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FIRE!
If you
live in and around Stellenbosch, you
know all about it. The past two weeks,
we have experienced an enormous fire in
the Jonkershoek Valley. The fire on
Stellenbosch Berg made its way down
Blaauwklippen Road, and then leapt
across to the Helderberg Mountain.
Tokara, on the Helshoogte Pass, suffered
severe damage, with a substantial amount
of olive trees and vineyards that burned
down. Lourensford, on the ocean’s side
of the Helderberg, are still struggling,
with teams patrolling the farm to ensure
that the fire does not start again. They
did not loose any vineyards, but
hectares of plantations were lost, and
their farm manager was injured.
Dornier
and Waterford were also threatened, but
all seems calm at the moment. Even
though fires create a path of
destruction, there is something truly
spectacular and majestic about the red
flames, as seen on these pictures send
in by some of our members. I wish all
our members strength for the harvest,
which is currently underway.
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Suffering from road
rage on our beautiful roads? Then this
ad is especially for you :
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For all of you who have aspirations of
becoming a winemaker, or just getting
your feet dirty in the vineyards, visit
www.wineroute.co.za/summer.asp for a list of ways to get involved with
this year’s harvest.
A few come to
mind... Jordan’s Harvest Cellar Tours,
grape stomping at Stellenrust, Delaire’s
Winemaker Friendship lunches, and
harvesting at Lovane Boutique. |
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On that note - the
first Spier Harvest Festival, on
Saturday 21 February, promises to be a
wine lovers' delight, with Spier wines
aplenty, delectable foods and a special
event with the winemaking team.
From 10am
to 3pm the Spier lawns will
spring to life with wine
tastings, food stalls, an
eco-friendly play area and
traditional harvest treats. A
ticket of R50 at the door buys a
special edition wine glass and
tasting vouchers for adults; or
game vouchers for kids.
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The wine lover's highlight will
be staged as the sun descends at
the long and richly laden Spier
Harvest Table. Meet the
winemakers and join the
discussions on making and
tasting wine.
Sample Spier's
award-winning wines at their
very best; in excellent company
with delectable foods in
picturesque surrounds. Seats are
strictly limited at R200 a head,
so be sure to book now at
www.computicket.com.
Or visit
www.spier.co.za. |
Those with
a love for music won't want to
miss the Spier Harvest Legends
Concert at 8pm. Legendary South
African performers Judith
Sephuma, Koos Kombuis, Zanne
Stapelberg, Melanie Scholtz and
Nomfusi Gotyana will play
accompanied by the handpicked
Harvest Festival Symphony
Orchestra. Tickets start at R180
via Computicket.
Don't miss out on what is sure
to be a historic inaugural
harvest event!
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For all our readers
from Cape Town and
Johannesburg – read
on!
The Under the
Influence of
Riesling Festival
2009
is coming to your
doorstep!
Taking place at the
Roundhouse
Restaurant (Camps
Bay, Cape Town) and
at The Hyatt
(Johannesburg), this
is a four day event
welcoming the best
international
Riesling producers
and their South
African counterparts
as they showcase the
versatility and
compatibility of
Riesling as an
excellent lifestyle
companion to the
warm South African
climate and cuisine.
From 19 to 22
February, various
workshops, fine
dining events, food
and wine pairings,
picnics and live
entertainment will
be on offer.
For more
information, contact
Jörg Pfützner on 072
467 5943, or
info@rieslingclub.co.za. |
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News in the
Devon Valley area, is that
Clos Malverne launched a new
wine tasting centre, as well as
a boutique health spa. Vineyards
surround the cellar and stately
home of owners, Seymour and
Sophia Pritchard. The mountain
views across the Valley, to the
north, are breathtakingly
beautiful. Eager to share this
beauty and tranquillity with
visitors, the Pritchards built a
stylish, glass-fronted tasting
centre and a boutique health
spa: both of which capture these
glorious views.
