IMAGE COURTESY OF JENNA SHORT, LA MOTTE
AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2021
taste
experience
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With wide open spaces and beautiful scenery all around, weekend Picnics at Boschendal make for a fun family outing. Lounge on lush green lawns with a hearty spread of delicious eats, treats and award-winning wines.
Escape to the award winning Gondwana Game Reserve with luxurious accommodation providing romantic, stand-alone safari suites or bush villas ideal for families, all with awe inspiring views of the mountainous landscape and passing wildlife.
Officially celebrated on 18 August, Haute Cabrière has dedicated the entire month of August to Pinot Noir with a month-long showcase of finest Pinots. Visit Haute Cabrière to immerse yourself in all things Pinot!
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FOOD & WINE
Hello Chescato!
Chescato, the latest release from Leopard’s Leap is refreshingly light with a lower alcohol and charming off-dry character – a delightful choice that is all about conscious consumption and another way of adding quality to life. The sunshine of Chenin Blanc (70%) meets the vibrancy of Moscato (30%) in a bright and beautiful wine with a lovely perfume and a flirty touch of sweetness. As versatile as its blending components, the 2021 Leopard’s Leap Chescato is a wine for all seasons and occasions. With its lively fruit flavours and floral bouquet, it is a delicious glassful to enjoy on its own in a sunny spot, but it can make the most of any weather. Enjoy Chescato as a partner to subtle spices in wintery Malay-type curries or pour generous glasses with summer’s sushi and salads, sandwiches and sweets. Perfect for picnics, parties and
playing – whether it is under blue skies or in front of toasty fires. On the nose – a playful perfume of apple and citrus blossom combined with the enticing flavours of caramelized pear, candied fruit and orange peel. On the palate – juicy with ripe summer fruit, beautifully balanced by a crisp acidity. This new addition to the Leopard’s Leap Classic Range is friendly and fun – easy to enjoy every day of the year. Available at R60 from Leopard’s Leap Tasting Room or leopardsleap.co.za
COMPETITION Buy a bottle of Leopard’s Leap Chescato, follow the instructions on the neck label and stand a chance to win one of five shopping vouchers worth R3000 as well as a snazzy Chescato cooler bag filled with Leopard’s Leap wines. T&C’s on leopardsleap.co.za
Let’s Frite
New kids on the block, Let’s Frite, by @chefreubenriffel and chef @avivliebenberg, has been welcomed with open arms by Franschhoek locals and visitors!
The pandemic has had the restaurant industry on its knees and while the village has said a sad farewell to firm favourite Foliage, Let’s Frite has filled this prime location space with a new, easy, tasty, mostly “burger and frite” menu. The “street-food”, casual vibe of Let’s Frite already has local tongues wagging and taste-buds dancing with the simple, budget friendly menu and unpretentious, friendly vibe.
Made with the finest and freshest ingredients akin to the high standards synonymous with Chef Reuben Riffel, menu items include: Double Cheese – two smashed beef patties, buttermilk bun, melted cheese, chopped lettuce & BBQ sauce for R85; Fried Chicken & Cheese – buttermilk fried chicken, soft bun, melted cheese, chopped lettuce and a ranch dressing for R70 even Squid & Frites for R105. Of course, Frites with mayo or ketchup at R35, complete the menu offering. Available for sit down or takeaway, Wednesday to Sunday 12h00-19h30.
11 Huguenot Street Franschhoek | WhatsApp order number 084 502 5119
Outdoor Adventure Magic at Boschendal Boschendal offers an array of activities to delight all ages.
