SATURDAY & SUNDAY 2 & 3 NOVEMBER: MELLA SAT POPUP RESTAURANT Join Mellasat Vineyards under the dramatic Drakenstein mountains near Paarl for their seasonal popup restaurant which only appears four times per year. Freshly prepared by international chef Janet Richardson, the spring season will feature local and seasonal ingredients specifically sourced for their inventive menu. Tables will be limited, so don’t miss out. The popup restaurant will be open on the Saturday and Sunday for lunch from 12 noon till 15:00 and dinner on Saturday from 18:30 till 21:30. For reservations and queries call 021 862 4525 or send an email to tanya@mellasat.com THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER: WATER KLOOF SIX SENSES EVENING Water kloof, the beautifully appointed wine estate “in the sky” on the outskirts of Somerset West, will tantalise your senses when it kicks off the 2013 Helderberg Wine Festival with a Six Senses Evening of sublime tastes unique to the area between 17:00 to 21:00. Joining Waterkloof will be more than 20 local wine producers and 10 res taurants, including Avontuur Estate & Res taurant, Somerbosch Wines & Bistro, Blaau wklippen Vineyards & Barouche Restaurant, and Dornier Wines & Bodega Restaurant. Guests will be able to sip on wine whilst chatting to the winemakers, and enjoy the classy ambiance with tasting portions of signature dishes from the participating res taurants – all included in the ticket price of just R200 per person. Tickets also include a branded festival glass, free wine tastings throughout the evening, a R50 food vouch er (more food vouchers wll be available on the evening) and festival wristbands valid for the duration of the Helderberg Wine Festival until 17 November. For more infor mation contact 021 858 1292 or email son ja@waterkloofwines.co.za.
SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER: WAY2WINE Pimp up your trainers and head for the Bottelary Hills Wine Route for the first ever WAY2WINE Trail Run & Wine Extravaganza. This brand new 12 km Trail Run and Wine Tasting Run/ Walk will take you along a scenic vineyard route with ample water stations and a wine stop every 2 km along the way. Impress the judges with your cre ativity, as the bestdressed wine lover will be richly rewarded by winning their weight in wine from participating estates. Both the serious Trail Run and the more relaxed Wine Run/Walk start and finish at Hazendal. There will be a staggered start from 08:30 onwards, while the more serious participants who will be racing against the clock, will start at 08:00. Wine can be pur chased en route at the cellars for collection at the finish at Hazendal, where a festive market crammed with stalls, live music, and lucky draws galore await all finishers. Crèche facilities at Hazendal will offer supervision and a secure indoor play area at R20 per child. The Trail Run & Wine Tasting costs R220 whilst the Trail Run without the wine tastings costs R100 per person. To pre enter, visit www.eventry.co.za. Late entries will be accepted at registration from 07:00 onwards on the day at Hazendal. For more information call 082 496 8839 or email events@rawpromo.co.za. SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER: NEDERBURG SUMMER PICNIC CONCERT Usher in the festive season at Neder burg’s annual pic nic concert where laidback vibes, great tunes and good friends are on the menu. The multiaward win ning instrumental pop group Sterling EQ and The South African Sopranos, who have built a huge following for their renditions of extracts from operas, musicals and other international favourites, will be performing at this year’s summer event. Guests can preorder a picnic basket brimming with freshlyprepared dishes for R180 per person (R75 for children under 12) from Nederburg’s restaurant, The Red Table or bring along your own picnic. No alcoholic beverages may be brought onto the premises; Nederburg wines, soft drinks, mineral waters, tea and coffee will be offered for sale. Guests should bring their own cutlery, crockery, glassware, chairs, blankets and cush ions. The concert starts at 17:00 and gates will open at 15:00 to allow everyone enough time to choose a picnic spot on the lawns surrounding Nederburg’s historic manor house. Concert tickets are R100, with free entrance for kids under 12. Booking is essential; call Su nette on 021 877 5173 or send an email to nedwines@distell.co.za well in advance. SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER: BOTTELARY HILLS POPUP LUNCH Make your way to Kaapzicht wine estate at 12 noon, where the gracious Steytler fami ly will host the last of the jovial Bottelary Hills PopUp Wine makers Lunches for 2013. Expect seasonal gourmet indulgences prepared by veteran chef and master sau cier, Etienne Bonthuys, combined with a stel lar selection of wines at this intimate and un pretentious Winelands affair. Danie Jr and Carin Steytler from Kaapzicht will be joined by fellow Bottelary Hills estates – Goede Hoop, Groenland, Hartenberg, Mooiplaas and Villiera – while Chef Etienne will conjure up a fourcourse feast to match the chosen wines. The cost is R275 per person which includes a wine tasting, the four course meal, and a glass of wine per course. Call 021 886 8275 to book or send an email to marketing@win eroute.co.za. Prebookings are essential as seating is limited.
SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER & SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER: THE MAG IC OF BUBBLES This Cap Classique and Champagne Festival presented by MasterCard takes place in the picture perfect Franschhoek Wine Valley from 12 noon until 17:00 in a grand mar quee on the lawns surrounding the iconic Huguenot Monument. Enjoy the finest Methode Çap Classiques (MCC) to emerge from the wine cellars of South Africa alongside some of France’s best Champagnes. Visitors will also be treat ed to an array of gastronomic delights offered by participating local restau rants. The theme for this year’s festival is black and white, with an emphasis on spots and stripes. A prize will be awarded to the best dressed couple on each day. Tickets cost R200 per person and include access to the festival, a complimentary tasting glass and tasting coupons. Additional vouchers can be purchased on the day. Children under 18 years will be allowed free entry to the festival. Book directly through www.webtickets.co.za. For more infor mation visit www.franschhoekmcc.co.za.
s r e e j T EMILE JOUBERT
Dit gaan oor koel. Nie in hou ding nie, maar soos in letterlik fisiek koel. Want dis in die koel streke waar, volgens baie wynmakers, die beste wyne gemaak word. Die rede is skynbaar voor die hand liggend. ’n Wingerd wat in koel areas geplant word, gaan druiwe dra wat stadiger ryp raak. En hoe langer die rypwordingproses, hoe meer kans het die druif om die maksimum geurspek trum te ontwikkel, waarvan ’n mens mos nou ’n goeie wyn kan maak. Een vol komplekse karaktertrekke, hartruk kend volmaakte geure en geparfu meerde kompleksiteit. Hierdie teorie maak sin vir selfs ie mand wat biologies ongeletterd is en is boonop geneig om waar te wees. Hoewel dit geensins beteken dat goeie wyne nie in warm gebiede gemaak word nie. Diegene wat al in die somer in die wynmekkas van Boergondië en Bordeaux vas, sal kan getuig dat dit daar omtrent so warm soos ’n boere worsrol in Kakamas kan raak. En kyk hoe lyk hul wyne. Elgin is SuidAfrika se bekendste koel wynstreek danksy goeie reëns, ’n klam mistigheid, matige somertempe rature en die feit dat die Atlantiese Oseaan vanaf Elgin met ’n Pinot Noir
Met Cluver en Catherine kan jy nie anders as om koel te wees nie korrel raakgegooi kan word. Die plek is ook groen en mooi, met skerp kranse, woude, mere en ’n landelike rustigheid. Dit is ook die streek waar mens gerus kan wyk van jou gewone wynvoorkeure en iets besonders op die proef stel. Hier beveel ek twee wynsoorte aan: Pinot Noir en Chardonnay. Vir Chardonnay is die Paul Cluverwyn plaas die plek om te wees. Die wynmaker, Andries Burger, is ’n dissipel van die Boer gondiese wynstreek, waar Chardonnay die kitaar slaan. En Andries maak ’n Paul Cluver Chardonnay wat met die bestes in die wêreld kan saampraat. Ja, ek is bewus daar is mense wat glo aan ABC – Anything But Chardon nay. Hierdie houding is te danke aan die hompe houtgeure wat in die Char donnays van 15 jaar terug aangetref word. Tye het verander. Mense soos Andries gebruik houtveroudering om die wyn ’n talmende nasmaak en ro
merige tekstuur te gee. Die na tuurlike en klassieke Char donnaygeure van sitrus, neu te en appelkoos voer die botoon, met ’n sappige suur struktuur wat sorg dat die wyn fris, vars en skoon bly. Onthou die naam – Paul Cluver Chardonnay. Won derlik saam met gebraaide vis, hoendergeregte en pastas met ’n roomsous. Pinot Noir is die ander El ginwynstyl wat jou knieë lam maak. Hierdie rojale rooidruif ontwikkel baie mooi in die streek, en een van die beste voorbeelde is die Catherine Marshall Pinot Noir van Elgin. Tipies aan Pinot Noir, is die wyn se kleur aan die ligte kant – die druifsoort se dop is dun en gee dus minder kleur in die sap af as, sê nou maar ’n Ca bernet Sauvignon of Shiraz. En in die mond wys Catherine se Pinot Noir waarom hier die wynsoort so uniek is. Geure van kersies en gerookte vleis word onder steun deur misterieuse trekke van sam pioen. Wat jy kry met die sluk van hier die Pinot Noir is die geur van ’n sonni ge vrugteboord en terselfdertyd dié van ’n donker, nat woud net ná die reën. Als in een glas. Magies, bekoorlik. En o, so koel.
