Category Archives: Paarl
Celebrating Women @ The Red Table At Nederburg
Pay homage to the special women in your life at The Red Table restaurant at Nederburg outside Paarl on Friday, August 9. Located in the historic manor house, the restaurant will serve a special brunch in celebration of Women’s Day.
This year the restaurant offers a varied menu at R195 per head, with a refreshing drink served on arrival. The brunch starts with a nibble of Danish pastries, fruit salad and a selection of cured meats and cheeses. Platters containing an assortment of quiches, tartlets and French toast are to be served followed by buttermilk flapjacks with a selection of delectable toppings. Vegetarians and those with special dietary needs can also be accommodated.
The Red Table will be serving its Women’s Day brunch from 10:00 to 12:30. An à la carte service is available between 12:30 and 16:00. From 18:00 onwards the bistro-style eatery will offer patrons a choice between set seasonal menus, and à la carte dishes. Kids are also catered for. The focus is on fresh-flavoured, light dishes, using mostly locally-sourced ingredients. The fireplaces in the manor house will be lit to create a relaxed, warm and intimate atmosphere – perfect for cosying up to that special woman in your life.
Booking is essential. For reservations, please call 021 877 5155 or send an email to theredtable@nederburg.co.za well in advance.
The Nederburg visitors’ centre will be open for wine tasting and sales from 09:00 to 17:00 on that day. Take advantage of the centre’s August special offer where you will receive a complementary bottle of wine from the winery’s popular Winemaster’s Reserve range when purchasing any 11 bottles of wines from the same range.
A cellar tour will be offered at 10:30 and 15:00. To book, contact Sunette Rust of Nederburg on 021 862 3104 or on nedwines@distell.co.za.
Laborie’s Winter Warmers
With winter upon us Laborie Wine Farm, situated in the heart of the picturesque Paarl Winelands, will ensure that you stay warm throughout the chilly season with an array of incredible winter offerings.
• Purchase six bottles of Laborie Shiraz directly from our Cellar Door and receive a slab of Laborie tailor made Milk Cape Spice Malay chocolate. OR purchase six bottles of Laborie Chardonnay and receive our decadent White Lemon Verbena chocolate, also paired with the wine to enhance its flavours.
• Treat yourself to mouth-watering comfort food from our acclaimed restaurant, Harvest at Laborie with their winter inspired menu. The carefully thought out menu features an array of sumptuous dishes, ranging from grilled black mushrooms with a garlic and herb crus
t and brown butter for starters, to slow-roasted pork shoulder with roasted apples and onions, spinach and bacon for mains. For those with a sweet tooth be sure not to miss out on the sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla crème fraîche for dessert. Patrons can choose between a two course menu at R130 per person and the three course option at R155 per person. This menu is available for lunch (Monday to Friday) and dinner (Wednesday and Thursday).
• And last but by no means least be sure to make the most of Laborie’s luxurious and comfortable accommodation, perfect for these cold winter months. The recently refurbished suites consist of eight 4-star guest rooms as well as a special room in the historic Manor House, all of which offer that extra bit of warmth and charm during this time.
This winter guests booking for two consecutive nights for two guests will only pay R2 785 and includes the following:
• A complimentary bottle of Lazy Days wine in your room;
• A sumptuous breakfast daily for the duration of your stay;
• Two-course dinner on one of the evenings at Harvest to the value of R200 per person;
• Two-course lunch on one of the days at Harvest to the value of R180 per person;
• A wine tasting and farm tour.
All of the above mentioned winter offerings are valid from June until end September 2013. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information visit www.laboriewines.co.za.
New Vintage Release
We have come a long way since 2006 and the release of the very first KWV Mentors wines. From modest beginning we have expanded the range from three to ten wines with the new vintage releases in May 2013, establishing KWV the Mentors brand as one of exceptional quality and integrity.
The release of the latest vintages is, in our view, the best range of wines yet to appear under the Mentors label, displaying an expression of greater fruit purity, better structure and a noticeable stylistic evolution.
Red wines from 2011, include a Shiraz, Pinotage, Petit Verdot, The Canvas (Shiraz based blend) and The Orchestra (Cabernet Sauvignon blend). The white wines from the 2012 harvest comprise a Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay and two Sauvignon Blancs.
The KWV Mentors range allows our team to express winemaking excellence and the pure expression of some very exceptional vineyards. Our goal is to pay total respect to terroir. To provide the necessary diversity, we source fruit from throughout the Western Cape, focusing on vineyards which produce outstanding quality and reflect regionality.
