Cape Town Wine

Posts Tagged ‘Cape Point Vineyards’

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Splattered Toad Sauvignon Blanc

Splat! Poor fellow but what a great by-product……

Western Leopard Toad visiting our garden

Seriously though, Splattered Toad Sauvignon blanc 2009 from Cape Point Vineyards is a favourite quay-side, refreshing aperitif. There are notes of asparagus, lemon and yellow apple and the palate is austere yet approachable with a long, finish of lime.

Named for the beautiful Western Leopard Toad which is endemic to South Africa but threatened by loss of habitat and urban encroachment, they are regular visitors to our garden. Cape Point Vineyards is donating R1.00 for every bottle of Splattered Toad sold to the Cape Point Vineyards sustainability fund to help protect these amphibians.

Tags: amphibians, Cape Point Vineyards, sauvignon blanc, Splattered Toad, Western Leopard Toad

Posted in Environment Sensitive Wine Farms, The Daily Tipple | 2 Comments »

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Tim James announces the Top 20 South African wineries

Writing on the independant wine blog Grape, Tim James wine writer and judge, compiled with the help of other Cape Town wine professionals a list of South Africa’s top wineries.

The last time that such a poll was undertaken was in 2006. Reviewing the results Tim points out several aspects such as the fact that the top five wineries were in a league of their own; that ten of the Top 20 wineries were not even mentioned in the 2001 poll and that four wineries are complete newcomers to the poll.

From a perspective of production areas the winning wineries represent only one of the five South African wine regions, Coastal Region, and within that only the wine districts of Cape Point, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Swartland. The Overberg and Walker Bay districts where Paul Cluver, Hamilton-Russell Vineyards and Bouchard Finlayson are found do not fall into a particular region.

Parameters were set for the judging so that each winery had to have had at least three vintages of marketed wines.

In order of votes received the wineries are:

Boekenhoutskloof

Kanonkop and Sadie Family Wines which tied.

Cape Point Vineyards

Vergelegen

Hamilton-Russell Vineyards

Paul Cluver

Rustenberg

De Trafford, Meerlust and Thelema which tied

Bouchard Finlayson

Jordan and Tokara which tied.

Hartenberg

Le Riche, Neil Ellis and Steenberg which all tied.

Chamonix and Morgenster which tied.

On the voting panel were wine writers Tim Atkin, Michael Fridjhon, Joanne Gibson, Edo Heyns, Tim James, Angela Lloyd, Melvyn Minnaar, Fiona McDonald, Christine Rudman, Cathy van Zyl, Philip van Zyl.

Retailers: Carrie Adams, Carolyn Barton, Ingrid Motteux, Roland Peens, James Pietersen, Caroline Rillema

Sommeliers and others who took part were Miguel Chan, Neil Grant, Higgo Jacobs, Cathy Marston, Andre Morgenthal, Joerg Pfuetzner, Kent Scheermeyer and Jonathan Steyn.

For the complete article visit www.grape.co.za

Tags: Angela Lloyd, Boekenhoutskloof, Bouchard Finlayson, Cape Point Vineyards, Cape Town, Cathy van Zyl, Chamonix, Christine Rudman, De Trafford, Edo Heyns, Fiona McDonald, Hamilton-", Hamilton-Russell Vineyards, Hartenberg, Joanne Gibson, Jordan, Kanonkop, Le Riche, Meerlust, Melvyn Minnaar, Michael Fridjohn, Morgenster, Neil Ellis, Paul Cluver, Philip van Zyl, Rustenberg, Sadie Family Wines, South Africa, Steenberg Vineyards, Thelema, Tim Atkin, Tim James, Tokara, Vergelegen, wine

Posted in What's New | 3 Comments »

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

First wine festival in Cape Town’s deep south- Old Cape Wine Festival

I was so excited to meet Charlotte Noon at the Steenberg Vineyards barrel tasting event last night as she is one of the organisers of this fantastic first time wine fest taking place in Kommetjie this coming Saturday. Some of my favourite winemakers will be represented there like Adi Badenhorst, Duncan Savage of Cape Point Vineyards, Abri Bruwer of Springfield, Boela Gerber of Groot Constantia Estate and Adam Mason of Klein Constantia Estate. Super-stars in wine for sure.

Old Cape Wine Festival 2010

Here is the press release:

The one-day festival will see the largest gathering of wine producers and enthusiasts in the Far South ever. Visitors will be treated to the ultimate tasting experience with the opportunity to sample over 100 of South Africa’s best known wines. Over 20 wine producers – including some of South Africa’s most reputable and award-winning labels – will be there. These include Lazanou, Diemersfontein, Springfield, Teddy Hall, De Wetshof, Badenhorst, Cape Point Vineyards, Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia.

Every corner of the Cape Winelands map will be represented, including Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Robertson, Wellington, Constantia and the West Coast. Every cultivar grown in the Western Cape is also expected to be showcased, so there is definitely something for everyone. All of the wines available for tasting will be on sale at special festival prices at the Old Cape Wine Shop, while stocks last.

Tickets will be on sale on the day at just R40 per person tasting. This includes a wine glass, unlimited wine tastings and sumptuous food tastings. There will also be live music, scenic surroundings to relax in and entertainment for kids. Visitors are welcome anytime between 10am and 5pm and additional parking will be made available on site. There is also a Free Range Coffee Shop and restaurant for those who would like to include a delicious meal. The Blue Water Café offers fresh free range food, stunning views and a great kids’ entertainment area, so booking is essential (021 783 2007).