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Over the past few years,
particularly since
Seymour’s nephew, Zaine
Pritchard, joined the
farm as managing
director, the Clos
Malverne team has
emphasized the
importance of fostering
relationships with
wine-lovers across the
board. This focus has
translated into more and
more Clos Malverne
followers visiting the
estate.
The original tasting
room proved to be
ill-equipped to host
these visitors.
Furthermore, the old
tasting room was tucked
away, so guests were
unable to appreciate the
splendid views of the
Valley and mountains. |
The spacious
new tasting centre, boasting
expansive retracting glass doors
on adjacent sides, embraces this
untrammelled beauty and ambient
light. Visitors are able to
taste Clos Malverne’s wide range
of wines, while reclining at
leisure on sumptuous sofas or
relaxing on the generous
balcony, while soaking up the
panoramic vista.
Besides sampling superb wines,
visitors to Clos Malverne have
added a culinary dimension to
their tasting centre offering.
Enjoy one of two assorted
platters of delectable treats: a
gourmet meat and cheese platter
comprised of Italian salami,
country ham, carpaccio, pâté, a
selection of four local cheeses,
crackers and luscious seasonal
fruit; or perhaps a simple
cheese platter is more to your
liking... savour a range of six
delectable cheeses complemented
by olives, pâté, a range of
crackers and luscious fresh
fruit.
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The Spa @ Clos
Malverne Wine Estate is the brainchild of
Seymour’s daughter,
Belinda, a trained
health- and skincare
therapist.
The spa, situated
above the tasting
centre, offers a
wide array of
relaxing treatments
including: facials,
manicures,
pedicures, waxes,
massages,
spray-tanning
(providing an
instant tan without
sun damage), body
wraps, bath therapy,
hydrotherapy, a
steam room, as well
as a variety of
specialised ‘pamper
packages’.
Refreshments can be
enjoyed on the spa
deck, or while
lounging beside the
estate’s magnificent
crystal clear
swimming pool.
The wonderful
setting and recent
innovations have
revolutionised this
picturesque wine
estate, making Clos
Malverne the ideal
venue for weddings
and functions.
For more
information, visit
www.closmalverne.co.za.
Phone (021) 865
2022, or e-mail
info@closmalverne.co.za. |
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On
Saturday 21 March it is time for the second
annual Muldersvlei Vineyard Challenge.
De Meye Wines, Eaglevlei and Joostenberg are
the hosts of this exciting outdoor event,
which includes mountain biking, trail runs,
wine tasting, food stalls, and kids
entertainment.
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Stellenbosch is synonymous with
quality wine, and therefore it is no
surprise that this famous university
town is where Ernie Els has chosen
to open his brand new restaurant,
The Big Easy, named after the
man himself. Nestled among the
quirky architecture on South
Africa's second oldest road, the oak
tree-lined Dorp Street, once the
‘wagon road to the Cape', La
Gratitude is a beautiful, 16th
century Cape Dutch building. Built
by Dr. Meendt Borcherds, it is
possibly the best known building on
Dorp Street due partly to its
perfectly proportioned facade with
its classical gable giving the
building perfect proportions and
elegance.
This bistro-style restaurant has a
distinctly relaxed feel with a
lovely and diverse range of food
from a 1 kg T-bone steak to citrus
cured salmon. The well-planned décor
is best described as plush, rich and
luxurious, but surprisingly
understated. A beautiful retail
store that stocks Ernie Els
memorabilia and clothing, can also
be found on-site. The store also
stocks all the Proprietors’ wines
and guests are able to taste 5 of
the wines. The Big Easy Wine is only
available at the store, and not at
the wine farm.
Contact (021) 887 3462 for
reservations, or visit
www.ernieels.com. |
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To all our members – we wish you well
for the 2009 harvest.
Until next time, cheers!
Annareth Bolton
CEO Stellenbosch American Express®
Wine Routes |
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