Franschhoek Style | Summer 2012 by Brett Rothmann

Summer 2012

R24.95

Waterfalls

•

The Butcher y

•

Chamonix

Contents COVER

Chamonix Chamonix (Eddie Wilson @ Foto Artist Studio)

4 6 10 12 15 16 18

Letter from the Editor Helen Naudé

Quick Ones

21 22 26 28 32 34 36 40

GM&AHrens

42 44 46 48 56

Motoring

Bubbly house

Good Wines Winners

Susan Huxter Profile

Take the kids along Family destinations

Good Art Local galleries

Domaine des Anges Beautiful homes

Old Vines Valley pride

Good Buys Easy shopping

Valley information

Summer Diary Events calendar

Charmonix Estate restaurant

Recipe Eating well

30 Huguenot Street Historical beauty

Waterfalls Nature

New Giulietta

La Sereine Choice property

The Good that People Do Helping others

Good Books Literary festival

À Bientôt! Backpage conversation

"Reflecting the good life in Franschhoek" PUBLISHER Schäfer Media CC PO Box 92, Franschhoek, 7690 021 876 3460 www.franschhoekstyle.co.za EDITOR Helen Naudé editor@franschhoekstyle.co.za MANAGING EDITOR Siegfried Schäfer siegfried@franschhoekstyle.co.za ADVERTISING SALES Merilyn Chance sales1@franschhoekstyle.co.za 083 301 2927 PUBLISHING ASSOCIATE Barry Phillips barry@franschhoekstyle.co.za 083 441 8280

Editor

letter from the

Welcome to the summer issue of Franschhoek Style

Strange isn’t it? We are rejoicing in the fullness of summer while the world is groaning under the yoke of lean, mean austerity. Summer for us here in the winelands means things are in full swing. On our farms it’s harvest time and for tourism it’s peak time. A process has come full circle. Autumn slowed us down and loosened tensions; winter watered the land and bundled us into warm clothes; spring reawakened life and turned greys into pastels; and now it’s summer. This is the time we’ve been preparing for, when things come to fruition, when the preparation and nur turing pay off. The year hits target. The world economy has by all accounts not hit target and we are told that we too will have to tighten our belts. Have we done something wrong? It’s as if someone is hitting us below the belt! We’re no strangers to prudence and pruning – we cut back in the vineyards and orchards every winter to ensure good growth. We always keep our revs up, because we do life and life is good in summer. When you’re done cutting back, cutting out and chipping in, why don’t you come here and loosen your belt a notch or two? The mountains are always beautiful, the food is wonderful, the wines win prizes and our village has many stories. You’ll see what I mean as you amble through this issue of Franschhoek Style.

Enjoy the read.

Helen.

IMAGES La Motte, La Petite Ferme, Siegfried Schäfer, Seeff Properties, Penchant Design, Eddie Wilson - Foto Artist Studio, Solms-Delta, StockXchange, Participating Galleries, Tokara, Haute Cabrière, Artemis, Chamonix, GM&AHrens, Le Quartier Français, Joostenberg, Pam Golding Properties, Podlashuk Charitable Foundation, Christine Fourie DESIGN & LAYOUT David Silberbauer Virtual Da Vinci Creative Room david@virtualdavinci.co.za WEBMASTER Phillip van Wyk Virtual Da Vinci Creative Room phillip@virtualdavinci.co.za PRINTING Paarl Media Paarl, Western Cape CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Helen Naudé, Siegfried Schäfer, Franschhoek Style Editorial Desk, Cathy Clayton, Nick Norman, Carina du Randt, Michele Lupini, Heleen du Toit, La Motte, Artemis, Solms-Delta, Prof Izak Rust, Jenny Hobbs, Gerda Willers, Charmonix, Podlashuk Charitable Foundation, Andrea Desmond-Smith, Anna-Marie Eksteen Franschhoek Style is published quarterly by Schäfer Media, in conjunction with TCB Publishing, a member of TCB Group. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Schäfer Media, TCB Publishing or any of their clients. Information has been included in good faith by the Publisher and Editor, and is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. No responsibility can be accepted for errors and omissions. No material (articles or photographs) in the publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without specific written permission from the Editor. Submissions of articles and photographs for the publication are welcome, but the publisher, while exercising all reasonable care, cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. Unless otherwise arranged with the editor, please ensure that all correspondence is e-mailed to editor@franschhoekstyle.co.za Copyright © 2012. All copyright for material appearing in this magazine belongs to Schäfer Media, TCB Publishing and / or the individual contributors. All rights reserved.

www.tcbgroup.co.za • www.virtualdavinci.co.za

information

Quick

ones

Text: Editorial Desk, Heleen du Toit, Nick Norman, Cathy Clayton, Gerda Willers Images © Penchant Design, La Motte, StockXchange, Siegfried Schäfer, Eddie Wilson - Foto Artist Studio, Haute Cabrière

Cape Winelands Cuisine

La Motte estate, known for its commitment to cultural excellence, recently launched an important cookbook – Cape Winelands Cuisine. “What really makes this book so special is that it is the first time in the history of South Africa that such a complete and detailed traditional recipe book with historical, scientifically based recipes is published”, says La Motte CEO, Hein Koegelenberg. Our local cuisine originated after Jan van Riebeeck settled in the Cape in 1652 to establish a way station for the Dutch East India Company. Chefs at the Cape had to improvise and adapt their recipes in accordance with available ingredients, which set the table for creativity in what has become Cape Winelands Cuisine. Hetta van Deventer-Terblanche, Culinary Manager of Pierneef à La Motte restaurant, with the help of Chef de Cuisine Chris Erasmus and Sous Chef Michelle Theron, researched the Old-Cape chefs’ “lost” recipes and “forgotten” knowledge. The collection of recipes in this book is derived from favourite and family recipes, from all the crazes, cultures, flavours and fancies which make up the regional cuisine of the Cape Winelands. You’ll find many an old favourite, suitably updated, in Cape Winelands Cuisine - from frikkadels to pickled tongue, from oblietjies to kwartiertertjies and apple pie. Micky Hoyle’s photographs beautifully illustrate the recipes. The book is available at bookshops and the La Motte farm shop. www.la-motte.com Tel. +27 (0)21 876 8000

Fruit – les fruits • Sunshine – le soleil • Being warm – avoir chaud • Beach sandals – les tongs Straw hat – le canotier (worn in Renoir’s Déjeuner des Canotiers) Heleen du Toit, French language teacher in Franschhoek.: 084 527 0060

Corner

French

Summer in France means outdoors – mountains, forests, parks or more likely, the seaside. Paintings from Matisse, Boudin and Picasso portray popular beaches (even to this day) - Honfleur, Collioure, St.Tropez... Sun, beaches, sailboats, straw hats... Dufy summed it up beautifully: Collioure sans voiles. C’est un soir sans étoiles. (Collioure without sails is a night without stars). In the Capital the unlucky ones lie on the banks of the Seine, which are transformed into a “beach resort”, complete with palm trees, deckchairs and 6000 tons of sand.This past summer even witnessed a 5m high Disney Sleeping Beauty sand castle.

Franschhoek

Rocks Gems

Citrine is a member of the quartz family and relatively rare in its natural pale yellow colour. It is common practice today to heat-treat amethyst (also a quartz) and miraculously turn it into citrine! Unfortunately citrine is often confused with, or even marketed as, the more expensive Golden Topaz and this practice has led to authentic citrine being viewed in a somewhat second-rate light. However the finest citrines have a pure yellow colour, which is very different from the orange-brown golden topaz. The name ‘citrine’ is apparently derived from the French word for lemon – ‘citron’, which is quite close to the English word for citrus. There are those who confuse it with the French car – we often have people asking for Citroën! In my opinion the beautiful natural colour of citrine associates it with hope, cheerfulness, youth and health. It is the perfect stone for summer. Cathy Clayton, Penchant Design, www.penchantdesign.co.za, 021 876 3094

Geology We’re surrounded by it. It’s the essential foundation of the mountains that tower over Franschhoek and its farms. Not as sand, of course, but as the main – almost only – component of the sandstone rocks that are but scantily covered by their fynbos cloak. If it seems too drab for you to want to read about it, think again. Sand is for the most part made of a mineral that is just as remarkable as gems: Quartz. Without it no Clifton beach, no mortar for building and, consider this, no windows – windows that keep the wet and the wind out but let the light in. Quartz is just about indestructible. Many of the sand grains at the mouth of our longest river, the Orange, have probably travelled thousands of kilometres. Some may even have started life as perfect shiny six-sided crystals, billions of years ago. They are here today as a symbol of the miraculous world we live in. Although the sand that floors most of the Franschhoek valley is largely quartz, a lot of what you lie on as you work on your tan in Arniston, is made up of tiny grains of shell and coral-derived limestone. The sand that squeaks under your feet in Zanzibar, too, consists almost entirely of fine grains of limestone, as white as the coral reefs where they started. Who said sand was boring? Nick Norman co-author of Geological Journeys (Struik Nature, an imprint of Random House Struik)

Leucospermum cordifolium Common names: pincushion (Eng.), speldekussing, bobbejaanklou, luisiesbos (Afr.)

