013.

For queries email bestvalue@ramsaymedia.co.za or phone Sasha van Zyl on (021) 530-3151.

Visiting Franschhoek for the day? Here are five of my favourite things to do when in Cape Town’s food and wine capital.

Wine tour and tasting by bicycle

Taste wine by bicycle with Franschhoek Cycles

Photo by Franschhoek Wine Valley.

Atop a bicycle is arguable the best way to see the wine farms and taste them too. Whether you’re looking for a slow spin through the countryside, a lazy lunch at Café Bon Bon, or a quick overview of what Franschhoek’s wines have to offer, Tanye – your knowledgeable and patient guide – can offer you a cycle tour to tailor suit your needs. Kids welcome.

Franschhoek Cycles | Montview Centre, Fabriek Street
Phone: 073 495 6155
Web: www.franschhoekcycles.co.za
Email: tanyetrax@gmail.com

Lunch at Bread and Wine

Enjoy a lingering lunch at Bread and Wine

Bright coloured decor and a vined-shaded courtyard adds a special delight to Moresôn’s Bread & Wine restaurant. Husband and wife team Neil and Tina’s food is pleasure to the tastebuds to boost, so try resist the urge to fill up on their deli-fresh bread (which is easier said than done) and aim to make it all the way from starter to dessert.

Moresôn’s Bread & Wine | Happy Valley Road, Franschhoek
Phone: (021) 876-3055
Web: www.moreson.co.za
Email: breadandwine@moreson.co.za

Enjoy bubbly with a view

Good food and a little sparking wine at Haute Cabriere.

A glass of sparkling wine, good food paired with a view of the Franschhoek Valley, Haute Cabrière ticks every box. Drinking up their views and their bubbles is a great way spend an afternoon in the winelands. Cellar masters Achim von Arnim, or his son Takuan are passionate about their art, and they love to share it, so do also try pop round on a Saturday morning to take one of their guided cellars tours.

Haute Cabrière | Pass Road
Phone: (021) 876 8500
Web: www.cabriere.co.za
Email: hostipality@cabriere.co.za

Visit La Motte

Old but working waterwheel at La Motte

La Motte was one of the original farms handed to the French Huguenots, and pride in this history is evident in the experience they offer their guests. Take a history tour with museum curator, Ingrid, and let her paint you a vision of the Franschhoek that once was. Then stroll through their art gallery, before heading to lunch at Pierneef. The chandeliers are well worth stopping by even if only for a cup of coffee.

La Motte | R45 Main Road
Phone: (021) 876-8000
Web: www.la-motte.com
Email: info@la-motte.co.za.

Picnic at Solms-Delta

Picnic among the tree at Solms-Delta

Solms-Delta is a beautiful venue for a good old-fashioned picnic. Their picnic area, situated in a private forest, allows vistors to Franschhoek a casual way to lunch in the winelands. Picnics are catered by their restaurant team at Fyndraai and include a bottle of Solms-Delta wine. An especially good choice for the romantics out there.

Solms-Delta | Delta Road
Phone: (021) 876-3937
Web: www.solm-delta.co.za
Email: restaurant@solms-delta.co.za

Where to stay:

Klein Oliphants Hoek Boutique Hotel
(021) 876 2566
info@kleinoliphantshoek.co.za
www.kleinoliphantshoek.co.za

Cape Vue Guesthouse
(021) 876 2312
cvguesthouse@mweb.co.za
www.cvguesthouse.com

Otters Bend Lodge
(021) 876 3200
info@ottersbendlodge.co.za
www.ottersbendlodge.co.za

Fancy adding a few sparkles to your birthday? The House of J.C. Le Roux in the Stellenbosch Winelands offers a free bubbly tasting if you visit on your special day!

All you have to do (because birthdays should be fun and not hard work) is choose three friends to accompany you, make a booking and get the perfect birthday present of a free tasting of your choice at the stylish House of J.C. Le Roux.