Explore the farm on horseback – with exquisite views of the Franschhoek Valley. The one-hour guided horse rides are available throughout the day and offer guests a glimpse into Boschendal’s beauty. The MTB and running trails boast some mean climbs and sweet single track rides. Visit the Trail Centre to get permits and advice to navigate all the routes (5km and 10km available) Bike rental bookings are recommended for the weekends and public holidays, or bring your own! The GUIDED FARM TOURS – Complementary for all in-house guests, offer an outdoor adventure experience of a lifetime while the guided hikes and walking tours give rare personal insight into the history of the farm, regenerative farming practices and sustainable gardening. Guests can also try their hand at harvesting seasonal herbs from the herb garden and visiting the chickens at the model farm for some fresh eggs. Little ones won’t want to leave after a visit to the Tree House … Kids aged 5-14 years have the chance to enjoy an authentic outdoor farm experience under the leadership and professional guidance of the Tree House team whilst the adults can unwind and take a well-deserved break. The Tree House playground and pump track is also open to young farm explorers and is valid Monday to Sunday with complementary slots for in-house guests (pre-booking is recommended). Kids can either be booked in for two hour morning, lunchtime or afternoon slot OR a full day programme. Savour the best of farm living at Boschendal. www.boschendal.com
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LIFESTYLE
Shades of Pinot Noir at Haute Cabrière
Celebrating the very best of Pinot Noir this August with a month-long showcase of the finest Pinots … As the world celebrates National Pinot Noir Day on 18 August, Haute Cabrière have decided to dedicate the entire month to Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir and Haute Cabrière go way back! The von Arnims’ dream cellar is built on two pivotal varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The soils of the vineyards are reminiscent of the clay-heavy soils in Burgundy and Franschhoek is one of the few regions in South Africa that produces exceptional quality Pinot Noir wines, despite the warm summers (Pinot Noir favours cooler temperatures). Summers in the Franschhoek wine valley require careful canopy management to ensure the growing conditions are slow and even. When it’s done right, the resulting wines are elegant, balanced, and full of flavour. Pinot Noir is part of the origin story at Haute Cabrière, with too much to share on this exquisite Burgundian varietal to be limited to just one day … Known as ‘the heartbreak grape’ because the vines are extremely susceptible to the elements of nature, requiring a lot of attention, time and energy, an extreme amount of care is needed during the growing process to maintain the Pinot Noir vines. A dry and elegant, well-structured and complex wine, it is amongst the most versatile and stylistically diverse grapes in the world. From Cap Classique’s to Rosé, blends, oaked, unoaked, aged or young … there is a kaleidoscope of shades when it comes to Pinot Noir. Haute Cabrière’s first 100% Pinot Noir was the Haute Cabrière Pinot Noir Réserve, unveiled in 1994. But the exploration of Pinot did not stop there! Each year, the cellar team creates a new vintage of this exceptional wine that encapsulates the Sun, Soil, Vine, Man winemaking philosophy of the von Arnim family. A fruit-forward Pinot Noir Unwooded was then added to the range followed by a summer showstopper – the Pinot Noir Rosé. Pioneering blends with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay became something of a ‘calling card’ for Haute Cabrière, with these varietals seen in all their ranges. Visit Haute Cabrière this month to immerse yourself in all things Pinot! WINE & DINE | The restaurant has paired their Plat du jour menu with Pinot Noir and introduced a tapas flight paired with wine. FIND YOUR SHADE | The tasting room offers a Shades of Pinot Noir tasting – buy one, get one free! SHOP ONLINE | Even if you are unable to join in person, you can still taste your way through the Shades of Pinot Noir mixed case with two bottles each of Pinot Noir Rosé, Pinot Noir Unwooded, and Pinot Noir Réserve. cabriere.co.za
Franschhoek Cellar
– AN INVITATION TO SOMETHING SPECIAL