This species only occurs naturally on rocky sandstone slopes in a small part of the extreme southwestern Cape. It has however become a very popular cut flower in many parts of the world. Each flower is in fact a ‘flower head’ consisting of many flowers and it is the protruding styles of the individual flowers that give it its common name. Pollination is by both insects and birds, particularly the Cape sugarbird. Ants collect the seeds and store them underground where they will only germinate after fire has destroyed the mature plants.

Haute Cabrière Cellar Restaurant “It’s familiar, yet refreshingly new,” is how one could summarise a visit to the relaunched Haute Cabrière Cellar Restaurant. This Winelands icon underwent an elegant makeover, just in time for high season. The décor now features sparkling chandeliers, crisp white linens and bright artworks – several by cellar master and Cabrière founder Achim von Arnim. Also new is Head Chef Ryan Shell. Regulars don’t have to fear, stalwart dishes like the creamy mussels and seared tuna remain, alongside new ones such as Asian-inspired Beef Wellington. Ryan says his menu will change seasonally and reflect his latest gourmet finds. In keeping with the restaurant’s theme of “the true marriage of food and wine”, dishes are designed around Haute Cabrière wines and Pierre Jourdan MCCs. Main courses are available as half-portions and all dishes are paired with appropriate wines. “I like to think of Haute Cabrière as a diamond that my father has created, this new phase is simply revealing another facet to its beauty”, says Takuan von Arnim of the relaunch. www.cabriere.co.za, 021 876 3688

Summer in the vineyards and cellars Summertime! Harvest time! Busy time! By December, protein stabilisation, cold stabilisation and filtration are done and dusted, and the wooded whites and easy-drinking fruitdriven reds are champing at the bit to be bottled. With the previous vintage out of the way, winemakers busy themselves with preparation and planning for the upcoming harvest madness. They clean the cellar, order yeast and chemicals, and check barrels. Cellar staff service equipment and make sure that harvest bins and crates are clean and ready. Base wine for Cap Classique undergoes two fermentations. For this a low sugar percentage is needed. That’s why these grapes steal a march on the rest of the harvest and are picked in early January, well before grapes for still wines. Later in January it’s the turn of the early white and red grapes. Then, in February, harvesting reaches a peak. Sugar percentage, acidity, phenolic ripeness and the flavours of the grapes determine when they are picked – all according to the style of wine the winemaker has in mind. Heavenly smells of fermentation now waft through cool cellars. Between you and me, a by-product of fermentation is lots of carbon dioxide. Don’t tell the greens. In the vineyards growth slows down and eventually stops in December. All energy produced by the leaves now goes to the bunches. Crop size has a big influence on the quality of the fruit and therefore the wine. Tipping and topping helps with the ripening of the berries and the concentration of flavour. Withholding time is necessary before grapes are harvested, so no more spraying of vines in December! Thinning out of leaves promotes even ripening and colouring, but is done in such a way that bunches do not get sunburnt. Careful irrigation alleviates the effects of severe summer temperatures, avoiding vine stress during ripening. Vineyard and cellar workers can’t escape stress at harvest time and probably suffer from lack of sleep. They live for this exciting time, but beware, do not rub them up the wrong way – it might not be pretty. This is not the result of over-indulging in the fruit of the vine, but of overwork. Let them be though - we all get to enjoy the fruit of their labour later in the year. Gerda Willers wine-maker Four Paws

Calendar

Diary

Summer

Text: Editorial Desk, La Motte, Artemis, Solms-Delta, La Petite Ferme Images © La Motte, Artemis, Solms-Delta, La Petite Ferme, Eddie Wilson - Foto Artist Studio, Siegfried Schäfer

Look out for: Wine Tasting 101 at Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards – restarts in March. Tel. 021 876 2770 Saturday Farmers’ Market at Holden Manz Wine Estate Tel. 021 876 2738 Sunday Morning MTB Outrides Tel 082 578 3017 (Geddan Ruddock) Franschhoek Motor Museum Open daily Tel 021 874 9000 Huguenot Memorial Museum Open daily Tel 021 876 2673

Solstice Celebrate the mid-summer solstice by walking the labyrinth at Ar temis on Wednesday 21st December with owners Kobus and Andrea. The evening includes a fascinating audio/visual presentation by well-known local photographer Paddy Howes. The ‘entrance fee’ is bringing and sharing a plate of snacks, or something to drink. The labyrinth walk star ts at 18h30, in the evening light, and the presentation follows afterwards. Ar temis, 37 Uitkyk Street, Franschhoek Phone 021 876 3591

Franschhoek Oesfees Celebrate the end of harvest The fifth annual Solms-Delta Franschhoek Oesfees will be held on Saturday 24 March 2012 from 11h00 to 21h00. This music, food and wine festival marks the end of the harvest in a celebration of traditional live Cape music, Kaapsekos and footstomping revelry in the beautiful Cape Winelands. For more information go to www.solms-delta.co.za (Events tab) and follow on facebook.com/solmsdelta or email info@solms-delta.co.za Tel: 021-874 3937.

La Motte Classical Music Concerts 4 February Christina Ortiz (piano) 18 February Syrinx Trio (flute, hobo, fagot) 24 March Kronos String Quartet Concerts start at 19:00 and admission is R160 per person. Booking can be made by phoning Angela on +27 (0)21 876 8000.

Friday Night Live Glorious summer evenings means “Friday Night Live” at La Petite Ferme. It’s traditional for locals and visitors to enjoy the breathtaking sunset and amazing live music while enjoying a delicious meal and a bottle of La Petite Ferme wine. Kids play on the lawn and itchy feet take to the dance floor. R150 p.p. for a meal, bottle of wine per couple and enter tainment For reservations e-mail reception@lapetiteferme.co.za or Tel 021 876 3016

Solms-Delta Summer Concerts The Solms-Delta and Die Burger Summer Concer ts Series, runs on Saturday evenings from 14 January to 10 March 2012. Outdoor live concer ts set in the beautiful Franschhoek Winelands.A glass of Solms-Delta wine, and hearty Fyndraai Kaapse Braai Buffet complete the picture as you enjoy the music. Farm musicians Lekker Lekker Delta and the Delta Valley Enter tainers perform on the same bill as well-loved artists from the South African music industry. Time: 7.00pm to 9.30pm. Cost: R195pp, Children under 12yrs R95. Bookings: call Henry on 021 874 3937 or email: restaurant@solms-delta.co.za and see www.solms-delta.co.za

estate

Mon Plaisir restaurant at Chamonix is even better than before. It has relocated to a perfect location next to the estate’s wine tasting room – a former blacksmith’s cottage. Text: Chamonix | Images © Chamonix (Eddie Wilson - Foto Artist Studio)

