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Lianda Beyers-Cronje, world traveller,
passionate wine lover
and wine columnist on
Nosy Rosy.
Parlez-vous Vino?
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Pinotage
is the
perfect
winter partner
With the Boks doing
so well against England (even if it is by an inch) - and Bafana
achieving fourth place in the Confederation Cup, it may well be
worth your while to do the patriotic thing and open a bottle of
South African-born Pinotage.
A true South African
wine, Pinotage was created in South Africa as long ago as 1925 by
Stellenbosch professor AI Peroldt as a cross between Cinsault and
Pinot Noir. After a relatively slow beginning, the wine was taken
seriously in 1991 when Kanonkop’s winemaker Beyers Truter entered
his Pinotages at England’s International Wine and Spirit
Competition. These so impressed the judges that he was presented
with the “Winemaker of the Year Award”.
In 1995 Wine
Spectator editor James Suckley visited the Cape of Good Hope Show
and described the Kanonkop Pinotages as “spectacular”.
The Pinotage
Producers Association was formed and the annual Absa Top 10 Pinotage
competition begun.
Closing date for
this year’s competition was on 25 June this year.
It is Pinotage’s
versatility that makes it such a harmonious companion to food. From
sparkling wines, fashionable rosés to serious full-bodied dinner
wine, our own local grape is ever increasing its possibilities!
RAKA is in the running for the Top 10 Pinotage
Competition
Raka Wine created a
stir when it won a place in the Absa Top 10 Pinotage in 2004 with
its first vintage. Winemaker Josef Dreyer said that the estate
entered once again this year.
Making the most of
one of our brilliant winter days that invariably follows our more
tempestuous bouts of Cape weather, I drove out to Raka Wine near
Stanford to taste its Pinotage last week.
According to its
notes the wine has a nice dark colour and typical Pinotage nose of
banana and lots of Rooibos tea. It is full bodied, displays spice
and pepper on the tongue, but is still smooth with a lingering
aftertaste. The fruit and wood flavours are well integrated, making
it a ready to drink wine now but delicious in five years.
A visit to Raka is
always pleasurable as the Dreyer family go out of their way to
assist visitors and make them feel welcome in their elegant tasting
room.
On the way back we
stop at the Klein River Cheese shop to taste some of the award
winning cheeses produced right here on our doorstep.
I couldn’t resist
buying some Havarti and Gruyére, both South African Champion cheeses
with a couple of gold medals under the belt. Along with the cheese,
we bought a small bottle of Mavis’ munchie’s chunky chilli
and coriander chutney – an absolutely divine cheese partner. I went
home to prepare some lamb shanks to serve with the Pinotage and we
tried some of the cheese and chutney before dinner. Yummy!
Klein River Cheese
prepares the most wonderful picnics to be enjoyed next to the river
and nothing beats cheese and a good wine in a beautiful setting.
During winter time the picnic facility is closed however, but
nothing prevents you from making up your own impromptu cheese and
wine picnic at the nearest beautiful spot you can find – not
difficult here on our shores!
Wine Festival and Schwarmas on Saturday, 4 July
DON’t
forget to attend the Wine Festival at Hermanuspietersfontein on
Saturday 4 July. Once again you will have the opportunity (how lucky
we are) to chill at the Werf while sipping some delicious Overberg
wine and munching gourmet schwarmas. This is a great event because
you can meet the winemakers and get some expert advice on our
wonderful Overberg wines.
Keep yourself warm
and cosy and remember, a glass of wine can ward of the worst of
winter chills!
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