Alexandra Galindo & Andres Correa tasting Topiary wines

But that did not stop thousand of Cape Townians and tourists alike from revelling in the Franschhoek sunshine at the Franschhoek Bastille Festival 2010, the 16^th celebration of this event.

Football fans, Alexandra Galindo from Chile and Andres Correa from Columbia, stayed on after the 2010 FIFA World Cup to discover the Western Cape and to improve their English. They had read about the Franschhoek festival on a local website and we met them while sipping Topiary wines in the Food and Wine Marquee. Alexandra had only good things to say about the Shiraz 2006 and the Rose that were on offer for tasting.

Topiary Wines, not surprisingly, is named for viticulturist, Malcolm Pemberton’s sculpted garden on the property in Franschhoek. This new boutique winery produces a Methode cap classique and a Rose wine, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc varietal wines.

Protea wines stand

For me a super discovery in the Food and Wine Marquee was the new second label of Antonij Rupert Wines, The Protea Range, consisting of Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Chenin Blanc 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and Merlot 2007. What is remarkable about this range is that they are made to the same high standard as the L’Ormarins and Anthonij Rupert wines but retail at under R50.00 per bottle.  They are available locally at Ultra Liquor Stores, Vaughn Johnson’s Wine Shop, Wine Concepts and at Picardi Liquor Stores.

The barrel rolling race drew us out into the sunshine again. South Africa had promised to roll out the barrel for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but you haven’t seen anything quite like this Franschhoek Wine Route competition where 16 wine farms compete for the trophy. Although the challenge is thrown out each year to the other wine routes to compete, none take up the challenge. An investigation by our specialist team led to an embarrassing reason for this – the maturation containers of Stellenbosch Wine Route farms are square. Come on guys – prove us wrong on this one and take up the challenge in 2011!

Reigning champ, Glenwood, fell in the quarter finals and Franschhoek Cellars took the trophy.

With or without a festival, Franschhoek has everything to offer as a mini-break destination or a day out. Enter the valley and you could be a world away.

Barrel rolling competition

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La Capra wines

That evening we paired our La Capra Shiraz with barbecued ostrich sausage and sirloin steak with delicious results.

Having a chance to review the entire range of La Capra wines at the public launch was a huge bonus which I grabbed with both hands.  This gypsy carnival was staged complete with oompah band, gypsy caravan and beautiful fortune teller in the form of Bridget Back, daughter of the renowned wine maker Charles Back, owner of Fairview estate.

Bridget lured us into her caravan with the promise of delightful potions and disappointed we were not.

The Chenin Blanc 2009 is perky and delicious, as are the Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Rose 2009 from Pinotage, and the Chardonnay 2009. A real treat for consumers who want to be more adventurous is that the range includes a Viognier 2009.

My favourite amongst the red wines is the Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 which is amazingly smooth with almost imperceptible oak. This can happily be drunk as an aperitif for those of us who simply can’t get enough red wine. To my mind, the Pinotage 2009, Merlot 2009 and Shiraz 2009 will compliment food really well. Also in the range is Malbec 2009 another more unusual variety wine which I will be scouring the supermarket shelves for.

All of these wines are accessible and perfect for drinking straight away.

Sipping to the sound of the Oompah Band

“What about the name?” I asked the gypsy princess.  My Italian being somewhat rusty I had missed the word capra meaning goat, referring of course to the Fairview goat herd from which the very first goat’s milk cheese was produced in South Africa. La rhymes with Ra the Egyptian sun god and Capra also points to the Cape Cap, suggesting a Cape to Cairo connection.

These wines are available at Fairview Estate for the unbelievable price of R200.00 per mixed 6 bottle case. Alternately they can be bought at Pick and Pay supermarkets in the Western Cape for between R35 and R42 per bottle.

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La Capra presented by Fairview

We decided to try the La Capra Shiraz 2008 and very easily laid the bottle waste. There is are spice flavours galore on the palate like white pepper, clove and nutmeg, and the fruity yet dry flavours remind of eating pomegranates when I was a child. We think this wine goes very well with itself but it was also great with our sirloin and ostrich sausage braai. It’s beautifully balanced and sits on the palate forever after swallowing.

If I wanted to introduce a first time drinker to a Shiraz varietal wine, La Capra Shiraz is what I would reach for.

The quirky label reminds us that Fairview is home to goat herds and produces award winning cheeses.

These wines are available at the unbelievable price of R200.00 ($28.50) per mixed case from the farm.

La Capra Shiraz

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Beating the Australians hands down, South Africa came sixth overall after Chili, earning 80 medals. The winning country was France, followed by Spain, Italy, Portugal and Chili. 7,000 Wines and spirits were judged.

