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Parlez-vous Vino?
Lianda Beyers-Cronje, world traveller,
passionate wine lover
and wine columnist on Nosy Rosy.
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Parlez-vous Vino?
The summer is ripening…
The
sizzling hot summer days that we have experienced lately may seduce
one in thinking that the season will last forever but on the wine
farms in the Walker Bay Ward, the farmers have been busy for some
time now to harvest the fruits of the summer and on some estates,
the harvest is nearly completed…
I have
asked some of the esteemed winemakers to tell us about the 2010
harvest and nearly all of them agreed that although the harvest may
be a bit smaller than usual ( an overall trend in the SA wine
industry), the grapes are looking good!
Says
Anthony Hamilton Russell: “The last part of our Chardonnay harvest
is in full swing on Hamilton Russell Vineyards, with occasional
interruptions from the intermittent rain experienced in the last
two weeks of February. Luckily, both the Pinot noir (our 30th
vintage) and the Pinotage harvest were finished on the 17th
and the 16th respectively – missing almost all the rain.
A small amount of Sauvignon blanc still remains to be taken in, once
the sugars and flavours are where we want them.
Early
harvest, from our start on February 2nd, was
characterised by perfect, warm dry weather with the occasional hot
day – fortunately moderated by proximity to the Walker Bay. The
later part of the harvest has been a little trickier, with cool days
and light rain alternating with warm muggy days. The grapes to date,
however, have been healthy and rot-free. The reds in the cellar have
wonderful depth and structure, dark berry fruit and more tannin and
spiciness than 2008 and 2009.”
He
added that the 30th harvest of Pinot noir at Hamilton
Russell
Vineyards started on the 20th anniversary of FW de
Klerk’s watershed speech that introduced a new era in South Africa
and finished on Tim Hamilton Russell’s 76th birthday -
believed by everybody on the estate to be good omens!
Peter
Finlayson from Bouchard Finlayson said that harvesting on the estate
is nearly over bar some Chardonnay and red grapes used for the
making of the famous Hanniball.
“Although the quantity of the
harvest is reduced this year, the quality of the grapes is
excellent,” he said. “The small Pinot noir berries especially,
indicate a very special vintage…!”
Joseph
Dreyer from Raka Wines near Stanford said with all the estate’s
Sauvignon blanc grapes harvested. they still have the Merlot,
Cabernet sauvignon and Shiraz to pick.
“Harvest time is far from over at Raka but so far we are very happy
with the quality of the grapes,” he said.
Taste the bubbles
Bartho
Eksteen from Hermanuspietersfontein produced about 200 bottles of
Pinot noir “bubbly” that are exclusively for sale at the Hermanuspietersfontein
Food and Wine market every Saturday. The fresh bubbles go with
everything – get a platter of Gerrie’s delectable cheese and wafer
thin meat slices, a perfect miniature quiche or two or a “Yard
breakfast” and enjoy the bubbles while soaking in the cosmopolitan
vibe at this popular market!
Not a
bubbly fan? It is still worth visiting the market just to get a
taste of the newly released Die Bartho 2009 – graded four and a half
stars by the South African wine bible, John Platter.
In for a treat
Gabriëlskloof is having its first food and wine pairing event on
Wednesday, 10 March. Enjoy a sumptuous five course dinner coupled
with elegant wines to accompany each course. Guests will also taste
the yet to be released Gabriëlskloof Magdalena while the winemaker
will explain more about his winemaking philosophy!
For
those of you who still have to explore the delights of the new star
on the wine firmament in the Bot River area, this event (R300 per
person) will provide a perfect introduction!
A perfect platter
The
Southern Right tasting room at the new cellar on the estate is
offering a Southern Right Platter that is a delight to behold…
Taste
Southern Right’s fabulously sensuous Pinotage and delightfully fresh
Sauvignon blanc paired with venison and beef biltong, the estate’s
very own Extra Virgin olive oil, an oven fresh ciabatta roll,
Crottin cheese and Chevin cheese while admiring the view from high
up the hill…
The
platter costs R120 and it is not necessary to book in advance! Note
that the platter will not be available from June to August as goat’s
milk cheese is not available during the winter months. Contact
Elmarie at the Southern Right Tasting Room on 028 312-1318
A secret no more!
Gavin
Patterson, the winemaker at beautiful Sumaridge in the Hemel-en-Aarde
vally is quietly busy with the making of yet another Cap Classique
from our very own shores…
Watch
this space!
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