Restaurant Deck

ission Statement: Chamonix Chairman Chris Hellinger says: “I am concerned about South Africans’ costing of food and wine products throughout the country, which is exorbitant and even more expensive than in Europe. Visitors must feel they have a fair deal and a cost-price value that is attractive.” He added, “Our wines will be sold in the Mon Plaisir restaurant to accompany David Sadeh’s top gourmet food at cellar door prices. When you buy the wine it is the same price, whether you are drinking and eating at our restaurant, or buying them at our cellar door.” The idea is that visitors and locals should be “able to drink the best wine with gourmet food in the valley at a price that is attractive and value for money.” Chef David’s new menu is filled with authentic French dishes, which are sure to please food lovers’ palates. A Chamonix wine is recommended with every item on the tapas and light meals menu for an ideal food and wine pairing. Tapas, as well as charcuterie and French cheese platters, are not limited to the Mon Plaisir restaurant and can also be enjoyed under the oaks outside the Chamonix wine tasting room. From the tasting room a step or two lead down to the newly built restaurant. Big glass doors on the nor thern side of the restaurant open onto a large deck next to a stream. Big shady trees make it spot-on for summer lunches. The new tapas and light meals menu is ideal for lunchtime – the well-considered food and wine pairings make choosing easy. Chamonix’s Rouge is paired with ‘Prosciutto Ham with olive oil roquette salad’, the Pinot Noir with a Charcuterie platter and the Chardonnay Reserve with ‘Prawns Tempura with exotic mayonnaise’. For a midday desser t the ‘Crème Brûlée with Bourbon vanilla pod’ is a sure winner. If you take the kids along when going for lunch or wine tasting, they can amuse themselves on a jungle gym. This will leave you free to focus on the pleasant task of food and wine selection. After sunset, fairy lights bring a touch of romance to evening dining. It would be fitting to order frog legs (cuisses de grenouille) – you know you’ve always wanted to! ‘Chalmar Beef Fillet Chateaubriand’ would be a good main course with one of Chamonix’s elegant red wines. A lighter option would be David’s famous ‘Scallops à la Provençal’. If you fancy apple tar t for desser t (and who won’t?) David will make you the real French version. When discovering the wines of Chamonix, remember that their Chardonnay is consistently excellent and won their winemaker, Gottfried Mocke, the much-coveted title of Diners Club Winemaker of the Year in 2006. Chamonix’s Pinot Noir Reserve 2010 is stellar. Few connoisseurs were surprised when it received a rare 5-star rating in the prestigious Platter’s SA Wines guide… and then it got even better when the guide awarded it the 2012 Red Wine of the Year title! Don’t neglect to taste the Chamonix Rouge and Chamonix Blanc – both excellent value – before deciding which wines to take home. Whether you go for wine tasting, lunch or dinner, this lovely place will charm you. You’ll surely want to return.

Chalmar Beef Fillet Chateaubriand

Tasting Room

www.chamonix.co.za • 021 876 8426 – www.monplaisir.co.za • 021 876 2393 Mon Plaisir Restaurant

GoodFood

recipe

Images © Siegfried Schäfer

Panfried Yellowtail with a warm baby potato, strawberry, asparagus and spinach salad with white wine and thyme reduction Restaurant: CafÉ Des arts Chef: Chris Hoffman Ingredients 800g fresh yellowtail (4 portions) 16 baby potatoes 20 strawberries 600g fresh asparagus 200ml white wine 5g thyme 40g Chevin cheese 40g baby spinach 60ml butter olive oil for frying salt & pepper

method Step 1: Boil potatoes Step 2: Blanche asparagus Step 3: Lightly panfry the potatoes, asparagus & strawberries with a bit of butter. Step 4: Take off heat and toss in the spinach and Chevin. Season to taste. Step 5: Panfry the fish on both sides until half cooked. Add the white wine and thyme. Step 6: Reduce the wine with the fish still in it. Add 60ml butter and stir until the sauce is thick and creamy. Serves 4 021 876 2952 • cdafranschhoek@gmail.com

history

The

Butchery Text: Anna-Marie Eksteen | Images © Eddie Wilson - Foto Artist Studio

30 Huguenot Street The Butchery no longer sells meat. Today it sells décor and art. The other buildings in this once utilitarian complex are also a far cry from their original purposes as fodder store and tobacconist.

O Fr anschhoek

Photolab & D

Ar tefact

esign Studio

riginally dating from the 1880s, this building complex was renovated in the ver y attractive Cape Victorian Style during the 1980s. During 2010, extensive interior renovations were under taken to make it what it is today – the most authentic of Franschhoek’s lifestyle shopping centres. But let’s turn back the clock. The erven on which The Butchery stands were once part of the farm Cabrière, and after subdivision in 1860 first registered in the name of Andries Hendrik le Roux in August 1877. Le Roux sold it to Christiaan Hendrik Wolhuter in the 1880s, who in turn sold it to Cornelis Nicolaas Louw (Uncle Kerneels). The building on the corner of Daniël Hugo Street (now Franschhoek Photolab & Design Studio) was probably built in the 1920s and was Uncle Kerneels’s storeroom for the fodder that he sold across the road at what is now Huguenot Square – where Essence and Sotheby’s are. His house was next to the current Reuben’s restaurant. This corner shop was freestanding and not connected to the rest of the complex. At the side of the building a staircase gave access to the loft from where the young boys had to carry the fodder down to Uncle Kerneels’s shop. One of these boys was Uncle David le Roux (a previous owner of historic Burgundy). They received a handful of doemela-klontjies (small sweets) as a reward for their efforts. The buildings in this complex were joined to form a unit when they were first restored. Mr Bromfield, the local barber, was once the owner of the first one, now the olive oil shop in House of Wines. On days when he had started tippling a bit too early the children had to dodge to save their ears from being cut off! Next to the barber was Jan Pepler’s café, now the other part of House of Wines, which also includes what used to be Granny Wolhuter’s small house. Her husband built this building and also Le Ballon Rouge. The children loved Granny Wolhuter, as she baked rusks and biscuits for them in her wood stove. Artefact, an art studio shop, is now where Granny Wolhuter’s backyard was.

Toca Mader

Next to the café was the well-known butchery of the brothers Matheus and Dries Pepler (now Toca Madera and Holden Manz Collection). Eduard le Roux of the farm Burgundy supplied most of the cattle for the butchery. The animals were herded to town by Jan Jakkals (Fox) du Toit. During those years there were no slaughtering facilities. The animals were rounded up on a cement slab in Unie Street, where it was Dries Pepler’s job to shoot them. One day he accidentally hit Auntie van Tonder who lived on the farm Waterval (now Chamonix). She was sitting peacefully on the stoep when a bullet suddenly pierced her shoulder and embedded itself in the wall behind her. Auntie van Tonder was furious and sued Uncle Dries for £400. Fortunately the case was settled out of court. In due course an abattoir was built higher up the pass – approximately where L’Avenue de Franschhoek is today. On the stoep in front of the butchery was a scale with a hook where the carcasses were weighed. There were no cold-rooms then, the meat was hung in a wire mesh room cooled by circulating air. They slaughtered every day and delivered meat to customers by bicycle. When Karel Pepler joined his father in 1954 the name of the butchery was changed to Pepler & Son. Next to the butchery was the Indian shop of Achmat Khan. He lived behind his shop in a small tin cottage. In this odorous shop he sold roll-tobacco, curry and sweets. He often had to bear the brunt of children’s pranks. A few would provoke him in order to divert his attention while others stole sweets and ran away. Khan Taki's eventually sold his shop, which was later converted into a dwelling where the Veldsmans lived. It then became a home industry, then the Franschhoek Pharmacy and today it is Taki’s pub. A visiting BBC journalist recently remarked that these historic buildings were the most charming she had seen in Franschhoek. One can see why.

House of

Holden Man

a Country

Wines

z Collectio

Water fall! Text: Prof Izak Rust Images © L'Ormarins, Siegfried Schäfer

umbling, gushing, spraying, rushing, roaring, tinkling …. Big and small, all over the world waterfalls are a magic and inspiring spectacle, streams and rivers engaged in extreme spor t, so to speak. As the seasons come and go the volume of rushing water may vary, but its dynamic power never fails to intrigue, amaze, excite, astound, impress, and even frighten us. Here in the Franschhoek valley it is the petite mountain streams that entertain us with their juvenile exuberance, hopping downstream in mad abandon. From time to time during winter a delicate lacework of white-water mini-waterfalls decorates the cliffs of DuToitskop Mountain in the wake of particularly heavy downpours, but so steep is the slope that the cascading flow cannot be sustained very long. By far the largest and highest waterfall in the entire Western Cape rushes down the northern cliffs of Groot Drakenstein Mountain, its waters joining the placid Dwars River far down on the valley floor. Actually a series of three or four precipitous falls, it is the last and lowest drop that is far and away the largest and most impressive spectacle. Visible from several kilometres away when in full spate, the main fall tumbles down a near-vertical rockface for more than 150 metres. The catchment in the upper region of the Groot Drakenstein range is, however, quite small, and as a result this huge waterfall tends to flow for only a short while, and then only after there has been a substantial downpour in the mountainland. It’s not to be missed on these occasions. Waterfalls are, however unusual that may seem, a temporary feature of streams and rivers, forming where some natural obstruction in the streambed temporarily

environment

resists the normal erosive power of the stream. By their very nature, most waterfalls tend to occur in the upper regions of river systems where the streambeds are steepest, such as here in the Franschhoek valley. An extreme South African example is the Tugela Falls, with a vertical drop of several hundred metres off the eastern face of the Drakensberg. Some falls, like the Augrabies Falls, unusually occur along the lower reaches of the river channel. Certainly amongst the most unusual waterfalls are the ones along the precipitous Transkeian coast where the streams cascade straight into the ocean. Regardless of the various types of waterfalls to be found, we may rest assured that every river that tumbles down a waterfall relentlessly and continuously attacks the obstruction in its way, and

one day, far, far in the future, will manage to smooth out its channel, having finally eroded away that obstruction. In a sense, therefore, every waterfall is self-destructive. Who knows how many waterfalls the Franschhoek valley has seen come and go during its lifetime. What we do know is that the Berg River and its upper tributaries have been hard at work for many scores of millions of years excavating the Franschhoek valley and attacking the surrounding resistant mountainland. This process is, of course, ongoing. In such a setting waterfalls are an integral part of the landscape. Waterfalls demonstrate rivers in their most industrious mode. So, enjoy each and every waterfall, however small, while they are still around in the Franschhoek mountains.