The only difficult part is going to be choosing which tasting you prefer. You can choose from the ever popular nougat tasting with delicious handcrafted delicacies, or an irresistible marshmallow and meringue taste sensation. Both of these tastings are paired with J.C. Le Roux’s award winning Méthode Cap Classique and sparkling wines.

Proof of ID must be presented on the day of your tasting, and only the birthday person’s tasting will be free of charge.

Tasting prices:

• Marshmallow and meringue – R60 per person
• Nougat tasting – R75 per person
• MCC tasting (tasting of 5 Méthode Cap Classique wines) – R45 per person
• Mixed tasting (tasting of 5 sparkling wines) – R35 per person

Booking for your birthday tasting is essential- and then they also know to make a special fuss of you!

Tip: Why not make a day of it and have breakfast or lunch at Le Venue at The House of J.C. Le Roux? Le Venue is open from 09h00 till 16h00 with breakfast served between 09h00 and 11h00 and lunch from 12h00 to 15h00.

Contact details for The House of J.C. Le Roux

The House of J.C. Le Roux is situated in the Devon Valley in the heart of the Stellenbosch Winelands and is open seven days a week.

Tel: (021) 865-8200

Web: www.jcleroux.co.za

When I got an email notifying me of Barrels and Beards in Bot River, a celebration of end of the harvest season where the winemakers in the region take part in a beard competition (they are too busy harvesting their bounty to shave), I knew I had to go to this unique event. I asked about tickets, diarised the date and before you could say “clippers”, I was asked to be a beard judge. They say there is a first time for everything and this party was clearly going to be a series of firsts. I barely knew Bot River, let alone been a beard judge!

I arrived in Bot River the day before Barrels and Beards and spent the day with Melissa Nelson who made an excellent tour guide of the area. It was during my tour of the wine farms that I realised just how important this harvest celebration is to the local community and how much effort goes into it. Pomegranates were being picked fresh off the tree at Beumont Wines and every farm we went to or passed by had a barrel or two of wine leaving the premises on the way to Anysbos Farm, the venue for the party. When I got to Luddite Wines I met Penny who was literally up to her elbows in chicken and mushrooms – the filling for the chicken pie. Everyone was talking about it and making plans and there was much whispering about what the participating bearded winemakers were scheming to do to try outdo the other competitors. The Bot River community was abuzz with excitement and it was quite catchy – I couldn’t wait to see what was going to transpire the following evening!

On Saturday afternoon I was at the Bot River Hotel to catch a taxi to the venue. The taxi service is organised as part of the harvest celebration and for R30 you got a return trip to the venue. Considering that there would be plenty of wine involved and dark farm roads, I thought this was a very clever and wise initiative (and it also supports the local taxi business). A band of already merry revelers joined me and we were whisked out of the town centre and onto a dirt road to Anysbos Farm.

Upon arrival at Anysbos’ mule shed I was swiftly handed a wine glass and I equally as swiftly headed to each of the wine tastings on offer. A total of eleven farms were there representing their wines, including Beaumont Wines, Barton Vineyards, Eerste Hoop Wine Farm, Feiteiras Vineyards, Gabriëlskloof Wines, Genevieve MCC, Luddite Wines, Maremmana Estate, Rivendell Wine Estate, PaardenKloof Estate and Wildekrans Wine Estate. I know wine is probably the most important thing here, but seeing as I don’t know too much about it (apart from liking it), I will tell you what struck me most. Everyone was having a great time and the venue was simply gorgeous.

The tables in the dining area under a white marquee were beautifully decorated in a simple uncluttered manner. Each table had candles in bottles and held bounty from the area. Goats cheese from Anysbos, bread from Houw Hoek and Zest Catering, olive oil from Luddite, Barton and Gabrielskloof and butter from Goedvertrouw, along with olives and other nibbles from farms in the area. Colourful lights lit up the bar in the corner that stocked bottles of wine from Bot River along with soft drinks. A basket next to the buffet table held knives and forks attached to white serviettes bound with rope and decorated with olive leaves. So much effort had gone into the details and I was in awe. While I was gaping at the décor, The Stoepsitters played langarm tunes in the background and guests mingled with winemakers in the tasting area. It was all quite stylish yet cosy at the same time.