Here are South Africas winners -

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

Grand Gold Medals

Engelbrecht Els 2007

Spier Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2008

Gold Medals

Almenkerk Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Backsberg Pumphouse Shiraz 2007

Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay 2009

Boschendal Sauvignon Blanc Grand Cuvee 2009

Douglas Green Chenin Blanc 2009

Drostdy-Hof Chardonnay 2009

Ernie Els 2006

Douglas Green Chardonnay 2009

Drostdy-Hof Chardonnay 2009

Fairhills Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot 2009

Fairview Primo Pinotage 2008

Grande Provence Chardonnay 2008

Grande Provence Shiraz 2007

Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Hartenberg Chardonnay 2008

Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2007

KWV 10 Year Old Potstill Brandy

KWV 20 Year Old Potstill Brandy

La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Linton Park Proprietor’s Reserve Shiraz 2007

Mont Rochelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Oude Meester Demant

Ridgeback Journey 2005

Riebeek Cellars Reserve Chenin Blanc 2009

Riebeek Cellars Reserve Shiraz 2007

Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2007

Saronsberg Shiraz 2007

Spice Route Chakalaka 2008

Spice Route Flagship Syrah 2007

Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Leopard Frog Vineyards Tantra 2005

KWV The Mentors Canvas 2008

KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2008

KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009

Distell Three Ships Aged 5 Years

Distell Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish

Distell Three Ships Select

Van Ryn’s 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve

Van Ryn’s 20 Year Old Collectors Reserve

Villiera Traditional Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2009

Fairview Shiraz 2008

Hartenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009

La Motte Chardonnay 2008

Lourensford Winemaker’s Selection Chardonnay 2009

Naledi Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Nederburg Viognier Chardonnay 2009

Remhoogte Estate Wine 2006

Ridgeback Shiraz 2007

Rust en Vrede 1694

Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard Syrah  2007

Saronsberg Chardonnay 2008

Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz 2007

Spice Route Malabar 2006

Spier Creative Block 2009

Spier Private Collection Chardonnay 2008

Spier Private Collection Pinotage 2007

Spier Private Collection Syrah 2007

Stormhoek Pinotage 2009

KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2008

KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Silver Medals

Boland Cellar Reserve No 1 2007

Boland Cabernet Reserve 2007

Boschendal 1685 Shiraz 2008

Boschendal Grand Cuvee Brut 2006

Bouchard Finlayson Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2008

Cederberg Sauvignon Blan c 2009

Cirrus  Ernie Els Wines 2007

Boland Cellar Reserve No 1 2007

Boland Cabernet Reserve 2007

Boschendal 1685 Shiraz 2008

Boschendal Grand Cuvee Brut 2006

Bouchard Finlayson Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2008

Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Cirrus  Ernie Els Wines 2007

Distell Collison’s White Gold

Douglas Green Chardonnay 2009

Fairhills Cabernet Sauvignon – Petit Verdot 2009

Fairview Primo Pinotage 2008

Grande Provence Chardonnay 2008

Grande Provence Shiraz 2007

Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Hartenberg Chardonnay 2008

Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2007

KWV 10 Year old Potstill Brandy

KWV 20 Year old Potstill Brandy

La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2009

La Motte Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Linton Park Proprietor’s Reserve Shiraz 2007

Mont Rochelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Distell Nachtmusik

Oude Meester Demant

Ridgeback Journey 2005

Riebeek Cellars Reserve Chenin Blanc 2009

Riebeek Cellars Reserve Shiraz 2007

Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2007

Saronsberg Shiraz 2007

Spice Route Chakalaka 2008

Spice Route Flagship Syrah 2007

Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Leopard Frog Vineyards Tantra 2005

KWV The Mentors Canvas 2008

KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2008

KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009

Distell Three Ships Aged 5 Years

Distell Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish

Distell Three Ships Select

Van Ryn’s 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve

Van Ryn’s 20 Year Old Collectors Reserve

Villiera Traditional Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2009

For the complete list of all the winners  click here.

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Amongst the top ten best Chardonnays of the world are wines from France, Greece, Austria, Spain, Germany, Canada and South Africa, the only new world wine producer to be included in this elite group. Our best Chardonnay on this list is Lourensford Winemaker’s Selection Chardonnay 2009.

CHARDONNAY DU MONDE 2010

Also winning a gold medal is The Abacus Chardonnay – True to Terroir 2008 made by Spier Wines.

Silver Medal winners are:

Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Chardonnay 2008

Spier Private Collection Chardonnay 2008

Tokara Reserve Collection – Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2008

Riebeek Cellars Chardonnay 2009

Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2008

Eikendal Chardonnay 2009

Durbanville Hills Chardonnay 2009

Danie De Wet Limestone Hill Chardonnay 2009

De Wetshof Estate Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2009

Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 2009

Bronze medal winners:

Stellenbosch Drive Chardonnay 2009

Moreson Blanc de Blancs Brut Methode Cap Classique Solitaire

De Wetshof Estate Finesse Chardonnay 2008

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careless food choice.