On the Perdekloof trail

CY CMY

Legendary Lunches Telephone +27 (0)21 876 3016/8 | Pass Road, Franschhoek reception@lapetiteferme.co.za | www.lapetiteferme.co.za

wine

The House of GM&AHrens

nder a house in Franschhoek, there’s a cool cellar where thousands of bottles of Cap Classique lie quietly maturing. Boutique winemaker Alber t Ahrens and founder Gerrit Maritz are the producers of this precious stock. The story goes back to Gerrit’s university days when he discovered an appreciation for wine and joined a wine club. It led to an annual spring day “champagne” breakfast with student friends, a celebration he and his wife Ingrid still honour on the first of September every year. It turned out to be the perfect opportunity to launch the new GM&AHrens Cap Classique. There is a French tradition which dictates that a hot air ballon be sent up, from where a banner bearing the name of the new sparkling wine is unfurled, and so it was in Franschhoek, early in the morning of spring day 2011. Villagers and visitors marvelled at the spectacle. Gerrit started building his cellar in 2004, knowing that one day he would make beautiful bubbly. He built it under what was to be his family home in Franschhoek. In 2006 he met Albert, a winemaker with a passion for MCC, and a partnership was born. Although their age difference spans a decade, these two guys are very similar. They are energetic, constantly on the move and have a wonderful capacity for laughing and dreaming big. The grapes for the GM&AHrens MCC are sourced from 5 different wine areas in the Western Cape. In the cellar they are packed by hand for a light basket pressing. Only the first cuvée makes it to the barrels where it spends about twelve months fermenting and maturing. After barrel tasting and selection, it’s time to blend, bottle and put on the crown caps by hand. Now the bottles go to the cellar under Gerrit’s house for their second fermentation and approximate three-year lie in. Riddling, degorgement and dosage will all happen at the appropriate times. Albert and Gerrit prefer limited or non-dosage. The cellar is accessible from the house down a curved stone staircase through a thick glass door. Because of the high groundwater level, the architect advised the laying of a dry cement floor above the wet floor, with a rubber mat in between to allow free-flow of ground water under the dry floor. This natural cooling system is enhanced by the cement floor of the house above and the four-metre high ceiling. Natural river stone was brought in to clad the cave walls that rise to a vaulted ceiling in the cellar. Minimal energy is needed to keep the temperature at about 11 degrees Celsius during the mis-en-cave stage. The critics are using superlatives to describe this newly launched 2008 Cap Classique, which brings to mind the words of a certain champagne lover, “the most potable controlled bubbling substance on earth.”

Gerrit Maritz and Albert Ahrens

Drinks

Text: Helen Naudé | Images © GM&AHrens

ARE UNDER THE HOUSE

www.gmahrens.com • 083 348 1230

wine

Good

Wines Text: Editorial Desk | Images © Participating Cellars

Winemakers’ lives are ruled by nature. Each season is specific in its demands. The ‘awards season’ is less predictable. Wine judges’ verdicts on how winemakers have been doing aren’t always obvious. Judging from Franschhoek’s recent results our winemakers are among the best. Here are some award-winning wines you may wish to sample this season.

Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2007 This wine, the second vintage since the relaunch of the Boschendal bubblies, is stellar. It should be, as great care goes into its making. The grapes for this wine were picked at dawn and whole-bunch pressed – gently. Only the first 500 litres of juice per tonne of grapes made it into this wine. After settling the juice was fermented and the best of the resulting base wines blended in preparation for the second, bottle, fermentation. After 24 months’ bottle maturation it was ready for disgorging, dosage and release. Fresh green fruit with hints of citrus flavours are supported by nuances of almond biscotti. The extended lees contact yields a full and creamy mouth feel with elegant minerality, good balance and a seamless finish. Best enjoyed with oysters or smoked salmon. Also excellent with liver pate and creamy chicken dishes. Cellar price: R105.00 per bottle

Awards: Diamond Award – 2011 Winemaker’s Choice Awards Double Gold – 2011 Veritas Awards Best Vintage MCC – 2011 Wine Magazine Amorim Cap Classique Challenge

Grande Provence The Grande Provence 2006 Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate’s eponymous flagship wine The Grande Provence has been raking in awards all over the world. Winemaker Jaco Marais skilfully blended this wine from noble red cultivars (mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) grown on the steep, southwestern mountain slopes facing the estate. The result is a complex and full-bodied wine. Both the nose and palate show layers of plum, mint, dark chocolate, spices, white pepper and cigar box aromas and flavours. The mouth feel is soft and rounded and the finish lingers elegantly. This wine should be decanted at least an hour before drinking and is best enjoyed with red meat and game dishes. Cellar price: R350.00 per bottle

Awards: Double Gold – 2011 Michelangelo Wine Awards Grande Gold – 2011 Concours Mondial Bruxelles Gold – 2011 Mundus Vini International Wine Awards – Germany Gold – 2011 AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge – Austria Gold – 2011 International Wine & Spirit Competition – UK

Holden Manz big G 2009 Holden Manz Wine Estate’s big G is a big wine that has made a big mark in its first year. The estate’s flagship, it is made from approximately equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Only grapes from selected rows were used and separately vinified, before only the best barrels were selected for blending. The wine was then returned to the new French oak barrels for another 16 months’ maturation. The wine has a dark, sensual red colour. Berry aromas dominate the nose that also shows coffee and vanilla notes. Rich red berry flavours continue in the mouth and are underpinned by a good balance of ripe tannins and balanced alcohol and acid. This wine has staying power and will last at least 10 years. Cellar price: R185.00 per bottle

Awards: Gold – 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards

Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2010 The Bernard Series is Bellingham’s premium range – named after Cape Winelands maverick Bernard Podlashuk. This 100% Chenin Blanc is made from grapes from four different vineyards, with an average age of 40 years. These low-yielding bush vines are planted in decomposed granite soils and have open canopies for ample sun penetration. The wine is pale gold in colour with layers of tropical fruit and melon flavours on both nose and palate. Nine months’ maturation in new and second fill French oak barrels adds pleasant vanilla oak flavours without compromising the varietal flavours. Recommended retail price: R93.24 per bottle

Awards: Gold – 2011 Veritas Awards

Franschhoek Cellars Our Town Hall Chardonnay 2010 The Our Town Hall Chardonnay is part of Franschhoek Cellars’ popular Village Walk range of varietal wines. Made from grapes from a variety of vineyards ranging from 4 to 15 years old and with varying yields this is a complex wine. Tank fermented and unwooded the wine shows citrus and tropical fruit on both the nose and palate. Six months’ lees contact with monthly batinage has given the wine a rich, buttery palate – which may even fool some drinkers into thinking it was wooded! Good on its own it also complements seafood and chicken dishes well. Cellar price: R40.00 per bottle

Awards: Gold – 2011 Monde Selection – Brussels

Susan

Text: Helen Naudé | Images © Le Quartier Français

Huxter

in charge

profile

musement eases into Susan Huxter’s smile at the suggestion that she is recognised as Franschhoek’s unofficial mayor and has the power to go with it. She believes that the best way to get things done is to go out and do them herself. Her tenacity and energy smooth the way, and get her to the gym at 6 in the morning. Susan grew up in a home where a strong work ethic and standing on your own feet was part of life. Her father was a dedicated corporate and tax lawyer who worked hard and was supported by her mother, a qualified lawyer herself. They had “good values”, like parents and children always having dinner together, often sharing the time with interesting guests. Travelling with parents was “a gift” which Susan gave to her children too. After matric Susan went to secretarial college, which she gleefully remembers as the place where she learnt to touch-type – an enviable skill, now that computers are ubiquitous. Her wise grandmother, whom she adored, steered her towards the hospitality industry “because travelling was becoming very popular”. She learnt French and spent three wonderful years studying hotel management in Lausanne. A spell at Cornell University summer school followed and discovered passion became a career. Well-qualified, Susan worked in various catering, management and public relations positions before acquiring Le Quartier Français in 1989. Her now famous “girl team” was formed early on. Margot Janse, already at the hotel, was persuaded to become executive chef. Later Linda Coltart was appointed manager and a strong team was forged. They run a tight ship and in the process have collected a long list of awards, ranging from The Best Small Hotel in the World, to one of South Africa’s Top 10 restaurants, to one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World. The international awards are the most treasured. Susan says it reaffirms that what they’re doing at Le Quartier Français is world class. It’s surprisingly not what she works for, claiming “You have to love what you do, not do it for awards.” She’s thrilled at her ongoing involvement in the

