7 ways to find heaven on Earth, written by Michelle Coburn and published in Woolworths TASTE magazine
Want a crash course on world -class, cool climate wines? First stop: Hemel-en-Aarde wine region near Hermanus. Discover a winemaker’s secrets, explore the tasting rooms, learn some cool facts. Please note that the wine prices listed for the Hamilton Russell Chardonnay and Creation Syrah Grenache was correct at the time of going to press. View large map
2 Michelin Star Dutch Chef Edwin Vinke at Stanford’s Springfontein Wine
After the success of Springfontein EATS fine dining with a German 1-Michelin star chef, Springfontein Wine Estate strives for the next level, launching a Pop-Up restaurant during the months of January, February, and March 2022 Continue reading
Carry me Home Deli now in Kleinmond, too!
Frans and Mariaan Groenewald of The Restaurant at Gabriëlskloof have grown their renowned deli with a brand-new 2nd location. Carry Me Home Deli & Decor proudly opened on Harbour Road in the coastal town of Kleinmond mid-December. While the deli has always been a favourite for restaurant customers, it was during the Covid lockdowns when Frans and Mariaan saw the opportunity for providing ready-made meals, fresh bakes, and quality meats. What began as a small delivery service for local supermarkets along the coast has grown in leaps and bounds, with this exciting expansion as the result! The deli counter offers fantastic coffees and freshly baked delights; the fridges are packed with frozen ready meals, homemade ice cream, ready-to-braai meats, charcuterie, and cheese; and the shelves are lined with a treasure trove of local and imported treats and special gifts, and beautiful decor items. From February, the offering will expand further…
Newton Johnson Wines for a festive feast
David Newton Johnson Southend Chardonnay, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa 2020 (£15.99, laithwaites.co.uk) Christmas Dinner is effectively a buffet, so many and so varied are the competing elements on the plate. That makes the kind of precise wine matching that fusspots like me go in for somewhat redundant: a wine you might pick for the way it dovetails with turkey and a rich gravy is unlikely to be the same one you’d pick for bread sauce or sprouts (although, come to think of it, and much as I love them, I can’t think of a wine that would go really well with the maximum brassic bitterness of sprouts). In effect, then, you’re looking for all-rounders, and when it comes to whites that means something with a bit of weight and fullness, but also enough cleansing acidity to cut through the general richness. White burgundy is the classic choice, although that…
Kleinmond Winemaker Krige Visser
Central Cafe owner, Krige Visser, does more than serve up coffees. Krige Visser is part bearded sage, part supressed Afrikaans novelist, part winemaker and marketer; and all hedonist. “My motto has always been one of reinvention,” he says amid the morning bustle of the Chardonnay Deli in Constantia. “You have to keep changing things up.” These days he’s fully present in his latest incarnation as the self-taught winemaker of Bot River-based operation Arcangeli Vineyards. “I was 53-years-old when I started making wine. The learning process keeps you young.” Though his mantra may be one of change, the more I talk to him, the more apparent it becomes that the grape has been there in some form or another throughout his life. Starting with a childhood growing up in the Orange River, where his folks tended hanepoot vineyards. Young Krige helped pick the grapes and by the time he turned 10…
An Onrus Winemaker’s tale: Alwyn Liebenberg
Onrus winemaker Alwyn Liebenberg gave up a career as a transport economist to make his own wine Lieben. Lieben produces a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc as well as a craft gin.
Pringle Bay Goodness – Ingrid Irma Jones
(as copied from Facebook) I’m a permanent resident of Pringle Bay. Lockdown has shown me that I literally don’t have to go anywhere to find whatever is needed from shops, etc. From ordering in to getting an ice cream delivered to my house and not a drop has been wasted … we have it all here. With this in mind I have decided to round up all the good stuff we have here and showcase it to both residents and visitors to our beautiful village as well. Our local liquor store is a treasure trove of some of the best wines and spirits in the area. Whenever I need a special wine or suggestions Carina and Elmarie are always on hand with good tips and advice. If they don’t have what I’m looking for, they will order and stock it. How’s that for excellent service. Just to be clear. My…
South Africa’s cool secrets all in the Overberg
So writes Falstaff Magazine in their article on South African Pinot Noirs. Featured Hemel-en-Aarde producers include Restless River, Bouchard Finlayson and Crystallum. Stanford based winemaker Jessica Saurwein is mentioned for her Nom Pinot Noir, made from Elandskloof fruit. Keeping it in the Overberg is the Paul Cluver Pinot Noir Estate wine. Tim Hamilton Russell and Peter Finlayson are mentioned as pioneers for their efforts of planting Pinot in Hemel-en-Aarde.
Hermanus Travel Club
The travel lunch club started when a group of friends decided to up their support of Hermanus restaurants and help them recover from the impact of COVID. Trevor Edwards and friends thought it would be a good idea to focus on Hermanus CBD to encourage members to go back. This served several purposes: increasing trade, help with the regeneration of the CBD, support the wine industry and local food suppliers. The lunches are always scheduled for a Thursday which is often a quiet trading day. The group has a late lunch or early dinner to allow the restaurant to benefit from a subsequent seating. Not just there to enjoy but also to consider improvements that the restaurant could make with regards to menu options, take outs, fresh coat of paint or adding some plants to liven the venue up. The Hermanus Travel Club ‘flew” to Italy for their 1st lunch and dined at Febio’s…
Cape Whale Coast wines starring in 2022 Platter’s by Diners Club
Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide has revealed the eagerly awaited and prestigious list of wines earning the maximum rating of five stars in the new 2022 edition. Continue reading