Top Row : Chardonnay 2012, Chenin Blanc 2012, Sauvignon Blanc Darling 2012, Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2012 and Semillon 2012
Bottom Row : Canvas 2011, Orchestra 2011, Petit Verdot 2011, Pinotage 2011 and the Shiraz 2011
Among the new offerings are The Mentors Shiraz 2011, recently awarded a Grand Gold Medal at Concours Mondiale de Bruxelles International Wine Championship and a Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London. The 2011 harvest which reflected a quality red varietal year highlights fruit concentration, soft tannins with good structure and intense flavor, and whilst particularly evident in the Shiraz, it is clearly evident in the other red varietals in the range.
Included in the new releases are two origin-specific Sauvignon Blancs from 2012, the fruit hailing from Darling and Stellenbosch respectively. The Darling Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with fruit flavor, while the Stellenbosch wine displays more restraint and minerality.
“With the 2012 harvest season being one of the best for whites since 2009, we are particularly pleased to release The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2012. The last Chenin Blanc to be released under this label was in 2008”, says Johann Fourie, Chief winemaker for KWV. “This wine is a great example of South African Chenin, displaying typical tropical fruit, guava with underlying lime and minerality complemented by raw almonds and subtle integrated oak.”
In the years since the inception of our premium Mentors wines, the range has had a global reach, with local and international awards stacking up. It has attracted an ever-increasing following. With limited allocation, Mentors wines have become sought-after worldwide
The new KWV The Mentors vintages will be available at selected retail outlets and will retail for approximately R180 for the whites and R250 for the reds.
Knysna Wine Festival 1 – 2 July 2013
A uniquely South African wine festival and the Garden Routes Premiere Wine Event will once again be taking place during the Knysna Oyster Festival on the 1st and 2th of July 2013.
The event will showcase up to 50 of South Africa’s best wine producers and promises to be bigger and better than any of our previous events to date. These wines will all be available for tasting and purchasing at special event prices. You can also interact with these acclaimed wine producers and learn about current trends in the industry.
The Knysna Wine Festival, now in its 8th year will be hosted in the official Pavilion, at the Pick n Pay Festival Grounds, Waterfront Drive – right in the heart of the festival attractions!
Our guests will be welcomed this year with the finest delectable Belgian chocolate, Côte d’Or. What better way to enjoy an evening than with fine wine and delicious chocolate!
Patrons will also receive their tasting glasses, a wine guide and get to mingle with South Africa’s wine makers in a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere.
Confirmed 2013 Estates:
Raats Family Wines
Graham Beck
Ataraxia
Sumaridge
Bramon Estate/ local to our area
Holden Manz
Creation
Bon Courage
Bonnievale Cellars
Beau Belle
Jordan
Solms-Delta
Rhebokskloof
Neil Ellis
Waterford Estate
Akkerdal
Boekenhoutskloof
Cronier Wines
De Grendel
Ernie Els
Fairview Cheese and Wine
Hill and Dale
Hill Crest
Jakkalsvlei(local/ Mosselbay)
Malanot
Newstead
Painted Wolf
Beau Joubert
Peter Falke
Steenberg
Stellenrust
Zorgvleit
Van Loveren
Hillock
De Krans
Calitzdorp Cellar
Fernskloof
Ticket Sales:
Tickets are on sale already @ R100 at Sublime Clothing Thesen island Knysna or online at www.pnptickets.co.za for more information visit www.knysnawinefestival.co.za email info@knysnawinefestival.co.za. Tickets are Limited. Tickets Include a free tasting glass for unlimited tasting, a Cote D or, Belgium, Chocolate and a tasting booklet.
No Need to Drink and Drive: Shuttle service at very reasonable rates available:
Contact Orbit Tours to pre book @ 0723773563 or info@orbitdaytrips.co.za
And then all the information is constantly being updated on the web page www.knysnawinefestival.co.za
KWV – Double Trophy Winner
KWV came very close to a consecutive victory as top producer in one of South Africa’s toughest wine competitions, having claimed two trophies and 12 medals in this year’s Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. Securing the Paarl wine and spirits producer’s outstanding achievement were the:
• KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2011, Trophy for Best Niche Red Variety
• KWV The Mentors Sauvignon blanc 2009, Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon blanc
These latest accolades were announced this week at the landmark Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, where the awards function was held.
