|
Parlez-vous Vino?
Lianda Beyers-Cronje, world traveller,
passionate wine lover
and wine columnist on Nosy Rosy.
|
Parlez-vous Vino?
 
Christmas in July
Christmas glitter
and carols seems odd in the middle of July but heck, we never get
the chance to do justice to traditional Christmas fare which is far
too rich for our sizzling hot South African December.
I was recently
invited by the De Hoop Collection for a Christmas in July weekend
at the spectacular De Hoop nature reserve, situated to the east of
Waenhuiskrans and stretching all the way to Cape Infanta.
The 36 000 hectares
of De Hoop conservation area forms part of a World Heritage Site
characterised by rich biodiversity and rare species of fynbos that
lead down to an unspoilt coastline. A 19km vlei, which is a Ramsar
site and breeding ground for aquatic birds such as pelican and
flamingo, stretches across the reserve.
Accommodation at De
Hoop range from camping and caravanning sites and affordable
self-catering rondavels and cottages to five-star fully catered
lodges. The self-catering accommodation features stylish decor and
is fully equipped with linen, bathroom towels and kitchen equipment
and the cottages are serviced daily. A complimentary bottle of wine
and card add a special welcoming touch.
A pioneering
public-private partnership between Cape Nature and the De Hoop
Collection, this development is a landmark in the tourism sector. It
was established by eco-tourism visionaries Carl Trieloff and William
Stephens of the renowned Madikwe Collection, the community-based
model which has been used to inform the development of De Hoop.
The cellar of the
Fig Tree restaurant in the heart of the De Hoop Collection, offers a
full range of delectable wine from the Elim area. A number of
climatic factors have allowed grapes in the area to develop unique
flavours, especially the Sauvignon Blanc. The Elim Winegrowers have
incorporated their farms into the Nuwejaars Wetland Special
Management Area Initiative. They are committed to environmentally
responsible wine production, and the preservation of the unique
fauna and flora of the Agulhas coastal plains. Their slogan: “Real
wine, Real people”, encapsulates the spirit and ideals of the Elim
Winegrowers.
We had a chance to
taste some of the delectable wine from the area on Saturday
afternoon when Jolene Boshoff and Miki Elion presented us with a
cheese and wine tasting on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the
breathtakingly beautiful vlei at De Hoop. An unforgettable
experience!
Our “Christmas”
dinner, lovingly prepared by chef Bruce Elion, was accompanied by
wines from Creation in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley. Jo-Anne Kunz
introduced the guests to four wines from Creation, two whites and
two reds and advised which of the wines would pair well with
particular dishes from the extensive buffet table.
Both the Sauvignon
Blanc with its aromas of tropical fruit, elderflower and mineral
whiffs as well as the Viognier with its fragrant white peach aromas
and rich creamy character, paired well with most of the dishes on
the starter menu except the tarty rollmops and herring salads. In my
opinion the Sauvignon Blanc and the lovely Whale Bay Clam Chowder
with Chorizo and Smoky Bacon made a perfect pair while the
combination of Viognier and Parma Ham and Asparagus Rolls was also a
winner.
The meat dishes
presented us with a choice of roasted pork loin with sage and
onions, roasted turkey with cranberry sauce and prune stuffing and
duck and sausage casolette with beans and root vegetables. The pork
and turkey went well with the Syrah Grenache with its aromas of ripe
black olive and whiffs of pepper. A Rhône-style blend with intense
flavours of ripe plum, the Syrah complemented the fruit in the
stuffing and sauce of the roasted turkey. I found the combination of
the Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignong, Merlot and Petit
Verdot and the rich duck however, a particularly pleasing
combination. My husband tried the fruity hot Christmas cake and Van
der Hum custard with the delicious Bordeaux- style blend and
declared it a perfect match.
The weekend was over
too soon but we will definitely return to De Hoop and next time I
hope to explore the Elim wine farms on my way to this unique
reserve.
New arrivals at
Creation
I was recently
invited by Carolyn Martin of Creation to taste some of the estate’s
new wines that were bottled in July. While waiting for Carolyn to
finish an interview with magazine writer Sumien Brink, one of the
knowledgeable tasting room assistants, Salomé Geldenhuys talked me
through the estate’s innovative food and wine pairing experience.
Delectable titbits,
carefully selected to form a perfect match with the Creation wines
are presented to visitors on a platter. When wondering next time how
to give guests from elsewhere in the country or abroad a unique
taste of Hermanus, this is a wonderful way to do it!
Recently bottled
additions to Creation’s cellar are the 2009 Pinot Noir with its
elegant, beautiful mouth feel and aroma of freshly-cut hay and the
2009 Syrah Grenache.
Referring to the
Pinot Noir, Carolyn says: “We are very excited about this wine. It
is a reinforcement of everything that winemakers JC and Christophe
have been doing on the farm so far.”
The Syrah Grenache
is even better than its 2008 predecessor and truly a “Wow” wine!
Paired with rare beef with plum and rocket, this wine is bound to
turn your dinner table into a veritable feast.
Totally new on the
Creation firmament are a pure Merlot and pure Syrah. I loved the
Merlot with its hint of chocolate and mocha mint. It is a sensual
wine reminiscent of romantic evenings under starlit skies.
More austere and not
as luscious as the Syrah Grenache, the pure Syrah has an ageing
potential of 8 years. On the nose maraschino cherry with anise and a
bit of umami. The wine has a beautiful mouth feel and it will be the
perfect companion for rich winter dishes like osso buco or oxtail.
Events to look
forward to at Creation are :
-
Spring lunch – 5
September
-
A wine workshop with
Katinka van Niekerk - 30 September
-
Waterblommetjie
lunch – 3 October
-
Crayfish braai – 27
November.
Festival time
A big thank you to
all the Overberg wine estates who so generously supported this
year’s Kalfiefees. Guests at the gala opening of the arts festival
will get a unique taste of Overberg terroir and hopefully come back
for visits to the estates.
Don’t forget to
support the exciting Hermanus Wine and Food Fair at the Hemel-en-Aarde
Village from 6 to 8 August where you will find 200 premium wines
from more than 50 selected Overbewrg Wineries stretching from Elgin
to Elim.
Enjoy!
|