You are invited to visit the cellar and experience specially curated wine tastings, alfresco dining (with supervised kids playground) and entertainment for the whole family! The sunny skies and warmer winter weather in the Winelands calls for long, laid-back lunches while sipping a glass of fine wine. Dining at Franschhoek Cellar is always an occasion to be enjoyed with delicious food, excellent wine and of course, great company. The restaurant offers the very best in Winelands cuisine with a regularly updated menu curated around seasonality and using only the freshest locally sourced ingredients, including from the very own Franschhoek Cellar garden. There is a fantastic kids menu, a great selection of artisanal beers and some exciting new dishes lighting up the menu. Both winemaker and chef have joined forces to create dazzling food and wine experiences, showcasing the finest wines alongside Franschhoek’s famous artisanal cheeses and chocolates. These decadent pairings with the award winning Franschhoek Cellar wines include specialities such as the Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc with a www.lifebrands.co.za
deliciously creamy goats milk cheese to the more adventurous pungent yet flavourful Gorgonzola paired with the Franschhoek Cellar Baker Station Syrah – worthy of spontaneous applause! The kitchen is open from 11h00 daily and together with lunch items, serves a sensational snack menu and cakes throughout the day. Expect wholesome, hearty and delicious food! Franschhoek Cellar also has a special selection of unique event venues with an option to suit every occasion, be it weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, year-end corporate groups or private gatherings. Franschhoek Cellar is another beautiful asset to the Franschhoek wine route, combining the charms of leisurely country life with the elegance of a world-class venue to suit every need. franschhoekcellar.co.za
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LIFESTYLE
Gondwana Game Reserve Provides a One-of-a-Kind Cape Safari Experience
Only four hour’s drive from Cape Town, lies the award winning Gondwana Game Reserve with luxurious accommodation providing romantic, stand-alone safari suites or bush villas ideal for families, all with awe inspiring views of the mountainous landscape and passing wildlife. Enjoy exhilarating game drives in the free roaming Big 5, 11,000-hectare private game reserve experiencing herds of antelope, lion, hippo, giraffe, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Guests at Gondwana can also participate in bespoke nature activities that truly immerse them in the Cape Fynbos environment and enrich the overall safari experience. With the richest floral kingdom in the world and the recent discovery of the largest known population of a rare orchid thought to be extinct, Gondwana Game Reserve is a bucket list destination not just for a Big 5 safari, but also for anyone with an interest in botany and biodiversity. Gondwana offers a Fynbos Conservation Experience which includes a guided nature walk lead by their resident botanist. Among the 1000 plant, 118 bird, 29 mammal and 21 amphibian species coexisting in the Reserve, participants are bound to uncover fascinating stories as they help monitor and map the types of vegetation found on the reserve. What about a mountain bike safari to experience game up close while in the saddle? Bring your mountain bike or use one of the complimentary bikes on offer to traverse any of the three demarcated trails located in Gondwana’s Protected Endangered Species Area. Family itineraries include a Junior Ranger Programme which sees kids enjoying a few hours out daily and their own dedicated Junior Ranger Field Guide, experiencing what it is like to learn and live on a wildlife reserve. The “little rangers” receive Gondwana backpacks complete with treats, art supplies and a cool custom safari booklet to fill in throughout their stay. Gondwana also provides the opportunity for guests to contribute to conservation by helping to eradicate Black Wattle trees on the Reserve – A great way to get some exercise and give back! Don’t miss Gondwana’s Great Safari Specials for locals! For more information www.gondwanagr.co.za reservations@gondwanagr.co.za | 021 555 0807
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Durbanville Hills Launches Lower Alcohol Wine Range
Keeping in trend with the global shift towards a more mindful lifestyle, Durbanville Hills has launched a new light range that is lower in alcohol and calories. The Durbanville Hills Light Chenin Blanc 2021 is brilliant The Durbanville Hills Light Chenin Blanc and Shiraz wines clear in colour with olive green edges. Inviting vibrant are both at 9% alcohol and around 30% lower in calories. tropical fruit, pear, lime, pineapple, paw-paw and floral Martin Moore, Durbanville Hills’ Cellar Master, emphasises notes unravel on the nose and leads to a refreshing, crisp that taste is the most important factor in wine consumption taste brimming with fruit flavours. decision making and even more so for wines lower in alcohol.
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Martin says that although they harvested the grapes for the Chenin Blanc around two weeks earlier than normal, they were astounded at the abundance of flavour present even at a lower sugar level. The wine was made following the same methods than normal for the full-alcohol wines with no short cuts and no additional technology.