Sharing the podium were the KWV Abraham Perold Insignis 2011, which received Gold, four KWV wines that won Silver and eight that won Bronze. The panel of judges agreed the achievement represented an exceptional accomplishment in the light of the marked drop in the number of trophy, gold and silver medal winners this year. Commenting on the phenomenon, the panel said the bar had been raised and that consequently, all medal winners could be regarded as truly outstanding wines.
“We felt that a Silver was a massively important award,” said UK-based panel member Oz Clarke, a worldwide wine authority. “I’m not sure I know of any other show where the silver is taken quite so seriously as it is here.”
KWV winemakers Johann Fourie and Izele van Blerk with trophies for Best Niche Red Variety and Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc
KWV’s success at the Old Mutual Wine Trophy Show follows within days of its international achievements. In the most recent results, KWV claimed six Gold medals at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles International Wine Championship, which also hailed the KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2011 and awarded a Grand Gold medal for the KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2011. Then, at the auspicious Decanter World Wine Awards in London, KWV achieved one of the best performances among SA producers, receiving no less than three trophies and six Golds together with its overall 18 medals and commendations.
“We are very proud of the success we have achieved, especially considering where we were just five years ago,” said KWV Chief Winemaker Johann Fourie. “The winemaking team has worked very hard at refining its approach to all aspects of winemaking. We know that the pursuit of excellence is never done, but acknowledgments like these motivate us to persist in our journey.”
Highlighting the consistency of awards across the KWV portfolio and strength of its fruit sourcing and winemaking capabilities, Fourie pointed out that KWV has won trophies consecutively for four years at the Trophy Wine Show – each year for a different varietal. He said the team was particularly proud of KWV’s achievement in the Museum Class Sauvignon blanc category, which served once again to demonstrate the aging potention of the varietal. “We have always known the KWV The Mentors Sauvignon blanc 2009 would benefit from time in bottle,” Fourie added.
“The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show plays a significant part in guiding consumers to the best wines. We believe the international representation on its judging panel provides a strong indicator of the appeal of winning wines enjoyed by global palates – a strategy that has been central to our winemaking vision,” said Fourie.
The 2013 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, which has honoured excellence in the wine industry since its inception in 2002, attracted 1 039 entries – up on last year’s 1 022. The largest categories were Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style red blends.
In addition to a selection of esteemed local wine writers and industry experts, the judging panel was chaired by renowned wine judge Michael Fridjhon and this year included international judges
• Yabby Lake Victoria Chief Winemaker Tom Carson from Australia; and
• The Relais Bernard Loiseau Group executive sommelier Eric Goettelmann from France.
Image courtesy of Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
Warm Up Winter With Avondale’s Spicy Syrah
Avondale’s spicy Syrah, Samsara, is the perfect tonic to cure the winter blues. Best known for its unique BioLOGIC® methodology that combines organic and biodynamic farming principles with the latest advances in modern science, Avondale is a family-owned and managed wine estate in the located in the heart of the Cape winelands.
Embodying the eternal cycle of life, Samara means to “flow on” and pass through the states of life and death. A wine deep in character, Avondale named its Syrah after this evolutionary process to represent the perpetual renewal and revitalisation of the farm’s living eco-systems.
The wine was made from Syrah grapes from organically-grown vines that range from 10 to 15 years of age. The grapes were harvested in the early mornings, de-stemmed and gently crushed before going into tanks for two to three days. Fermentation took place for seven to ten days before post-fermentation maceration over 25 to 30 days. After a number of gentle rackings, the wine was aged in French Oak barrels for just over a year.
The classic Syrah has a spectacular balance of tannin, fruit and oak across a lengthy palate and includes sophisticated characteristics and scents of soft wood, white pepper, wild berries and fynbos. Samsara is full, round and undeniably grape-tasting with hints of mulberry, plum, clove and cinnamon. Samara pairs beautifully with spicy dishes or a hearty winter broth, such as Parsnip and Artichoke soup.
The Samsara Syrah is now available from Avondale at R285 per bottle. For more information about Avondale and its range of nature-friendly wines, visit www.avondalewine.co.za.
Dad’s The Man At Nederburg This Father’s day
Do it for dad this Father’s Day at The Red Table restaurant at Nederburg in Paarl on Sunday, June 16, (also Youth Day).
The restaurant’s braai-themed Father’s Day menu offers slow-roasted tomato soup, curried potato samoosas, succulent lamb and beef burgers, gourmet boerewors rolls, grilled chicken, vanilla ice cream and traditional malva pudding for only R195 a head.