After the tasting it was time for the show with eleven bearded men taking turns to impress the crowd and judges. There were half-beards, bushy beards, designer beards and fake beards. Willem from Wildekraans could barely make it through the door in his barrel and Niels from Luddite put on a great show complete with lashing a tent pole with a chain. There were cavemen stealing fruit from the tables, a biker in leathers, a Rastafarian, a funeral director and even naked bum cheeks. It was the best entertainment I had had for a long time!

While the judges made their decision, everyone queued up for buffet dinner. On the menu was roast leg of lamb, chicken pie, roasted baby potatoes, cracked wheat and tomato salad and a butternut, feta, rocket, beetroot and green salad. It was a veritable feast! While my dinner got cold the judges, being myself, Maggie Follet (freelance writer and wine person), David Donde (Truth Coffee person) and Neil Pendock (an image processing specialist and wine person) spent a long time trying to democratically decide who the three winners should be. Eventually we came to a consensus and the winners were:

• 3rd place – PJ Greyer from Barton Vineyards (I think the female judges were swayed by the naked bum cheeks!)
• 2nd place – Sebastian Beumont from Beumont Wines (I got to give this prize to the good-looking funeral director. Lucky me!)
• 1st place – Niels Verburg from Luddite Wines (It was the fabulous red beard combined with great chain-wielding skills!)

With all the excitement of judging done and dusted it was time for dessert – a buffet smorgasbord of sweet treats, including koeksisters, cheesecake cupcakes, chocolate brownies and fudge. Coffee was served in tin cups, with the option of adding a shot of Amarula for R10. If I drank coffee this would’ve been the route I would’ve taken! But I don’t, so I carried on quaffing wine while scoffing a koeksister and tried to stay out of the limelight so I didn’t get chosen to do the langarm. My dancing skills are almost as bad as my wine knowledge.

Barrels and Beards is in its third year and I foresee this becoming a major event on every wine-lovers calendar. All the wines and everything on the menu is locally produced and everyone pitches in to make it a success, proving that community spirit is alive and well in the farming community. And because it is essentially a community affair, there are no plans to make this event bigger than it is. They only sell 200 tickets, so be sure to get yours early next year. You’ll be mingling with the who’s who in the Bot River wine circles, but you’ll feel completely at home with a bunch of down-to-earth, fun-loving and hard-working people. See you there!

Groot Constantia Wine Estate

On a rainy winter afternoon a group of media representatives were seen huddling under a small roof in front of the Mother City’s aquarium trying to evade the day’s downpour. This group was anxiously awaiting a red, sightseeing bus which would mark the start of the unveiling of Groot Constantia’s new tasting room.

CitySightSeeing Bus

After everybody filed on to the bus and found a seat, we were given a pair of earphones and a Groot Constantia goody bag with water, Bar One and crackers to eat while revelling in the richness of Cape Town’s history. Our personal narrator began his story at the V&A Waterfront telling us how the canon on Signal Hill is shot every day at twelve, we then drove past the famous unfinished bridge towering over Buitengracht Street, on our left was District 6 which saw 60 000 coloured people relocate to the Cape Flats. We drove past Groote Schuur Hospital where Chris Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant, then we went through Newlands where the narration (“this area has the highest rainfall in Cape Town”) ironically came to life as we witnessed streets flooding and driveways turning in to small water features. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the biggest garden in the world dedicated to its native vegetation, was our second last sight, and finally we drove up to Constantia Main Road (here you would usually change onto the Wine Tour Bus) which led us to our host for the day, Groot Constantia Estate.

The Estate

White Cape Dutch style buildings and green vineyards set against a wall of trees welcomed us as we drove into the estate. Groot Constantia has been around for centuries, 328 years to be exact, and comprises 155 hectare of which 90 hectares are under vine. In my opinion the unending vineyards rolling all the way up Table Mountain’s slopes only ending where the mountain’s nature reserve start are what give the estate its beauty.