Owner/President Management Programme of Harvard Business School. Lucky them. There’s a lot more going on in her establishment than meets the eye. Apart from trainee managers on a three-year apprenticeship, another initiative will see beginner chefs from the Franschhoek community taken in for training. “If you get from a community, you should give back”. The giving extends to feeding 100 preschool kids five days a week. The team raises funds and does the cooking in their kitchen.

chairman of its board. Trusty Lala runs the house though, and apparently imposes the discipline too. Lala has always been there and keeps it all together, irrespective of who’s home and who’s travelling. Susan’s love of colour means she avoids the popular neutral landscapes of beige interiors with an odd accent colour. Her home has a gorgeous bright pink sofa and fresh green shutters and her hotel wears designer colours, which unexpectedly change now and then. Both

Elle magazine has said of Margot “In an industry lacking in female stars she stands out like a rising soufflé.” Susan stands out as she deals with business and the reality that being a successful woman is harder than being a successful man. Balancing a career with raising children added to the challenge, but Susan clearly loves being a mother. She has two sons – Simon is studying accounting in Argentina while Justin has taken a gap year to travel the world! Her mothering extends to various other children who are either closely related, or not. They stay in her house and she feeds and keeps tabs on them “like a real Jewish mother”. She is a founding parent of Bridge House School and did a stint as

are nice places to be, comfor table and pleasing to the eye. To Susan a new venture is like a Margot appetiser to a food critic. Delicious is what she appropriately calls the new addition to her hotel. It is a fun concept that is not all about the rooms, but about easy access. These rooms are “bite size” with extras excluded, though available and priced per item. That’s Susan Huxter for you, willing to do more, changing things that don’t work, learning to be more structured, laughing at herself and afraid only of snakes. Entrusting power to her would be a safe choice; spending time with her is a great choice.

Itinerary Text: Editorial Desk Images © Tokara, Joostenberg Bistro and Deli, Solms-Delta

“… and bring

the kids” Some Good Places

Tree nest at Tokara Tokara

Solms-Delta

amily fun means fun for all. Franschhoek Style looked around for family-friendly destinations in the Winelands - no more whining by kids who have to stay home while the adults go wining. Joostenberg Bistro and Deli on the R304, just off the N1 (exit 39), is a lovely place for families. They are famous for their pork, which they sell in the deli alongside an amazing array of locally sourced products. Joostenberg is a family farm where pigs are raised, flowers grown and wine made. There’s a big lawn with swings and a jungle gym, and kids bring their own bats and balls to play while adults do big-people things. Eating is important business, so the Sunday lunches are special. No buffet here. The choice is between a two or three-course set menu, with small portions of the same fare for the kids. No

Joostenberg Bistro and Deli

fast food fish fingers to be found! Picnic hampers are a great option for people of all sizes who want to lie low on the lawn. When you go to Tokara with your little ones, pass the tasting room and fine dining restaurant for now, and head for their friendly deli further up the road. The deli is an adult restaurant that happily caters for kids. A lawn, sandpit, swings, organic jungle gym and tree nest make up the fascinating play area. You might mistake the jungle gym for a piece of timber art. Glass walls and an open deck give visitors unrestricted views of the play area and the slopes of the Simonsberg beyond. Adults love the deli for the freshly made breakfast, tea and lunch fare. Temptation beckons. The deli shelves are loaded with Tokara’s olive oil (their best seller) and other fine food items. The freezer is stocked with home-made items ranging from pies to koeksisters. Kids’ catering includes scrambled eggs on animal toast, pizzas and other suitable

items – all freshly made in the kitchen. One couldn’t wish for a friendlier place to bed down with your kids than Lekkerwijn, near the R45/R301 junction. This historic homestead, with its vast parklike grounds, has dedicated family suites with extra cots and mattresses magically appearing where they are needed. Should kids want to play indoors there’s a playroom with toys and books. There’s child minding by a well-qualified special lady to boot. Your offspring will love the country touch of interaction with goats, miniature pigs and bunnies. While they’re outside they may as well cool off in the pool. At breakfast time they can romp in the courtyard while their parents enjoy breakfast within arm’s reach. By the way there’s a separate adult lounge/library which is off-limits to children. Picnicking at neighbouring Solms-Delta has become a great favourite. Little ones just love wading in the shallows of the Dwars River between mouthfuls. Talking of great favourites, Friday evenings at La Petite Ferme is a standard outing for Franschhoek families. The lawn that stretches from the veranda to the vineyard becomes a playground at dusk when parents wind down at the tables in the restaurant. Kids’ meals make life easy for parents. Once the music starts and adults take to the floor, tiny feet amusingly try out rhythmic steps too. The restaurant at Goederust Farm serves breakfast and lunch Tuesdays to Sundays. While adults mind their table-manners, they can keep an eye on their kids behaving like monkeys on the jungle gym or herding tortoises and tame potbelly pigs. A playfull little stream and a kiddies’ menu add to the small pleasures. Parents who dine at The Grillroom in the village are thrilled about the separate playroom, which saves them from protecting other diners from possible irritation by their kids.

Goederust • 021 876 3687 • www.goederust.co.za | Joostenberg Bistro & Deli • 021 884 4141 • www.joostenberg.co.za | La Petite Ferme • 021 876 3016 • www.lapetiteferme.co.za | Lekkerwijn Heritage Country Hom • 021 874 1122 • www.lekkerwijn.co.za | The Grillroom • 021 876 2548 • www.thegrillroom.co.za | Tokara • 021 808 5900 • www.tokara.com

culture

Art

Good Text: Carina du Randt | Images ÂŠ Participating Galleries

The Inspiring Ripeness of Summer

The cultivated sophistication, which accompanies slowly ripened knowledge, is the inspiration for celebrating the fullness of summer.

Donna McKellar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ladysmith

s the sweltering heat descends on our valley and the golden sunshine ripens the grapes for the creation of our fine wines, we often seek the cool calm of our local galleries, to find wisdom and inspiration from the depiction of life through the eyes and hands of our local artists. In the context of fine art, wisdom is associated with the ability to observe and scrutinise artworks with a temperament of knowledge, perception and diplomacy. Initiating debate, rather than criticism, it invites lively discussion to ultimately result in a renewed outlook and the realisation that everything is not always as it seems. The artist Donna McKellar, whose largescale landscapes you can see in the 'Cathedral' at Grande Provence, captures the essence of the seemingly peaceful and serene landscapes of the Cape. A process, evolved during the preparation of this body of very large canvases, changed the way her work is observed. It has altered the meaning of the romantic landscape, and attempts to upset the idyllic images of an apparent reality. By fragmenting the landscapes, scratching the surfaces and allowing the paint

Rosita Manser – Untitled

Donna McKellar – The Centre of Everything

to run over the realistic, quiet scenes, Donna creates work of exceptional merit, possible only when an artist matures through significant growth and wisdom. It is a pleasure to enter the peaceful environment of the ‘Franschhoek Art House’, from the hot and bustling main road in high season. The artists represented at this gallery are carefully chosen to complement the atmosphere created by artist Rosita Manser. Her own work grew from the wisdom acquired from many years spent denying her own very special talent, which came to full fruition when she moved to the inspiring Franschhoek valley. Bathed in the warm glow of summer, Rosita’s simplistic, colourful landscapes perfectly capture the winelands and its people. The details depict everyday elements of life in the valley - farmlands, typical authentic farmhouses, animals and trees. Rosita’s deep-seated spiritual intelligence and passion extend from inspiring visitors to giving back to the local community. She is known for her work with the Franschhoek hospice, to which she donates artworks for the annual charity auction. The perception and skill of these two fine artists promote an awareness of the beauty of our familiar surroundings, often taken for granted by locals and perceived as illusionary by visitors. Through their personal life experience and their being in the summer of their careers, they are able to communicate authentically and encourage us to a life faithful to our heritage.