If you buy a 12-bottle case of Baronne, you get a manly Nederburg apron, absolutely free, for braaiing at home, worth R90.
The Red Table will be serving from 12:00 to 16:00. Booking is essential. To do so, please contact the restaurant well in advance on 021 877 5155 or theredtable@nederburg.co.za.
Nederburg’s Visitors’ Centre will be open for wine tasting and sales from 10:00 to 16:00 on June 16, with a cellar tour offered at 11:00. To reserve a place for the cellar tour, kindly contact Sunette Rust of Nederburg on 021 862 3104 or on nedwines@distell.co.za.
Nederburg’s Online Winemaster’s Classes To Coincide With Masterchef South Africa Season two
Nederburg, official wine sponsor of MasterChef South Africa season two, and also the venue where most of the action takes place, has a new series of entertaining online master classes in food and wine pairing. Participants stand in line to win gourmet cookware prizes.
Featuring cellar master Razvan Macici talking about some of his favourite taste pairings in wine and food, the eight Winemaster’s Class clips will be posted bi-weekly on the brand website, www.nederburg.com/za/competition, starting on Tuesday, June 11. They have been created to coincide with the new season of the cookery challenge series that runs for 14 weeks from June 11 on M-Net, every Tuesday and Wednesday at 19:30.
Mostly less than two minutes long, the Winemaster’s Classes cover a range of foods to go with wines, from tapas and pasta to barbeques, desserts and even a gourmet sandwich that Razvan makes for himself as a midnight snack during the height of the harvest.
Online participants will be asked a question based on the content of each clip. Correct answers will see participants entered into a bi-weekly draw for a stunning Le Creuset cookery set.
Even if participants have missed a class or two, they can join in at any point during the series and catch up with their fellow classmates.
The clips focus mainly on Nederburg’s Winemaster’s Reserve range that will also be made available to MasterChef South Africa contestants. These wines are stocked by the major retailers nationally.
“It’s a tasty, relaxed way of thinking about combining wine and food to bring out the deliciousness of both,” says Macici, who was judged the 2012 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year. ”
To watch the introductory video, please go to http://youtu.be/VVOqpZUaN0Y.
Nederburg was also the wine sponsor and host venue for the first season of MasterChef South Africa last year.
KWV Achieves All-Time Best At Decanter World Wine Awards
KWV is back in the international limelight having delivered another glittering performance – its all-time best at the auspicious Decanter World Wine Awards in London this week. Among the 18 medals and commendations handed to the Paarl-based wine and spirits producer, were no less than three trophies and six gold medals.
Responsible for the trophy haul was the Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2012, which was named Best South African Sauvignon Blanc under £15; KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2010 – Best South African Bordeaux varietal under £15; and KWV The Mentors Chardonnay 2012 – Best South African Chardonnay under £15.
“This result, our best ever, is also most likely the best ever achieved by a South African wine producer. We are again delighted with the performance of our KWV The Mentors wines”, said outgoing KWV Chief Winemaker Richard Rowe. The premium range, established in 2006 to showcase excellence of selected vineyards, was responsible for a total of 14 of the accolades collected by KWV at the Decanter Awards, including Gold for the KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2011 and the KWV The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2011.
“Our KWV The Mentors wines are a shining example of the stylistic evolution that has taken place across our portfolio. Arguably the most awarded range in the country, the KWV The Mentors range has consistently ranked as a favourite among expert judging panels and wine lovers, both locally and internationally. It is a proud testament to the hard work of a dedicated group of people, from the growers through to our winemaking team,” Rowe said.
Also among the gold medallists was the Classic Cape Tawny, which Rowe said was very satisfying as it wins awards whenever entered, including prestigious accolades such as Double Gold at Veritas Wine Awards, Gold at the Michelangelo CCL Label International Wine Awards and Diamond status at the Winemakers’ Choice Awards.
The Decanter World Wine Awards, now in its 10th year, is widely regarded as the world’s leading wine competition. Its rigorous judging process has led to the event becoming an authoritative source for wine enthusiasts worldwide. This year, just over 200 judges from around the world assessed some 14 300 wines from 52 countries.
Making KWV’s performance even more significant is the very limited number of awards that are made annually at the event. Only around 1% of wines received a Regional Trophy.
• KWV announced this week the appointment of Johann Fourie as Chief Winemaker. Fourie has worked closely with Richard Rowe as KWV Senior Winemaker for the past eight years. Rowe stays on as a consultant with particular focus on developing KWV’s international markets.