Although the Durbanville Hills Light Shiraz 2021 is a young wine, it is very drinkable. The wine holds a ruby red colour with a lovely combination of ripe plum, black cherry, liquorice, hints of vanilla and star anise on the nose. It’s a mouth-filling wine with soft, silky tannins, sweet dark fruit and hints of vanilla.
The taste is fruit-forward, well-balanced and not much change from the cool climate elegance that Durbanville Hills’ wines has been known for over the years.
The Durbanville Hills Light range is available nationwide and retails for about R79.99 each. www.durbanvillehills.co.za www.lifebrands.co.za
Registration R350 for each Baking Master Class or R950 for all three classes. Time 12h00 Week 1-7 August – Breads of the World Week 2-4 August – All About Apples Week 3-21 August – Grand Bakes BOOKING online@franschhoekshospitalityacademy.co.za
DAILY
Wine prizes from Franschhoek Cellar for the top three teams.
BOOKINGS www.franschhoektheatre.co.za
WINE TASTING
SHADES OF PINOT NOIR
Enjoy a taste of Boschendal’s award-winning wines and some winter sun under the majestic oak trees in the Werf area, or cosy up in the Werf Restaurant with a glass or two of your favourites.
A month-long celebration of Pinot Noir for the whole of August – seven days a week. A tasting of three Pinot wines (Haute Cabrière Pinot Noir Réserve, Pinot Noir Unwooded and Pinot Noir Rosé) for R40pp. Buy one, get one free! The Shades of Pinot Noir mixed case with two bottles each of Pinot Noir Rosé, Pinot Noir Unwooded, and Pinot Noir Réserve is available online at cabriere.co.za/shop/
Nestled in the Franschhoek mountains, Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve offers beautiful hiking trails, spectacular views and diverse plant life with 10 hiking routes of varying difficulty. Open every day of the year! **Note that you must wear a mask when entering the reserve. If you do not have a mask and refuse to buy one at the gate you will not be permitted to enter. INFO www.montrochellehiking.co.za www.lifebrands.co.za
AT HAUTE CABRIÉRE
INFO www.boschendal.com
MON-SUN
DAILY HIKING IN MONT ROCHELLE NATURE RESERVE
ENQUIRIES lionsfranschhoek@gmail.com
Open Monday to Sunday from 10h00 to 17h00 (last seating 16h00) for wine tasting and sales.
18h30 | R150pp
5km | 10km | 17km – Registration @ 07h30 Enter online: entries.onsite-events.co.za Loads of spot prizes. All funds in support of the Franschhoek Lions Club.
Book your table at GlenWood for sushi after the race, limited tables available www.glenwoodvineyards.com
AT THE WERF RESTAURANT
Ten couples, or teams of two, get to test their film knowledge against each other in seven fun-filled rounds.
AT GLENWOOD VINEYARDS
Boerewors & beverages will be on sale by the Franschhoek Lions.
INFO www.boschendal.com
FRANSCHHOEK CELLAR FILM QUIZ AT THE FRANSCHHOEK THEATRE
LIONS WINTER TRAIL RUN
INFO cabriere.co.za
WED-SUN
AUGUST
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Boschendal invites you to celebrate this Women’s Day with a series of picnics accompanied by live music. 12h00-17h00. Tuck into homegrown bounty brimming with delicious produce, freshly baked breads and pies, cheeses, spreads and treats while you relax under the dappled sunlight on the Werf lawn. Double Basket R650 | Single Basket R330 | Kiddies Basket R135.
AUGUST
GUY & THE FRANSCHHOEK HOSPITALITY ACADEMY
WOMEN’S DAY WEEKEND MUSIC PICNICS AT BOSCHENDAL
21 DAILY
LIVE STREAMED BAKING MASTER CLASSES WITH SHIRLEY
7-9 AUGUST
AUGUST
CALENDAR
QUIRKY POPCORN PAIRING
LUNCH
AT OLD ROAD WINE CO.