EMILE JOUBERT is ’n genieter van wyn, iets waarmee hy hom heel dag besig hou in sy werk as wynbemar kingskonsultant en skrywer.
Elgin does it Elegantly Where to stay and eat
In comparison to the more genteel, traditional wine routes of Stellen bosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, Elgin is the wild frontier, offering visitors a wine experience with a difference. First of all there is the unspoilt beauty of the valley, with rugged mountains, forests, lakes and rolling green hills covered in a patchwork of fruit orchards, olive groves and vineyards. And then there are the winemakers – an eclec tic bunch of mixed background and heritage who now call the valley home and are working together to produce terroirspecific wines that are receiving exceptional acclaim. From the first viticulture pioneers in the mid 1980s, many newcomers have recognised the winegrowing potential of this fertile valley with its cool climate, leading to the establish ment of a wine community populated by some of the most talented and interesting characters in the local wine industry. Recognised for their superior fruitdriven and complex structured wines, it’s no wonder everyone is talking about the wines of Elgin Origin. And it’s no wonder they have named their wine route Elegantly Elgin. Their wines are characterised by elegance and finesse, with low pH, good natural acidity and bal anced, ripe flavours. The viticulture pioneers in the eighties were the RawboneViljoens at Oak Valley and the Cluvers at De Rust, the Paul Cluver family farm. Today the Elgin Valley Wine Route comprises 17 members, including established and highly
acclaimed estates such as Shannon Vineyards, Iona, Almenkerk, Catherine Marshall Wines and Elgin Vintners. The enthusiastic new pro ducers such as Elgin Ridge, Spioenkop Wines, Charles Fox and Oneiric have further strength ened the area’s production and visitor appeal. With a wealth of coveted local and interna tional awards behind them, the Elgin Valley wine producers launched their official Wine Route in October 2012. The route took flight through a concept called “Open Wine Week ends”, where once a month all 17 wine estates open their cellar doors to the public, allowing consumers to fully experience Elgin’s wine of fering. The Elegantly Elgin Wine Route members in alphabetical order are: Almenkerk; Arum dale; Charles Fox Wines; Elgin Ridge; Elgin Vintners; Hannay & Catherine Marshall Wines; Highlands Road Wines; Iona Vine yards; Lothian Wines; Mofam Wines; Oak Valley Wines; Oneiric Wines; Paul Cluver Wines; Shannon Vineyards; Spioenkop Wine; South Hill Wines; Winters Drift. For more information contact Elgin Valley Tourism on 021 848 9838; Elgin Valley Wine Guild on 021 848 9838; info@elgin wine.co.za; www.elginwine.co.za. ) The next Elegantly Elgin Open Wine Weekend is from 2–3 November, followed by the Elgin Open Gardens Weekend from 9–10 November. So take the road less travelled – there has never been a better time to meander off the beaten track and experi ence the magic of the Elgin Wine Valley.
Accommodation . South Hill – Valley Road Sally King: 083 627 7950 . Oak Lane Cottages – Valley Road Michelle Loos 021 844 0248 . Old MacDaddy – Valley Road 021 844 0245 . Mofam River Lodge – Appletiser Road Candice Scheepers: 021 846 8345 . Rose Cottage – Highlands Road Mandy Millsap: 083 261 0674 . Weltevrede Cottage – Highlands Road Anél la Cock: 076 405 7536 . Wildekrans Country House Alison Green: 028 284 9827 . Houw Hoek Inn Paul / Stephan: 028 284 9646
James Downes of Shannon Vineyards, chairperson of the Elgin Winemakers Guild.
Eateries . Brinny Breezes @ Old Mac Daddy 076 578 7700 . South Hill 021 844 0343 . Fresh @ Paul Cluver 071 563 6020 . Flavours @ Mofam River Lodge 021 846 8345 . Platform 1 Eatery @ Winters Drift Tasting Station 082 379 2623 . The Pool Room@Oak Valley 021 859 4111 . Houw Hoek Inn 028 284 9646
PAUL CLUVER FOREST THEATRE: Visit the Paul Cluver farm De Rust during their annual summer music festival for a truly magical experience. Take your own pic nic, blanket and cushions, and enjoy a worldclass concert under the towering Eucalyptus forest which circles the intimate openair arena. This year’s lineup in cludes performances by Suzanne Vega on 1 and 2 November at 19:00 (gates open at 17:) and the Hope Music Festival on 30 November at 15:00. Book at Com puticket. Visit www.cluver.com for full pro gramme details.