Katinka is a consultant to winemakers and chefs as well as a visiting lecturer to hotel schools and catering colleges. Her fascination with food and wine pairing began when she was the young wife of a South African diplomat serving in New York. At the many dinner parties they attended, it was fashionable to end the meal with chocolate mousse served with champagne which Katinka found unpalateable – the lovely bubbly nuances became vinegar against the sweetness of the mousse. Feeling impelled to do things differently and expressing this to her husband Albert, he reponded by saying,

 We are young diplomats and will learn how it should be done.  Just follow what the others are doing. You’ll get used to it.

But Katinka’s taste buds did not get used to it and she set forth in her inimitable way, to alter convention. 

Thus her passion for what actually works and what does not when marrying food and wine, become a second career. Diplomatic postings to the United States, Israel, Germany and the United Kingdom and many glasses of wine later, gave Katinka ample opportunity to experiment.

At her workshops she discusses basic principles to think about which once practised a few times become intuitive.

These are - weight  which is for example the difference between a piece of grilled hake and a grilled sirloin steak. The fish is light while the steak is heavy. Wines too, can be light or heavy-bodied. Consider the difference between a dry chenin blanc and a wooded chardonnay. The weight of the food should balance the weight of the wine so that neither overwhelms the other.

Flavour intensity – this is the degree of flavour that a dish has. This is apparent if we have to compare the flavour profile of white meat like

The Food and Wine Pairing Guide

chicken breast, pork fillet or veal schnitzel to red meat. The added flavourings used to prepare white meats play a bigger role than those used for more robustly flavoured meats. Consider the flavour profiles of an unwooded chenin blanc, a riesling or a gewurztraminer and it becomes clear that the more fragrant wines pair well with ethnic dishes from say, Thailand, Japan, North Africa or Mexico.

The five primary taste sensations – sweetness, acidity, saltiness, bitterness and umami (savoury). Wines and foods share basic tastes with wines  having three: sweetness,acidity and in the case of red wine, umami.

Then there are secondary considerations such as sauces, cooking methods, pepper and the echo factor.

Happily for all of us Katinka has in collaboration with Brian Burke, produced The Food and Wine Pairing Guide which explains all of the above aspects in detail and with much more. It is available from Loot.

Even better, if you are in Cape Town contact Katinka to attend one of her workshops on katfoodwine@adept.co.za

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Wellington Wine Harvest Festival

within a short distance of each other. Some of the Wellington wineries stretch over alluvial terraces towards the Swartland’s rolling hills and

Happening this weekend is the annual Wine Harvest Festival from Saturday until Monday with all of valley’s wine farms offering events such as musical entertainment; wine, brandy and grappa tasting; vintage cars and cricket; gourmet food tasting and much more.

The participating wine farms are 5 Mountains, Alkmaar Boutique Vineyard, Andreas, Bontebok Ridge, Bosman Family Vineyards,Bovlei Winery, Diemersfontein, Doolhof Wine Estate, Douglas Green, Dunstone Wines, Mont Du Toit Kelder, Nabygelegen Private Cellar, Oude Wellington Estate, Schalk Burger and Sons, Val Du Charron, Wamakersvallei Winery,  Wellington Cellar and Welvanplas.

My wine recommendations? Don’t miss the Andreas Shiraz and Dunstone’s award winning Shiraz. Schalk Burger & Sons have a big Bordeaux blend, Cricket Pitch and in the Meerkat range Burrow Blend is fantastic for everyday drinking. The Meerkat Chenin blanc is made from grapes off extremely old vines and has character you won’t expect from such a well priced wine. Diemersfontein wines are bold, beautifully crafted wines and offer an excellent example of pinotage.

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Local Chenin blancs are finally coming into their own and it is definitely encouraging to see so many Chenins and Chenin-driven blends making a top listing such as this one in Wine Spectator. I think wine lovers are becoming more adventurous by trying lesser known varietals and eventually enjoying the complexity of flavours offered by a great Chenin blanc.

The wines are here listed together with the wine district or ward where they are produced.