Groot Constantia Cloete Cellar

After everyone managed to dodge the mud pools and locate the Cloete Cellar through the curtain of rain, we were treated to Constantia bubbly and the most delicious canapés ranging from roasted masala butternut soup, chicken liver parfait and bobotie springrolls to asparagus and prosciutto bundles with hollandaise sauce. While we feasted on these delicacies Dr Ernest Messina welcomed the guests emphasising how Groot Constantia is ownerless and that it is thereby the nation’s estate which we should take emotional ownership of. Then Jean Naudé, the general manager, gave us an overview on the estate’s history and development, showing us images of a Groot Constantia bottle found outside Stockholm in the late 1940s, three bottles discovered in the cellar of a castle near Belgium dating from 1760 to 1840, a bottle piece from a beach in Delaware from 1774 and a wine seal unearthed in an excavation in Meiningen, Germany, which left us awestruck.

New Tasting Room

Revamped tasting room at Groot Constantia

We were then escorted to Groot Constantia’s new wine tasting room. Grant Newman, the marketing manager, explained that the CitySightSeeing bus brings up to 8000 visitors per month to Groot Constantia and that renovations were therefore inevitable. The new room boasts simplistic white walls covered in the most amazing colourful artworks chosen by the estate’s Art@Constantia Gallery. The relics mentioned by Jean Naudé are displayed on the tasting room’s red wall and form part of Constantia’s story depicted from start to present.

Bright and bold artwork adorns the walls of the new tasting room

Opening times: 09h00-17h30

Tasting cost: R30 a person

Wines

Presently, Groot Constantia’s wine is doing really well. Four of their wines have achieved Top 100 status in the Top 100 SA Wines 2013 wine challenge. These are the Chardonnay 2012, Grand Constance 2010, Shiraz 2010 and Goeverneurs Reserve Red 2010.

3 of the Top 100 SA wines for 2013: Chardonnay 2012, Goeverneurs Reserve Red 2010 and the Shiraz 2010

Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2010 and Grand Constance 2010

We had the pleasure of tasting the Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2010 which has ripe, rich flavours of black cherries, plums, blackcurrant and hints of chocolate and mint (blend: Cabernet Franc 37%, Merlot 33%, Cabernet Sauvignon 23%, Malbec 7%) and is sold at R262 a bottle. We also had a taste of the peculiar smelling and very sweet tasting Grand Constance which has a unique colour and has typical Muscat characteristics enhanced by nuances of pineapple, raisins, apricots and honey, sold at R392 a bottle.

Cellar Tour

Learning about the South Africa’s rich history

After the tasting we were taken on a guided tour of the cellar. After the first 10 minutes of the tour it was clear that Groot Constantia doesn’t settle for anything less than the best. They use nine different types of soil on the farm, including Glenrosa, Hutton, Avalon and Oakleaf soil. They have stainless steel barrels imported from France (at R8000 a barrel), which can only be used three times! Because Groot Constantia doesn’t believe in screw caps or synthetic corks, they use corks imported from Portugal even though this is more costly, but they surely make up for this expense by selling around 400 000 bottles of wine a year. Our guide saved the best fact for when we reached the wooden barrels’ storage area; here stands a barrel which can hold up to 10 000 litres and would take 36 years to empty.

Cellar tour times: 10h00-15h00 (every hour on the hour)

Cellar tour price plus wine tasting: R40

The day was ended off at the very stylish Simon’s Restaurant where we enjoyed more delicacies including sushi, mini hamburgers, noodles presented in typical Chinese take away boxes, accompanied by a Constantia red, white or a port and the lovely sounds of Graham Michael Burton and his brilliant band.

Interior of Simon’s Restaurant at Groot Constantia

What have I learned from today? That drinking wine is the most patriotic thing one can do, as Jean Naudé stated.

Contact Groot Constantia

Tel: (021)794-5128

Email: tours@grootconstantia.co.za

Website: www.grootconstantia.co.za

Post written by Annuschka Du Preez.