home

Domaine

des Anges Text: Editorial Desk | Images © Seeff Properties

“ A way o f l i f e ” r at h e r t h a n a p l a c e t o l i v e If you were an angel and wanting to live in Franschhoek you’d be perfectly at home at Domaine des Anges. Provençal life, as lived on this estate, is heavenly.

obbled paths link the clubhouse, under huge oaks, to the rest of the estate. As you slowly drive or wander along the paths, take your time to enjoy the ambience of the Mediterranean landscape. Citrus orchards, olive trees and vineyards cover seven of the estate’s eleven hectares and provide good company for romantic lavender, roses, wisteria and waterwise indigenous beauties. Lift your eyes heavenward (it comes naturally if you’re an angel) and feast your eyes on the mountains that decorate the horizon. Nice

or preparing for a function. If you lived here you’d want to do what most residents do and walk to the gym at the clubhouse. Not only will it serve as a pre-workout warm-up, but you’ll find much pleasure in the way the beautiful surroundings present a changed picture every time you pass. The gym provides all the equipment you’ll need to stay fit, healthy and angelic-looking. There’s a treadmill, rowing machine and spinning bike for cardiovascular exercise and a 6-station combination weight lifting machine to keep muscles toned.

Clubhouse

aren’t they? All the mountains you see are part of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas Natural World Heritage Site. Look closely at house number 1 as you stroll past. It is the original Victorian manor house of the farm on which the estate was developed. Take note of the tall sash windows and the broekie lace that decorates the veranda. The old oak trees also came with the farm – a subdivision of the historic Huguenot farm La Terre de Luc. New houses varying in style, but in keeping with the estate’s architectural guidelines, have been built on all 38 available erven. Earthy colours and dark roofs, de rigeur for the estate, reflect the natural harmony of the setting. The clubhouse serves as an ideal venue for residents’ social gatherings. You’ll regularly find groups of the residents here, playing bridge or billiards,

Post-workout you can relax your tired muscles in the steam sauna. Amble around the clubhouse and you’ll come across the communal swimming pool. It’s a good idea to stimulate your appetite by doing a few laps before you head out for another excellent lunch at one of the valley’s many restaurants. The tall guy inspecting the floodlit tennis cour t, and who knows everything, is the estate manager. Ask him about the excellent security or about the well-being of the cygnets and ducklings on the estate’s streams and two dams. It’s his responsible management of the environment that makes it conducive to the flourishing of bird and other small animal life. At Domain des Anges good fences are not required to make good neighbours. Public areas flow

Price: starting from R5.85m • Agent: Marianne vd Merwe

into unfenced private gardens where residents’ gardening reflects personal tastes. The estate’s philosophy is such that residents can be as involved in estate affairs as they’d like to be, or not. Layout and landscaping combine to ensure the privacy of all residences. Residences here are marked by a pleasant uniformity rather than a boring sameness. A number of the estate’s recently built homes are currently looking for new owners. Ranging in size from 200m2 to 800m2 these homes are all in keeping with the estate’s heavenly lifestyle. Double garages, en suite bedrooms, kitchens with separate sculleries and large, often doublevolume, living areas abound. Most houses add underfloor heating, air conditioning, laundry rooms and fireplaces to this list. A home you’ll love is a cer tainty.

• Cell: 082 921 3248 • Office: 021 876 4592 • Email: winelands@seeff.com • Web ref: 201 950

Agent: Melina Visser

• Cell: 082 419 9928

Agent: Jeanine Allen

• Cell: 082 410 6837

Good old

wine

ld is not what the Landau du Val Semillon needs to be for optimal enjoyment, two years after harvest it does nicely. Old is not what the vineyard from which it comes needs to be either ; but it is, and more than a century after planting, it too is doing nicely. SAWIS (South African Wine Information Services) records are too new to determine the exact planting dates of the oldest vineyards in South Africa, but it is believed this vineyard, on the slopes of the Small Drakenstein Mountains, is the oldest vineyard still producing grapes for white wine. In 1689 the first Huguenot owner of the farm, Jacques de Villiers, named the farm La Brie and this is the name we see on the gate today. The Semillon vines were planted by the Haumans in approximately 1905 and were known locally as groendruiwe (green grapes). The bush vines settled well in the sandy, stony soil where they bask in the sun all day. Nature takes good care of these senior vines, with rain from the heavens and nutrients from the ear th, while humans lend a hand with pruning, hoeing and limited spraying for downy mildew and powdery mildew (oïdium). 3.6 tons were harvested from this 4.8 hectare block in 2009. The 2010 harvest almost didn’t happen due to unhelpful weather while the vines were working hard at making grapes. A comparatively small picking, 1.62 tons, was then done when the grapes were very ripe. The result is a triumphant Landau du Val Late Vintage. Normality was restored in the 2011 harvest, which yielded 3.3 tons of grapes. The vineyard shows no sign of calling it a day, although the harvest is unpredictable. Some vines also bear well and others shyly. Every year the winemaker, Anina Guelpa, is surprised by a number of bunches that inexplicably turn red when ripe. She has to monitor the pressing and skin contact very carefully to control colour. This is the only wine made by La Brie. Owners Jane and Basil Landau call it a big white wine which is best paired with food and not served on its own. Apparently the French habitually decant Semillon and it has proven to be good practice for this Franschhoek wine too. At a recent niche white wine tasting in the Winelands, this wine had wine lovers ecstatic. They tasted the (4½ star Platter) 2009, of which 1300 bottles were produced, and loved the full-bodied palate with grassy and mineral notes and the fresh citrus nose. Then came the 2010 Late Vintage, of which only 788 bottles were produced, presenting citrus and gooseberry on the nose with a tangy lingering sweetness on the palate. Another ecstatic reaction, with a lot of “hmms” and “wows” thrown in. Anina thinks it has “development potential, but it is quite blissful now”. As time passes and dates another year, the old vineyard yields another vintage and characterises it with one of its whims. It’s a grand thing.

shopping

Good Buys Text: Editorial Desk Images ÂŠ Eddie Wilson - Foto Artist Studio

Franschhoek Style is aware of the economic crisis which is impacting retail therapy, so we went in search of items that could be bought for under R100 in Franschhoek. Here are some our finds.

1. French cheese La Roche R78 Coulommiers R91 Roquefort R66 La Cotte Inn Wine Sales www.lacotte.co.za, 021 9876 3775

2. Cheese knife R85 La Cotte Inn Wine Sales www.lacotte.co.za, 021 9876 3775

3. English dictionary R30 The Handy Hippo 072 218 1332

4. Barbecue fan R25 The Handy Hippo 072 218 1332

5. Stone globes R65 each Unique B www.collectb.co.za 083 290 7459

2 3

5 4

6. African quilt wall hanging R80 D’Cor Africa www.dcorafrica.co.za 021 876 4537

7. Tassles Black R85 Green R85 Ribbon silver R90 Unique B www.collectb.co.za 083 290 7459

8. Bracelets R75, R98, R79 Unique B www.collectb.co.za 083 290 7459

9. Moongazer 6cm R50 D’Cor Africa www.dcorafrica.co.za 021 876 4537

10. Soft drink can guitar R90 D’Cor Africa www.dcorafrica.co.za 021 876 4537

11. Coronas Minor cigar R86 La Cotte Inn Wine Sales www.lacotte.co.za, 021 9876 3775

12. Single bed mosquito net R99 The Handy Hippo 072 218 1332

motoring

Giulietta THE

GREAT!

