A technique used by Nico in the latest two vintages was to pick the fruit at three different stages of ripeness – (19.5 degrees Balling – 23 degrees Balling) resulting in freshness as well as richness in the finished wine.

Nico discusses the Eikendal Chardonnay 2009 in this video.

Also presented by Nico were the Eikendal Classique Red Blends 2005, 2006 and 2008 vintages. The 2008 blend consists of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Having more merlot in the equation creates a more old-world style of wine which I find to be classy, understated and well balanced. The tannins are soft while the finish stays and stays.

Food pairings are medium rare medallions of fillet or Carpaccio with fresh beetroot and even a rich chocolate and berry tart.

Eikendal Classique is sold from the farm for R150.00. The chardonnay is sadly sold out so keep a look out for the release of 2011.

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Jordan Chameleon Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008

delivers on price.

The Chameleon Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008 has a bold nose with layers of leather, dark ripe fruit , cassis, mint and violet aromas. The tannins are soft and there is a long finish which leaves some mint flavours on the palate.

Slow cooked lamb will pair well with this Bordeaux blend especially if rosemary is used with the meat.

Available at Pick and Pay Constantia for R59.95 per 750 ml bottle or from cybercellar.com for R63.50.

I rate this wine 17/20 which translates to a superior wine.

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Tamsyn Jeftha and Sacha Claassen

The primary focus of the Development Trust is the Protégé programme, introduced in 2007 to bring about transformation in the wine industry. This year the programme supported three protégés, namely Praisy Dlamini in her final year of the internship and more recent recruits Sacha Claassen from Oudtshoorn and Tamsyn Jeftha from Strand.

These protégés are nurtured through a three year internship programme after the completion of their winemaking studies at Elsenburg College or Stellenbosch University. This valuable mentorship experience of working alongside some of the country’s finest winemakers at different wineries, is designed ultimately to equip the protégés to become producers of excellent wines themselves.

Howard Booysen, the first protégé to complete the internship programme, helped to raise R36 000 for the Guild’s Development Trust this year by putting up seven cases of the first wine under his own private label, the Howard Booysen 2010 Weisser Riesling, at various Guild charity auctions.

The Nedbank CWG Development Trust is also instrumental in providing finance for infrastructure projects at local schools, school tuition fees and bursaries for potential protégé students. This year five boys at Landbouskool Boland Agricultural College received scholarships covering their full school fees and boarding costs. The Trust also paid the school fees of two girls at Bloemhof in Stellenbosch, one of whom hopes to study winemaking next year.

In addition, two final year viticulture and oenology students at Elsenburg College received financial support through the Protégé Bursary Scheme, which is funded through AGRISeta grants.

Nedbank and the CWG established the Development Trust in September 1999 after recognising the social investment responsibility that the South African corporate sector has with regard to the wider community.

The ongoing support of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust demonstrates Nedbank’s desire to make a meaningful contribution to the communities in which we operate and to bring about meaningful change in the wine industry,

says Mike Brown, Nedbank Group Chief Executive.

The Trust is wholly funded by donations and proceeds raised through silent and charity auctions at various Guild events throughout the year. The Guild’s annual auction, the country’s biggest public wine auction of collector’s wines all crafted exclusively by Guild members, also has a strong charity focus in support of the various Development Trust programmes.

Every year a very special charity item is auctioned off to raise funds for the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust. This year’s annual CWG auction item, a unique 12-litre bottle of wine comprising a blend of top 2007 vintage wines from all 41 members of the Cape Winemakers Guild, fetched R16 000.

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PG Slabbert, Cellarmaster at Stellenbosch Hills and Sonja Burger, features writer for Farmer's Weekly, celebrating the new release

In the early years from 1945 onwards, distilled wine for the production of brandy was made. What is interesting about this period is that the first affirmative action winemaker Abe Dawidse managed the cellar alongside the cellar master, Charlie Sparks.

These days PG Slabbert assisted by Juan Slabbert crafts mostly well priced wines from choice grapes supplied by 16 different farms, making Stellenbosch Hills effectively, a co-op. This does not mean that the winery cannot make sexy, boutique wines. To celebrate the anniversary, PG and his team have released the 1707 Reserve Duo.

The 1707 Reserve 2009 is a blend of Chardonnay, Semillon and Viognier. PG explains that the quality of Chardonnay grapes coming out of the Polkedraai Hills is superlative and an easy choice for the main cultivar. Viognier brings an aromatic quality to the blend while Semillon adds a round feel. The result is a buttery yet fresh wine which I found to be perfect. Even though the barrels used were new, they were only lightly toasted so that the blend is not over powering as I find often happens with white blends which have had oak treatment. Definitely a great food wine.

