Winter has arrived in its full glory, and this means long afternoons in cosy tasting rooms, with Stellenbosch’s best red wines. We have a wide array of winter promotions, events, dinners, tastings and many more. A few highlights include Friday evenings at Middelvlei in front of the fireplace, the winter program at Simonsig, and the Lindt chocolate event at 96 Winery Road! For detailed information, click HERE.

 

TripAdvisor has announced the top 25 Travelers’ Choice 2011 best destinations and Cape Town, after 45-million travellers have had their say, has been declared the world’s No.1 destination.

 

  

TripAdvisor spokesperson, Emma O’Boyle, was quoted by PRNewswire as saying, “Cape Town is clearly the destination to beat. With beautiful scenery, great wine and gorgeous weather, it’s easy to see why Cape Town, which also played host to last year’s World Cup, has topped this year’s list.” This is fantastic news for the Cape winelands, and we look forward to more visitors to our area! For the full article, click HERE.

         

Stellenbosch Wine Routes has once again been included as one of the 15 epic wine regions to visit before you die. We completely agree! For the full article, click HERE.

    

Busy planning your wedding? Stellenbosch is the ideal wedding destination, as confirmed again in this article by SA Wedding Venues.
 
For a full list of venues in Stellenbosch, click HERE.

  

Head down to Hartenberg Wine Estate on Saturday, 4 June 2011, and enjoy some of the finest flagship Syrahs from top cellars paired with superb artisanal fare at the Feast of SA Shiraz & Charcuterie @ Hartenberg.

 

Carl Schultz, celebrated winemaker at Hartenberg, widely regarded as one of South Africa’s oldest and leading producers of Shiraz, has invited a select choice of winemakers to showcase their wines at this indulgent day of Shiraz and Charcuterie. They will be joined by some of the best local charcuterie masters, cheese makers and olive enthusiasts for a food and wine pairing feast on Hartenberg Wine Estate.
 
Besides Hartenberg’s own standout Shiraz wines from the ever popular Hartenberg Estate Shiraz which has been going strong for almost 40 years, to the exclusive Gravel Hill and the more upfront The Stork, other iconic cellars who will be sharing their exceptional renditions of this spicy varietal on the day include Boschkloof, De Trafford, Haskell, and Kleinood. Top local musicians will set a festive tone for this singular wine and food Winelands experience.  

 
The Feast of SA Shiraz & Charcuterie @ Hartenberg takes place on Saturday, 4 June 2011 from 12h00 until 17h00. Tickets cost R150 per person, including a wine glass and complimentary booklet of tasting coupons, and are available either directly from Hartenberg Estate or online at www.webtickets.co.za. For more information, call Tel: (021) 865 2541, Email: info@hartenbergestate.com or visit www.hartenbergestate.com.

 

Avontuur’s new winemaker, Jan van Rooyen, and chef-patrons of the Estate Restaurant, Zunia Boucher-Myers and Melanie Palteglou have combined forces to present a stunning 3-course winter menu with two matching wines per course plus a few mouth-watering extra’s!

 

Join them on Saturday, 4 June, 19:00, in the cosy restaurant, complete with underfloor heating and a fireplace. Jan and Zunia will present the wines with each course and discuss each dish as they are served, and be on hand to answer questions on the pairings and recipe’s if guests are keen to chat.
  
The cost is R220 per person and due to limited seating available, bookings are essential at openhand@polka.co.za or 021 855 4296. For the full menu, visit www.avontuurestate.co.za.

         

This month I would like to visit a new member to the Stellenbosch Wine Routes. Summer Hill Wines is situated on the R44, next to L’Avenir.
 
Attention to detail is of paramount importance to Charles and Ingrid and their vineyard team is very proud of their achievement through the unprecedented care of each individual vine. Because they are a boutique farm they can afford the time and commitment, and don't have to utilize a shotgun approach. This has allowed the strictest standards to grow the best grapes possible, in order to consistently achieve the quality wines that nature intended.
 
For more info, visit www.summerhillwines.co.za, or phone Charles Hunting himself on 083 625 2782.  

    

The 150 farms that form the Stellenbosch American Express ® Wine Routes are pulling out all the stops for a double barrel celebration to mark their 40th anniversary and the 10th Stellenbosch Wine Festival during the last week of July this year.

 
The festival, to be held at the Paul Roos Centre from 28 to 31 July, is one of the biggest country food and wine festivals under one roof in the Cape and extends its Winelands hospitality again this year with the ever popular Stellenbosch Wine Week. From 22 to 31 July, visitors to South Africa’s oldest and foremost wine route will be able to partake in special Wine Week cellar door attractions on participating farms leading up to the Wine Festival. Stellenbosch Wine Week offers a wide-ranging kaleidoscope of family-friendly activities including gaming nights, a foreign film festival, food and wine pairings, adventurous day trips, family picnics, live music, exclusive winemaker dinners and rare vertical and varietal wine tastings, all blended into one big barrel of fun.

 

To download your copy of the wine week program, click HERE.
 
 Various special accommodation packages in and around Stellenbosch, ranging from budget Winelands sleepovers to luxury rest and relaxation amidst the tranquility of aristocratic vines, are available to make the Stellenbosch Wine Week and Wine Festival more accessible to upcountry visitors this year.

  
Tickets to the Stellenbosch Wine Festival range from R120 per person per day for online bookings or R140 at the door, to R350 for the Golden Pass for the entire festival. The entry fee to the opening of the festival, an exclusive Wine Connoisseurs Evening from 16h00 till 21h00 on Thursday, 28 July, is R160 per person for online bookings or R180 at the door and includes gourmet delights. Be sure to take advantage of these special online prices by booking your tickets on www.webtickets.co.za now. Click HERE for more information or call 021 886 4310.

    

We would like to congratulate Shantal Wollow, our administrative assistant, and her husband Vernal, on the birth of their baby girl, Vershay, on Thursday 12 May. Vershay was born two months prematurely, but she is doing well, and should be at home in the next few days.  
 

Until next time, stay warm and remember : Think quality ... drink Stellenbosch!

Annareth Bolton
CEO Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes

 


 

  

 


 
 Proudly sponsored by:
 

Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes, Suite 224, Postnet, X5061, Stellenbosch, 7599
Tel: +27 21 886-4310 | Fax: +27 21 886-4330 | Email : info@wineroute.co.za