Text: Michele Lupini

Alfa Romeo is back to its best with the brilliant new Giulietta Alfa Romeo's Giulietta is by far its best car of the last quarter-century. In fact I’d go as far as saying it's the best car in its class today. It has Volkswagen’s knickers in a knot as its eternally perfect Golf is under threat at last – by, of all, things an Alfa Romeo!

he best way to illustrate the threat is to relate it to the pleasurable time I had while driving it during the classic Mille Miglia. People slowed to stare and snap iPhone images of it on the Autostrada while just about anyone who happened by tested my broken Italian. A biker even went down on his knee, did a sign of the cross and blew a kiss as we drove by! The original Giulietta caught the imagination of fifties car enthusiasts throughout the world with a blend of giant-killing performance and style, in a stunning little high-tech package. The edgy, capable and cool Giulietta followed that up in the 1980s. Now Alfa Romeo has brought the tag back for a third time - in a five-door hatchback form that is wor thy of that great Alfa pedigree. War ts? There are none really. Maybe something other than the classic Alfa polizia grey would have made for better photos, the headlights are a tad too complex for my taste and that hag in the machine of the satnav gave some instructions impossibly late. But after 1000 miles (mille miglia) in the Giulietta, I was cer tain that the B-segment had a new ascendant to its crown. It is that good and it’s patently clear that this car is the best Alfa in many, many years. The car brings an immediate sense of solidity, quality and class – its cabin is neat, functional and stylish. Its ventilation

actually works and the car boasts a solid feel in a beautiful blend of Italian chic and flair. Giulietta looks great as usual, but no longer needs to rely on just that good old Alfa style to trump its rivals. Available in five engine guises, Ferrari F1 man Paolo Mar tinelli's 1.4-litre TB MultiAir turbo petrol is my favourite. That was also my steed to chase the incredible Mille Miglia. The little 1400cc gem pumps a handy 120kW to ensure an impressive

performance envelope. Mar tinelli’s clever MultiAir electronic valve control system endows the Giulietta with seamless power and torque – superior probably to any conventional two-litre engine. The Giulietta boasts a two-stage chassis setup called DNA to customise behaviour at the touch of a button to suit different road conditions and driving styles - adding a whack of torque, tightening up the throttle, sharpening the Q2 electronic differential and enhancing various other functions via the car's Vehicle Dynamic Control system.

I like it in spor t - that's where it should be all the time! We drove over 1600km up and down Italy – comfor tably cruising most of the time, spirited from time to time and flat out on occasion. We were impressed by this little car throughout, but one stint in par ticular will stick with me ... I had the chance to drive the Giulietta flat out over the legendary Futa pass – that made or broke many Mille Miglia victories. My view? Absolutely bloody brilliant! I never quite found the Giulietta's limit over Futa – I tried. It responds to every throttle, steering or brake input impeccably, delivering a reper toire of which the best M, RS and AMG cars should be jealous. Steering is balanced, rich in feel and precise, and we were surprised by a total lack of brake fade into literally a thousand corners at the quickest pace I could muster. Remember this is a humble family hatchback... Yet Giulietta is still spor ty and comfor table, oozes Italian style and offers the very latest in high tech –like those cool 'double-6' LED taillights. It’s spacious, with every switch ideally located and a myriad practical storage compar tments at hand. I’ve often bemoaned Alfa's slip into obscurity. Now I'm delighted it's back – as strong as ever with a car that Italy and the rest of the world love.

Franschhoek resident Michele Lupini publishes Cars in Action magazine, on shelf countrywide and online at www.carsinaction.co.za

home

Sereine Text: Editorial Desk | Images ÂŠ Pam Golding Properties

Looking for the sought-after country lifestyle of the idyllic Franschhoek Valley, without the responsibility of actually maintaining a farm? Then look no further than La Sereine, a character-filled thatched Cape colonial homestead set on a 1.075ha smallholding surrounded by vineyards. The architect-designed home occupies a peaceful and private location below Middagkrans Mountain, only a 15-minute walk from the village.

lovely garden with mature trees and expansive lawns complements the gracious home, while its elevated position ensures exceptional scenic views of the valley and mountains beyond. Nearby vineyards are a constant reminder that you are in the hear t of the Cape Winelands. The 290sq.m. house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a spacious master suite with its own fireplace and lounge area, opening onto the patio. The open-plan kitchen has polished granite work surfaces, wooden cabinetry and a built-in oven and stove with extractor. A practical breakfast counter divides the kitchen from the elegant dining room. Ceramic tiles and wooden floors and window frames complement the colonial character of the home, while underfloor heating and air conditioning maintain a comfortable environment all year round. The focal point of the double-volume living area is a fireplace with stone mantelpiece and an impressive ostrich-egg chandelier. A wooden staircase leads to a mezzanine study/family room, while wine storage cleverly occupies the space beneath the stairs. The best valley views are from the southwest-facing stoep, which overlooks the garden and solar-heated salt-water swimming pool. Borehole water irrigates the garden via a computerised system, and is filtered for domestic use. Security fencing, an alarm system and electronically controlled gates ensure a safe environment. Also on the property is a charming two-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage with its own kitchen and an open-plan lounge/dining room with fireplace. This space is ideal for guest accommodation or could potentially generate rental income. The cottage has its own covered patio with lovely mountain views. What more could the discerning lifestyle buyer want? A beautiful, characterfilled home, surrounded by vineyards and mountains, within close proximity of Franschhoek village with is award-winning restaurants, galleries and shops. This property is the very epitome of the elegant Cape Winelands lifestyle. Price: R11 900 000 • Agent: Shelly Schoeman • Cell: 083 301 8833 • Office: 021 876 2100 • Email: winelandsint@pamgolding.co.za • Web ref: FWI1061138 Agent: Doug Gurr

• Cell: 072 610 7208

Agent: Dionne Gurr

• Cell: 072 460 2586

Caring

The

Good people

that

Bellingham

he historical Bellingham Homestead, is a National Monument situated in the hear t of the winelands and is owned by The Podlashuk Bellinchamp National Heritage Foundation. Nestled in the middle of vineyards and surrounded by magnificent mountain ranges, it offers a unique location with absolute peace and tranquillity. Only 11 kilometres from Franschhoek, the dining capital of South Africa, Bellingham is a very private self-catering getaway. The Homestead was built in 1693 and is the ancestral home of Bellingham Wines. Bernard & Fredagh Podlashuk, who bought the property in 1943, produced, amongst others, the famous Johannisberger, the first Grand Cru, Shiraz and a sparkling Cuvée. Bernard Podlashuk was also the first South African to receive The Chevalier de Taste de Vin. Funds raised by renting out the self-catering cottages on the estate help to support the charitable work undertaken by both the Podlashuk Bellinchamp National Heritage Foundation and the Podlashuk Charitable Foundation. The primary sponsor of the Imbali Visual Literacy Project, the funds raised helped to build a dedicated art room in the rural village of Kylemore and continue to sustain ongoing art education for underprivileged children. An offspring of Women for Peace, Imbali was founded in Johannesburg in 1988 to provide art education in rural South African schools. In time this developed into multiple programmes that support children and adults in

Visual Literacy project

disadvantaged communities to achieve a better quality of life. Imbali Western Cape was established in 2001 with a sponsorship from the late Mrs. Fredagh Podlashuk to provide art education for the Kylemore Village children. It was soon realised that the children were often too malnourished to enjoy the art. This led to a joint effort with local farmers’ wives to establish soup kitchens in the winter months, and provide a meal with the art classes. Imbali in Kylemore has become an established part of the village tapestry. It has enabled the community to launch a number of initiatives to address the needs of both children and their underemployed parent(s), on the basis of respect for whole person – whole family – whole community. Support for various animal charities, particularly the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a non-profit animal welfare organisation in Franschhoek, saw the building of a new kennel block where animals can be held while attempts are made to find either their owners or new homes for them. In addition, street and road collections are regularly undertaken by Chris Mauerberger, Leon Coetzee and a team of well-doers who collect funds to support this and other animal welfare operations that receive no government funding. For additional information please visit www.bellingham.co.za or call Leon our Estate Manager on 021 874 1019 for a hosted tour of the Manor House cottages and gardens.

Advertisers Directory Auberge La Dauphine Chamonix Charlotte Rhys Franschhoek Motor Museum Franschhoek Pharmacy Franschhoek Skin Care Clinic French Connection Glenwood Helderstroom Alpaca Holden Manz Estate Huguenot Fine Chocolates Just Rock La Petite Ferme Linen Drawer Pam Golding Properties Penchant Design Salon La Belle Seeff The Diamond Works Tokara Upscale Project Management