SADIE FAMILY Palladius Swartland 2008

Wine Spectator

KEN FORRESTER Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch The FMC 2008

BOUCHARD FINLAYSON Chardonnay Overberg Crocodile’s Lair 2008

DE MORGENZON Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2008

BOUCHARD FINLAYSON Chardonnay Walker Bay Sans Barrique 2008

BOUCHARD FINLAYSON Chardonnay Walker Bay Missionvale 2008

HARTENBERG The Eleanor Stellenbosch 2006 •

HARTENBERG Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2007

RAATS FAMILY Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2008

BOUCHARD FINLAYSON Sauvignon Blanc Walker Bay Reserve 2009

KEN FORRESTER Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2009

BACKSBERG Chardonnay Western Cape 2007

BOUCHARD FINLAYSON Sauvignon Blanc Walker Bay 2009

MAN VINTNERS Chardonnay Coastal Region 2009

BACKSBERG Chenin Blanc Western Cape 2009

BACKSBERG Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape 2009

KEN FORRESTER Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2009

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Glenelly Estate

An environmentally sensitive 600 ton cellar, created by Swiss, French and South African architects was completed last year. Some of it’s features are that fewer chemicals are used to clean tanks because water at high temperature does the job and under-floor cooling cuts energy costs. The cellar structure blends into the Simonsberg hills because of carefully coloured concrete thus minimising visual impact.

The winemaker is Luke O’Cuinneagain and Adie Badenhorst is the consultant, formally of neighbouring farm, Rustenberg. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, shiraz and chardonnay are the cultivars planted here.

de Lencquesaing is quoted in Decanter.com as saying,

I now intend to spend six months of the year in South Africa. I am very keen to ensure this is a truly South African estate, not to impose too much of my Bordeaux sensibilities on to the land.

I will be running the estate and continuing with the set up of numerous social structures for the employees from estate housing to child care to education and training courses.

All of this at the age of 84 years!

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Voorkamerfest, Darling

How this works is that visitors buy tickets for one of seven routes and get transported by local mini-bus taxis to three different homes, ranging from small township abodes to one of Darling’s grand Cape Dutch houses, where three different performances are presented. On this magical, mystery tour visitors never know who they will see performing until they arrive at the house and the home owners introduce the performers.

This year’s performers include saxophonist Dan Shout with The Onion Project and Tyrone Apollis’ Geroeste Music; Amanda Strydom’s Afrikaans cabaret; comedy theatre with Rafiek Mammon; Garry Naidoo’s Let’s Mix It 2.8GLX and The Fieke and Willie Show starring Riana Alfreds and Charles Tertiens. The Theatre Sports team headed by Megan Choritz will present on the spot improvisation and La Rosa Sapanish Dance Theatre’s Peter Agulhas will perform Solo Flamenco accompanied by musician and vocalist, Lorean Swartz. Writer, poet and photographer Philip De Vos will present his award-winning poetry and songs accompanied by classical painist Tertia Visser-Downie.

Amanda Strydom, Afrikaans caberet artist

International performers include, Willem Vermandere from Belgium and Thijsmoussefay and Room Eleven from the Netherlands.

Make time to stop by Cloof Wines and sample the intense, powerful,  shiraz-based blends from the hardy bush vines. Or GrootePost, to try the  acclaimed chardonnays which gave birth to my love of unwooded chardonnay.

Voorkamerfest takes place on Friday 4th September at 5pm, Saturday 5th September at 12pm and at 5pm and on Sunday 6th September at 12pm.

Tickets cost R99 per route with R1 from each ticket sold donated to the Darling Trust.

For info and bookings contact Tasha on 082-3217542 or 022-4923427.

bookings@voorkamerfest-darling.co.za

Judging by the photos on the website, the event is a rollicking, riotous affair and who knows, you may just bump into  Evita Bezuidenhout.

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Uva Mira tasting room

A visit to the stone, Swiss Chalet style tasting room situated high on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain in the Stellenbosch wine district, leaves you awestruck at the panoramic views of Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island, False Bay and Table Bay. This is a spot where you can see forever!

These unique, high altitude vineyards set at between 420 and 620 meters above sea level, have decomposed granite and shale soils and all of this results in varietal wines which are elegant and distinctive expressions of the site.

With sensitivity to the indigenous fynbos, sustainable viticulture is practised at Uva Mira and proteas are farmed and exported.

The resulting wines have attracted numerous awards including Best SA Wine Producer of the Year and the Best Chardonnay in the World at the 2006 International Wine and Spirit Competition where winemaker, Mathew Van Heerden, was also named as one of  The Top Ten Winemakers in the World.

More recently,  The Platters SA Wine Guide 2009 awarded 5 stars to the Vineyard Selection Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007. Stephen Tanzer ranked the same wine 93 in his International Wine Cellar Rating.

Uva Mira is situated off Annandale Road, Stellenbosch and the tasting room is open to visitors on Mondays to Fridays from 08h00 – 17h00, and on Saturdays and public holidays from 10h00 – 16h00 excepting for Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Tel: 021-8801683

Email: info@uvamira.co.

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