Uncorking a bottle of Stellenbosch Hills Kastanjeberg Chenin Blanc 2020 is a celebration in all senses of the word – a celebration of terroir, of excellence, of true craftsmanship and of exceptional harvests. Introduction When an elegant bottle of Stellenbosch Hills’ newly released and limited Kastanjeberg Chenin Blanc 2020 landed at my door, I knew…
Tag: Wine review
{wine} Together through collaboration: Boland Cellar’s new-look One Formation wines
With a foundation of strong underpinning ethics, Boland Cellar‘s One Formation range of wines are not just beautiful from the outside, but filled with pure collaborative goodness from vine to bottle. Introduction Eternally drawn to a beautiful label and the dark curves of a wine bottle, I received these two beauties from Boland Cellar with…
{wine} Deetlefs Wine Estate: three courses for three bottles – a celebratory meal
Over the years, Deetlefs Wine Estate has rightfully collected a vast amount of prime property in my ever-full wine racks. In the build-up towards their 200 years’ existence celebration in 2022, I thought I’d introduce you to a few of my favourites so long. Introduction My first meeting with Deetlefs was in the early throes…
{wine}{recipe} Zandvliet’s Shiraz 2017 and a cheat’s sausage pie
When you combine my most beloved winelands district with my most beloved red wine varietal, you get the Zandvliet Shiraz 2017 from Robertson, a gratifyingly rich and complex wine. Add glassesful to a hearty ostrich sausage pie and you’ve unlocked the direct path to most people’s hearts. Introduction I’ve never been quiet about my love…
{wine} Thinking inside the box: Fleur du Cap’s bag-in-a-box Rosé
I’m all here for innovation, sustainability and accessibility in the wine industry. In fact, I prefer thinking inside the box, rather than out, just like premium wine brand Fleur du Cap. Introduction With a growing movement towards finding sustainable and eco-friendly ways of producing and packaging household items, the spillover into the wine and hospitality…
{recipe} The simple pleasures: Cathedral Cellar wines and Mynhardt’s spiced harvest bread
If 2020 offered me any moments of retrospection, I’ve learned to slow down and return to the simple pleasures in life, as often as possible. I recently broke bread over the table with a couple of bottles of Cathedral Cellar Wines, and my homemade version of Chef Mynhardt‘s spiced harvest loaf. Introduction I received a…
{wine} Legacy in a bottle: Kruger Family Reserve Shiraz and Chardonnay
Eternally enticed by new wines to taste and stories captured in bottles, I couldn’t wait to spend an afternoon with a couple of Stellenview Wines’ Kruger Family Reserve wines as I baked away a few lazy hours in the kitchen. Introduction One of my greatest self-indulgences is to unwrap a bottle of wine that I’ve…
{wine} Red red wine: my latest winter accessories from Ernie Els Wines
I’m constantly writing about how I rebel against the perceived seasonality of wines. Yet, here I stand, just a girl, with two bottles of Ernie Els Wines red in my hands, begging winter to arrive. Introduction Having visited the newly renovated home of Ernie Els Wines a few months ago, I’ve simply not stopped talking…
{wine} Robertson Winery’s winter warming line up
With winter having shown its moody colours over these last few days, I can’t help but crave comforting bowls of baked puddings. Coupled with a selection of Robertson Winery‘s all-season soul-warming wines, I’m ready for the chill to settle in. Introduction Convinced I was born in the wrong season, my heart finds comfort in the…
{wine} FAT Fig Newtons with FAT bastard’s Rosé 2020
My heart always does a little somersault when I see a beautiful bottle of Rosé. Even more so when it’s one with a little golden hippo on the label, because we all know that signals it will be a FAT bastard of a wine! Introduction I was generously introduced to the FAT bastard range of…
{wine} Last of the summer wine: Bouchard Finlayson’s most beloved sippers
The seasonality of Bouchard Finlayson‘s range of white wines will undoubtedly carry the carefree remnants of summer through into autumn, and well into the warm fireplace evenings of winter. Introduction The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley lies like an unexplored vineyard of dreams in front of me. Only recently starting to venture into the cooler climate Elgin wines,…
{wine} Bold new branding for Boland Cellar: Reserve Range and One Formation
Taking full advantage of the turn of the year, Boland Cellar has given their Top Two most awarded Reserve Range & One Formation wines a beautiful new look to match. Introduction If 2020 has taught us anything (and it surely taught us a lot!), it’s that nothing stands still. Even if everything around us is…