SA Fine Wines

Ashton Winery CABERNET MERLOT 2021

Well balanced flavours of ripe dark berries and eucalyptus, complimentary of both cultivars in this blend. The fresh oak supports the flavours very well and fuses the bouquet with the medium bodied smooth palate.

Food pairing: Rack of lamb, burger and chips, or spare ribs.

Franschhoek 1688 CHARDONNAY

Franschhoek 1688 Chardonnay is a vibrant and complex wine with a full, rich, creamy mouthfeel of almonds and vanilla with a lingering aftertaste of smoky peach and citrus. It has the ability to stay fresh for many years in the bottle.

Food pairing: Malay chicken curries, seafood and mature cheddar cheese.

Highgate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Matured for 20 months in French oak, this is a medium-bodied fruitful wine with high tannin and rich flavours of blackberry, black current, pencil lead and cedar.

Food pairing: Grilled meats, peppery sauces and dishes with high flavour.

Clos Malverne AURET 2020

The flagship of the range. A unique, full -bodied Cape blend, with Pinotage, South Africa’s own cultivar. Pleasant tannins, spicy with underlying fruit (ripe berries). It has lovely complexity with good maturation prospects – 5 to 7 years.

Food pairing: Beef wellington or a steak with berry coulis and roast root veg.

Theuniskraal PRESTIGE 2020

Lightly oaked, approachable blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Ruby red in colour, it is a medium-bodied, fruity and well-balanced wine with soft tannins and undertones of oak spice.

Food pairing: Beef, game and mushroom dishes.

Vergelegen CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE 2016

The wine is complex, showing blackcurrants, blackcurrant leaves, blue berries, cigar box, pencil shavings and attractive wood aromas and flavours. It is full and rich with soft, fine grained tannins that bodes well for future ageing.

Food pairing: Lamb and oxtail.

Theuniskraal SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022

An elegant, crisp wine with ripe fruit on the fore-palate backed by asparagus and gooseberries with a hint of grassiness that lingers long on the aftertaste.

Food pairing: Fresh salads, fish, poultry and pasta dishes and also stands up well to soft cheeses.

Vergelegen CHARDONNAY PREMIUM 2021

The wine shows an attractive lemony yellowgreen colour with a complex nose of citrus, peach, tropical fruit and mineral tones. The palate is long and full, with delicate wooding. Beautifully refined and elegant.

Food pairing: Seafood and mussel soup.

Highgate 2019 SAKKIE (PINOTAGE BLEND)

With flavours of dark cherries with a plum finish and berry undertones, this wine is beautifully dark plum colour, with a bouquet comprising of cigar box and hints of dark chocolate.

Food pairing: Marinated beef short rib and other red meats.

Franschhoek 1688 SHIRAZ

Franschhoek 1688 Shiraz showcases power, dimension and elegance, which brings even the most indulgent connoisseur under its long, deep and luxurious spell.

Food pairing: Hearty red meat dishes.

Clos Malverne SHIRAZ ROSè ELLIE MCC 2017

This wine has a light feminine pink tinge, and shows ample fresh fruit intensity and body, leading to a crisp, dry finish. Saffron and strawberry aromas dominate the nose, while the delicate mousse is an explosion of extra fine bubbles that charm the palate.

Food pairing: Tempura prawn, sushi and salmon.

Ashton Winery CHENIN BLANC 2022

A very crisp wine with flinty green characters on the nose and hints of fig and tropical fruits. The sweet middle palate and dry finish ensures a well balanced taste and compliments the bouquet.

Food pairing: Tapas platters or game carpaccio.

Fishing hot spots this summer

By Anglinks, www.anglinks.co.za

Longer days, warmer weather and more fish, it’s the perfect time to be casting.

While fishing is enjoyed all year round, in summer it's a great way to unwind and enjoy the outdoors. Here are a few of the top fishing spots to experience around the country.

Free State The Free State province is blessed with a vast array of fishing locations, including the biggest waters in South Africa. Gariep, Vanderkloof and Sterkfontein are the largest dams by volume in the country, and all of them are known for great fishing. With those in mind it’s amazing to think there are even better options in the Free State.

The fourth largest South African dam, the Vaal dam, is also in the Free State. It has the usual suspects from barbel to mudfish, large and smallmouth yellows, all kinds of carp and even largemouth bass. And because it has the longest shoreline of all our waters there are dozens of venues along it’s sandy banks that cater for all kinds of fishermen. Check out places like Mihanzi and Fisherman’s Hangout who offer great facilities and excellent fishing.

Gauteng Our smallest province does not contain many large dams or lakes but there are still lots of venues to choose from. The Muldersdrift area is especially popular because there are a multitude of small fishing venues like Bergsig, Brookwood and Gnu Valley. Bronkhorstspruit Dam is another popular fishing venue where you catch bass, carp and barbel from the side at places like Baja Dam.

But probably the most visited fishing spot in Gauteng has to be Rietvlei Dam near Irene in Pretoria. It’s well-known for being a carp specimen venue but conventional fishermen have also been consistently successful in recent times. And when the bass are biting you will have lots of fun. The camping area has many decent spots and if you book months in advance, you can secure one of the comfortable, well-equipped chalets situated right on the water.

Limpopo The Limpopo is bush country but is also littered with some spectacular fishing havens. Bass and carp fishing is big here and dams like Mokolo, Doorndraai, De Hoop and Rust de Winter stand out. The Magoebaskloof area also has quite a few smaller venues (like Stanford Lake) and plays host to the beautiful Ebenezer Dam. The Nyl Dam in Mokopane is a specimen carp fishing paradise. However, Arabie Dam (Flag Boshielo, Schuinsdraai) is probably the most lucrative fishing spot in the Limpopo. Besides a very healthy population of huge bass, it also has big carp and lots of kurper, and even a few rare species like Asian carp. In terms of accommodation there are camping spots around the dam but the most comfortable is Aloe Park. They have lots of amenities and even houses to rent in the resort. Just watch out for the crocs!

Mpumalanga The lowveld is rich in beautiful, lush scenery and of course a little place called the Kruger National Park. It also hosts a few spectacular dams like Da Gama, Klipkoppie, Driekoppies, Jericho and Heyshope. You can even catch smallmouth bass at Shiyalongubo Dam in the mountains near Barberton. Or go tiger fishing in the Komati river.

The best overall venue though is Loskop Dam. With its spectacular scenery and crystal clear water it’s easy to see why fishermen flock here. The carp, barbel and kurper population is very healthy and the current SA record bass was caught here not too long ago. Forever Resorts is the main accommodation option and has some fantastic facilities. But there are other affordable options like Kwemvubu Lodge and Marulani Kloof Lodge.

Kwazulu-Natal This province has lots to offer all fishermen. From flyfishing in the Drakensberg mountains to catching tiger fish at Jozini, the options are endless. A favourite fishing area though has to be the Midlands around Howick and Pietermaritsburg. Here you are spoilt for choice. With dams like Albert Falls, Nagle, Inanda and Mearns there is an abundance of fishing available. And there is also a multitude of smaller establishments like the spectacular Beacon Vlei to choose from.

However, Midmar Dam is possibly the go-to fishing destination in the area. A few record bass have been caught in the last few years and the carp fishing is also very good. There are decent chalets in the reserve, as well as lots of camping options. And the facilities are normally some of the cleanest in the country.

Our other coastal provinces have some spectacular freshwater fishing options as well, like Theewaterskloof or Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape for example. But saltwater fishing is the name of the game in those areas. And that’s a whole article on its own...