Stellenbosch Hills 1707 Reserve 2009

The companion wine is 1707 Reserve 2008, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Vedot. This wine drinks beautifully right now but can be kept for up to 5 years. It paired well with a rich, cheesy Butternut, Spinach and Feta Rotolo.

The 1707 Duo can be bought at Checkers Retail Stores and at speciality wine shops for around R81.00 per bottle for the red blend and about R60.00 for the white. An absolute steal for these quality wines!

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Kick-about in the vineyard

A change in format will see 50 different wine farms hosting festival events with visitors having the option of leaving their cars at any of 6 Park and Ride stops in Stellenbosch and travelling via a shuttle service to farms. This is included in the price of the ticket. Socceroos will also have the chance to hop on board a shuttle in Cape Town for a ride to Stellenbosch. Or spoil yourself and take the Stellenbosch Wine Festival Heli-Hopper Extravaganza to visit Blaauwklippen, Skilpadvlei & Zorgvliet for tastings.

A host of fun and wine activities will be offered such as potjiekos at Middlevlei; a de-gorging and landrover 4 x 4 experience at Simonsig; a game drive at Villeria and even 5 a side football kick around in the vineyards at Idiom.

Children will be entertained at Bellevue Wine Estate, Middelvlei and Delvera with pantomime productions; cart rides; feeding farmyard animals; horse rides and lots more.

Tickets for the Stellenbosch Wine Festival are available on-line at R150 per person per day which includes free shuttle service and five vouchers to exchange for special activities at the wine farms.

The Golden Pass, R500 is  valid for the entire duration of the festival and includes free shuttle service and twenty vouchers.

Kids under the age of 18 go free accompanied by an adult. For more information on the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, contact 021 886 4310.

The Park and Ride site and shuttle stops are open from 0900 to 17h00 daily.

Shuttle Transfer from Cape Town - On each of the festival days there will be a shuttle transfer departing from and returning to the V & A Waterfront, Clock Tower Center, (where the tour buses make their stops). The departure times are 09h30 and 11h30 and the return times from Doornbosch, in the center of Stellenbosch are 15h00 and 17h00. The shuttle ticket costs R300.00 per person which includes your festival pass for that day. To book you need to contact Norman Stevens on 082 5698299.

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Ilka Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

The Decanter World Wine Awards is the world’s biggest wine competition and it is thrilling to see Cape Town wines holding their own against fierce competition from traditional old world wine producers and emerging  countries alike.

Alluvia’s ilka Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 brought home a prestigious medal for the second year in a row. Named after co-owner Delarey Brugman’s twin daughters, Ilse and Karla, this wine scored 18.4/20 – very good to excellent. Andrew Harris, Alluvia’s Wine Business Manager, comments:

All of us at Alluvia are very proud of this achievement. The ilka Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is an award winning wine with its richness of flavours and velvety elegance. Smart wine buyers and top restaurants will be pleased to know there are still a few cases available before we move on to the next vintage!

Hard to obtain, you may have to take a First or Business Class flight on China Eastern Airlines to sample this winning cab.

Sandy Straw Wine 2009, paying homage to Delarey’s wife,  and Ilke Sauvignon Blanc 2009 were commended by the judges.

In total, 9 South African wineries were awarded Regional Trophies and 13 achieved Gold Medals.

For all of the results visit Decanter , select See results here, then Search by location – South Africa.

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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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Bellvue Estate cellar

Dirkie Morkel is the fourth generation farmer on Bellvue farm which is situated in the Bottlery area between Stellenbosch and Kuilsriver. It was as far back as 1861 that the Morkels began to farm this land.  Some of the vines on the land that is to be mined are 56 year old Pinotage vines.

The Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs has given the go-ahead for the mining to take place. Dirkie Morkel is appealing against the decision and needs as much international and local help that he can get.

Emails can be sent to Corobrik and to the government at the following email addresses:

Department of Mineral and Energy Regional Manager Mr Sivuyile Mpakane sivuyile.mpakane@dme.gov.za

MD of the the mining company Corobrik Mr Dirk Meyerintmktg@corobrik.co.za

Western Cape Manager Mr. Christie van Niekerkchristie.vanniekerk@corobrik.com

I believe that those of us who live in the Western Cape should boycott Corobrik’s products and write to Mr Meyer telling him why.

Bricks can be bought any time but vines that have taken two generations to reach maturity are irreplaceable.

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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

 

 

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Rust en Vrede Merlot 2008

As a festive season splurge we opened the merlot to experience a complex nose of dark fruit with a touch of spice. This full-bodied wine has great structure but with subtle oak, ripe plum and and long finish.

We love the quotations by Thomas Jefferson on the back label.

Rust en Vrede Merlot 2008 sells for R130.00 ($18) from the farm.

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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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