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About Franschhoek Style Like Aspen and Davos Franschhoek is a small, historic village surrounded by mountains. With its international reputation and some of the highest property prices in South Africa the beautiful Franschhoek Valley attracts high net worth individuals and colourful characters from diverse backgrounds as residents and visitors. They come for its lifestyle: vineyards, gourmet restaurants, 5-star hotels, elegant guesthouses, galleries and studios, fascinating museums, festivals and nearby golf courses. They also come to hike, bike and ride in the pristine beauty of its wilderness areas – part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Franschhoek Style is a good read that showcases the Franschhoek Valley and its lifestyle. Franschhoek Style targets upmarket readers, business people and travellers. The magazine is available in Cape Town’s top hotels – mostly on a copy per room basis. (The Mount Nelson, Cape Grace, Taj, One&Only, Westin, Mandela Rhodes Place, The Crystal Towers in Canal Walk and The Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa near Hermanus) It is also in the Saxon Boutique Hotel and other top Gauteng hotels. The magazine is distributed to guest rooms and suites in most five-star (and selected 4-star) boutique hotels and guest houses in Cape Town and the Western Cape (including five Relais & Chateau), and in four and five-star guest houses and hotels in Franschhoek - including Le Quartier Français and La Residence. First and business class travellers read Franschhoek Style in Premier Lounges at all SA airports, in the KLM/Air France Business Lounge at Cape Town International Airport and in the Executive Lounges at Lanseria Airport. In Gauteng the magazine is sent to the headquarters of SA’s leading local and international companies. This unique ‘smart’ distribution model ensures high multiple readership per copy. It is conservatively calculated that each edition of Franschhoek Style is seen by more than 50 000 readers. Contact Sales Executive Merilyn Chance at sales1@franschhoekstyle.co.za or 083 301 2927 for details.

reading

Good

Books

Looking forward to FLF 2012: 11 – 13 May

n only five years, Franschhoek has created one of South Africa’s leading literary festivals - a feast of books, writers and readers who gather in our Winelands village to talk and listen, and discuss the past, the future and the volatile now of our beloved country. Local writers and journalists who have already accepted invitations include Pieter-Dirk Uys, Njabulo Ndebele, Sindiwe Magona, Anton Harber, Petina Gappah, Deon Meyer, Chris van Wyk, Francis Wilson, Marianne Thamm, Finuala Dowling, Denis Beckett, Alex Perry, Zukiswa Wanner, Marita van der Vyver, Tan Twan Eng, Margie Orford, Mandy Wiener, Brent Meersman and Craig Higginson. Many more are pending. Readers’ favourites Alexandra Fuller and Richard Mason will come from the USA. Three new voices gracing the festival are Singaporean Shamini Flint, a lawyer turned children’s author and crime novelist, and two South Africans living overseas, Doha-based satirist Azad Essa, and novelist Elaine Proctor, now a Londoner. Of special interest will be an event in which Bram Fischer’s two daughters will engage with Hannes Haasbroek about his recent biography ’ n Seun Soos Bram. Renowned Stellenbosch historian Bill Nasson will talk about wars and the devious politicians who provoke them. The current state of journalism in South Africa, education and reading issues will be major topics. Liberals and humanitarian aid

will be under the spotlight too. No doubt controversy will erupt as writers debate and argue about their concerns, though judging by past festivals, laughter usually wins the day. A highlight for sports lovers will be the discussion by co-authors Tim Noakes and Michael Vlismas on Challenging Beliefs, a reflective look back on Tim’s career as sports scientist. During the second weekend in May, the stories writers tell, the scandals they uncover and the crimes they devise will unfold at the sixth FLF. Village venues are all within easy walking distance of the Town Hall with its pop-up bookshop and coffee stall. Street-corner vendors offer quick snacks as people hurry from one event to the other. As audiences leave the final events of the day, they sip glasses of wine, compliments of the festival, before moving on to literary dinners and evening entertainments...

Justice Malala and his wife Justine Lang

A new developement The first FLF Book Week for Young Readers (7 – 10 May) will reach out to the 4 500 Franschhoek valley schools with readathons, book competitions, writing and poetry workshops, book prizes and school visits by children’s writers. Information packs with gift books have already gone out to 120 participating teachers.

Professor Zakes Mda

Franschhoek Style Property

Family Dream Home Cape Vernacular contemporary farm style 4 bedroom home set amongst the vineyards in this upmarket wine and olive estate. Entrance hall leads into large double volume dining and lounge area with fireplace, which in turn leads onto large enclosed family room with spectacular views onto the garden and the vineyards below. Downstairs offers generous main bedroom, walk in dressing room and en-suite bathroom. The guest room and full bathroom is situated on a separate wing. The kitchen is farm style and leads onto quaint dining area, separate study, separate guest toilet, laundry, swimming pool, double garage, collector's wine cellar, outdoor toilet and changing room. Upstairs comprises 2 bedrooms sharing full bathroom. Comfor table, lifestyle oppor tunity not to be missed. Franschhoek R6 950 000 Seeff Franschhoek Melina Visser melina@seeff.com Cell: 082 419 9928 Office: 021 876 4592 Web Ref: 226 744

Sophisticated Style This home is a reflection of a passion for design and perfection. Situated on a double plot amongst the vineyards and olive trees on the well established Domaine Des Anges Security Estate. Attention to detail has not been spared. An extensive silver-leafed dome ceiling hallway and designer light fittings as well as many other special features compliments this stylish home. Delightful spacious enter tainment areas are both sides of the house with a lovely kitchen well positioned to accommodate generous enter tainment. Comprises 4 Bedrooms all en-suite, Family/TV room, entrance hall, guest loo, open plan kitchen/dining area, separate scullery, pantry, triple garage and much more with doors and windows highlighting magnificent views.

Franschhoek R14 900 000 Seeff Franschhoek Jeanine Allen jeanine@seeff.com Cell: 082 410 6837 Office: 021 876 4592 Web ref: 234 745

Beautiful Interior and Views Well presented cottage bordering the vines in a quiet and secure estate. Stylishly finished interior with vaulted ceilings and stack-away wooden doors opening the aper ture up to the magnificent views of the surrounding valley and the majestic mountains. The outdoor enter tainment area includes an undercover built-in braai area and a heated pool. A most unpretentious proper ty from the outside yet so stylish once inside!

Franschhoek R3 200 000 Seeff Franschhoek Marianne van der Merwe marianne1@seeff.com Cell: 082 921 3248 Office: 021 876 4592 Web Ref: 234 521

Franschhoek Tourism Members Directory Village map to the right and valley map on the following page

bientôt!

C ONVE R SATION BETWEEN A MO R NING P E R SON a n d A NIGHT P E R SON

NP: That was great coffee, now I can deal with the day. MP: It’s a shame that you night people waste the morning. NP: Not even Shakespeare’s “..the morn, in russet mantle clad” can persuade me to see more of the morning, I cannot for the life of me get up and work while there is unused sleep in my body. It stays there till at least 8 o’clock. MP: I love seeing the sun rise and feeling the anticipation of unused energy… NP: … we can’t think straight that early and that’s when you morning people have meetings, decide things and you get your own way. MP: Decide what things? NP: When lectures start, where to put toll gates, how to run banks and economies. I firmly believe the world would be a better place if we schedule meetings for 5pm when we peak. Getting up early is not a rule; it’s an uncontrolled urge. MP: I can’t understand the urge to draw the curtains in the morning so you can keep the light out and sleep, then switch lights on to work at night when it’s dark, and in the process burn fossil fuel. Perhaps it’s a recessive gene rearing its illogical head. NP: Didn’t recessive genes die out with cave people? MP: Some obviously slipped through the cracks, like those that make you eat raw meat or wear purple and yellow together… NP: ... yes, or clobber each other. Why do scientists seem to think we humans were designed to be cave people? Walking upright so we can see the enemy, long alimentary canals so that we can digest plant material, fat bums so we can safely sit on sand. MP: It’s not a premise that bothers me, although I think there are some design faults. NP: Ain’t that the truth! Even so, it would mean we were not designed to philosophise, or compose concertos or write poetry… MP: … still doesn’t bother me, that stuff ’s not strictly necessary. NP: That means we were not designed for romance either. MP: What’s the big deal with romance? Why did it even start? NP: Well, I believe we humans got the survival thing down pat and so had unused grey matter looking for something to do. Add endorphins generated by all the joyful running around and maybe some lightheadedness from consuming a dodgy mushroom or two and ta-dah …! MP: That’s romance? Grey matter infused with biochemicals? I’ve always thought romance is a sneaky way of getting what you want. NP: That’s seduction, which is a bit like marketing, tempting someone so they’ll do what you want them to do. Romance is a state of being not a tool. It’s a soul thing. MP: So cave people didn’t have souls? NP: Oh I don’t know. Maybe that is what Adam and Eve were about, not the first people, but the first people who had souls. MP: O sole mio...! NP: Right song, wrong sole. Come for a sundowner. I have a nice unwooded chardonnay in the fridge. After a glass or two you’ll be more in tune with your soul. MP: After the crack of dawn and the break of day it’ll be nice to see the night fall. NP: And as the edge of day gets dragged away, we can say poetic things like “Swallows with spools of dark thread sewing the shadows together.” MP: I’ll leave the thinking to you; I’ll be too tired to think straight. I’ll bring chips. NP: OK, see you later!