Adi Badenhorst

Organiser of the Festival and owner of the Old Cape Wine Shop, Rael Abramowitz, said: “We are very excited about the amazing response we have had – both from the wine producers attending and from the many people who are very much looking forward to enjoying the wines, the food, the music and the atmosphere at the Old Cape Wine Festival. It’s great to be able to put on a wine festival of this size in the Far South. We have many local wine enthusiasts who can now enjoy a great day out locally. With Kommetjie only being a 35 minute drive from the City Bowl, we are also looking forward to welcoming our city neighbours who will no doubt relish this leisurely day out in the country.”

Date: Saturday 6th March 2010

Time: 10h00 till 17h00

Where: Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie Road, Kommetjie

For more information about the Festival, call 021 783 50 54 or visit www.ocws.co.za. For more information about the many other attractions at Imhoff Farm, visit http://www.imhofffarm.co.za

Tags: Badenhorst Family Wines, Cape Point Vineyards, Cape Town, Constantia, cultivar, De Wetshof Estate, Diemersfontein, Franschhoek, Groot Constantia, Imhoff Farm, Klein Constantia, Kommetjie, Lazanou, Robertson, Springfield, Stellenbosch, Teddy Hall, Wellington, wine

Posted in What's New, Wine Tasting | 1 Comment »

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Woolworths announces their top wines for 2009

Revealing the impressive list of award winning wines for 2009, Allan Mullins, Cape Wine Master and Woolworths (high end South African retailer) Wine Selector, had this to say:

It takes a special kind of passion for wine, and a determination to keep sourcing, selecting and blending to come up with exceptional ranges of premium wines at the right prices. All the fantastic awards we have won this year show that Woolworths is fortunate to be in partnership with excellent winemakers who are as excited about innovation and quality as we are.

Platter’s South African Wines 2010 – 5 Star – Superlative – A cape classic award

Limited Release Pinotage Diemersfontein 2008

Woolworths Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Limited Release Spectrum TMV 2008 – Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards

Limited Release Cape Point Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Jordan Cobbler’s Hill 2005

Veritas Double Gold award

Woolworths True To Terroir The Hutton Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Woolworths Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007

Veritas Gold award

Woolworths True To Terroir Koffie Klip Merlot 2007

Woolworths True To Terroir and Abacus Chardonnay 2008

Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show “Best Chenin Blanc” and “Best Overall White Wine”

Woolworths True to Terroir The Hutton Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Woolworths Limited Release Chenin Blanc – Simonsig 2008

Michelangelo Awards Competition – Gold medals

1500 Wines from 263 producers were judged and Woolworths wines garnered the following accolades:

Woolworths Simonsvlei Hercules Paragon Shiraz 2006

Limited Release Diemersfontein Pinotage 2008

Ladybird Red

Of these wines nine are approved by Biodiversity in Wine initiative – BWI. This is a partnership between the South African Wine industry industry and the conservation sector having the goals to minimise the further loss of threatened natural habitat, and to contribute to sustainable wine production, through the adoption of biodiversity guidelines by the South African Wine industry. These wines carry the BWI label which depicts a sugar bird on a protea blossom.

Tasting notes on all of these wines are available on request – simply use the comments field to ask.

These wines are readily available at any Woolworths store throughout South Africa as well as on the website www.woolworths.co.za

Tags: Allan Mullins, Biodiversity In Wine initiative, Cape Point Vineyards, Diemersfontein, Jordan wines, Laibach, Simonsig, Simonsvlei, Spier, Woolworths

Posted in Environment Sensitive Wine Farms, What's New | No Comments »

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Cape Point Vineyards new tasting room

Ideally placed to pick up the tourist traffic at the Noordhoek start of Chapman’s Peak drive, the tasting room is situated in a building formerly part of the Kaolin mining operation which has long been closed and a complete rehabilitation of the land completed.

Cape Point Vineyards tasting room

Not only is this the showplace for Duncan Savage’s consistently acclaimed wines but also for a small part of the farm owner, Sybrand van der Spuy’s impressive art collection. A huge, teak cabinet rich with engravings, inlays and fine wood working which was commissioned by Paul Kruger president of the Transvaal, dominates the elegant room. Also impressive is a 300 year old tapestry depicting Bacchus which fills another wall and which necessitated light filtering features and temperature control to be incorporated into the tasting room design.

Cape Point Vineyards tastings consist of four different tasting packages starting with a two wine, Stonehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and Scarborough Red 2007 option and extending to the tasting of the entire range of 7 wines. Also on offer is a generous cheese platter with enough cheese to even take home.

Wine tasting at Cape Point Vineyards

Jennifer the hostess was charming and attentive from the moment we stepped in and gave us the option of having our tasting on the ample couches and chairs inside or on the adjoining patio where the mountain peaks surround and the fynbos wild plants are in full flower. Knowledgeable and relaxed she talked us through 5 impressive white wines including the Isliedh, named after Sybrand van der Spuy’s first granddaughter, a full bodied, creamy mouth-filling, apricot, lime, Bordeaux-style blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon.

Antique teak cabinet with intricate inlays and carvings

In the end though, it was the Chardonnay 2007, which enthralled and found it’s way into the boot of our car together with the Scarborough Red, a favourite every-day drink for us.

Tags: Cape Point Vineyards

Posted in What's New | 1 Comment »