AT THE WERF RESTAURANT
A treat for the senses awaits with this quirky popcorn pairing. A delicious pairing with funky flavours of artisanal popcorn paired with Old Road Wine CO’s. highly acclaimed range of wines. Join us this July for a pairing and a meal at The Fat Man restaurant and see why all roads lead here. OPEN Mon 10h00-18h00, Tues – Sun 10h00-22h00 Main Road, Franschhoek INFO www.oldroadwinecompany.com
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at The Werf Restaurant with stunning views over the Werf Food Garden. Every dish on the sharing plate menu celebrates home grown, wholesome produce from the farm. Lunch served Wednesday to Sunday from 12h00-15h00 (last orders by 15h30).
INFO www.boschendal.com
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ON OUR RADAR
STAY IN, DINE IN & WORK IN A SPECIAL WITH THE LIZ MCGRATH COLLECTION
Locals in need of a change of scenery can now book t he brand new ‘Stay In, Dine In & Work In’ special on offer at each of the three luxury hotels within The Liz McGrath Collection. Ideal remote-working conditions at each of the three hotels invite guests to combine work and pleasure, presenting professionals with the opportunity to enjoy world-class hospitality in a safe bubble with their loved ones. Families with children are welcome too, as well as their furry friends who will receive 5-star treatment, complete with a special doggy menu, toys and bedding that are available too. Rates start at R3300 per room per night – The ‘Stay In, Dine In& Work In’ offer is valid until 30 September 2021 for both The Plettenberg and The Cellars-Hohenort, whilst validity of the special offer at The Marine, extends until 31 August 2021. (Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability.)
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE FRANSCHHOEK LITERARY FESTIVAL
The Franschhoek Literary Festival Board is delighted to announce the return of the Festival – first in virtual form, then as a complete, in-person event in the Franschhoek Valley in May, 2022. First virtual events are taking place in August 2021.
PLAISIR DE MERLE FAMILY MARKET IS OPEN!
Pop in for a relaxing experience after a long work week. Live music, great food, and of course wine! Fridays (12h00-20h00), Saturdays & Sundays (10h00-17h00). www.plaisir.co.za
Become a member & help keep literature alive in SA. Your Membership will ensure the continuation of the important literacy work in the Franschhoek Valley. flf.co.za/membership
NEW LOOK STEENBERG MERLOT
Ultra-elegant and beautifully mellowed Merlot from the outstanding 2017 vintage is one of the first Steenberg red wines to make its debut with a new sophisticated look. Giving prominence to the iconic swan that signifies the quality and esteem upheld by Steenberg Vineyards since 1682, the stylish new labels have a timeless, yet contemporary aesthetic. The smooth-as-velvet Steenberg Merlot 2017 is perfect for enjoying by the fire or paired with home-style comfort food. Elegant and juicy, teeming with concentrated soft red fruit and hints of vanilla, cedar and clove, this is a lively Merlot of distinctive character. Red cherry and redcurrant entice the nose, while the palate reveals a mouthful of sour cherry, coffee and spice. Crafted for the long haul from vines on the cool Steenberg foothills, the 2017 vintage matured for 18 months in new and older French oak barrels. The result is a vibrant wine with the tannins and acidity perfectly intertwined. There has never been a better time to replenish your winter wine stocks. Steenberg Merlot 2017 and Steenberg Syrah 2017 are available at a cellar door price of R190 and R205 respectively. For more information or online purchases, visit www.steenbergfarm.com
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WRAP IT UP Karien Belle is a South African designer, living between Cape Town, Paris and Delhi. Karien uses the finest fabrics when making her handmade and handembroidered poetry scarves. Bold and wonderfully versatile, her scarves can be we worn as a shawl, wrap, scarf or even used as a colourful throw, draped over furniture. New collection now available at ManzArtPlus, www.manzart.com
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MOTOR
MADE FOR CITY HUSTLE. MADE FOR WEEKENDS AWAY.
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From malls to mountain passes, the new Navara makes getting there an adventure. Rocky roads or potholes don’t matter with a new suspension that provides a smoother ride under any conditions. With more power, fuel efficiency and exceptional loading capabilities, this is the bakkie that’ll get you there in rugged style.
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