SIP ON MURATIE WINES AND TASTE HISTORY FOR YOURSELF

Hosted in the historic town hall, some 60 of the country’s best producers offer more than 200 wines for tasting, which are served alongside a never-ending harvest table of seasonal and local bites and delights.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience Stellenbosch and Stellenbosch wine in all it’s glory, this is the occasion.

The celebration is the culmination of a smorgasbord of family-friendly experiences organised by wine farms, restaurants, tour operators and guesthouses in South Africa’s wine capital. Activities feature amongst others, specialised wine tours, international conferences and regional tastings as well as winemaker lunches and dinners, specials at wine bars and restaurants around town and curated vertical tastings.

Stellenbosch wines excel across grape varieties, which is the reason for focus-tastings that include Cabernet through the ages hosted by the Stellenbosch Cabernet collective, and Chenin Blanc.

More about the Stellenbosch Wine Festival

Some of the country’s biggest names in wine will be represented at this year’s Stellenbosch Wine Festival. Among them, Simonsig, Alto, Spier, Rust en Vrede, Blaauwklippen and Kleine Zalze.

But it doesn’t stop there, the food feast on offer comes from the kitchens of celebrated chef Bertus Basson and prepared by Bertus Basson Restaurants Group Chef Adel Grewar. The culinary presentation includes a harvest table, floating small plates mostly themed around traditional flavours and tastes, and to end it all off, a buffet of desserts.

As has become tradition, there will be top notch live music too.

Festival details

Dates and times:  Fri, 2 Aug, 17:00 - 21:00 and Sat, 3 Aug: 14:00 - 18:00

Tickets:                  R490pp

Ticket includes:    18 wine tasting tokens, live music performance and harvest feast

Tickets:                  Book via Plankton.

Special deals

Winelovers keen to take advantage of the entire week’s events will be happy to know that discounts and special deals are being offered across the board. For information, visit www.StayAndPlay.visitstellenbosch.org. For those living further afield, check out www.travelstart.co.za for flight-and-stay packages, and up to a R1000 off accommodation (Ts&Cs apply).

Enquiries may be directed by email to info@wineroute.co.za or phone, to 021 886 4310. Track the build-up to the event by following with @stellwineroute on Facebook, X(Twitter) and Instagram.

#ThinkQuality #DrinkStellenbosch #visitStellenbosch #WineBoscher

Issued by: ROUX REKLAME
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Morgenster Estate’s The Reserve 2016, which scored an impressive 95 points.

A limited release wine, The Reserve 2016 is available directly from the Estate’s Tasting Room, online wine shop, or selected outlets at R645 per bottle.

Situated in the heart of the Helderberg, Morgenster Estate is open daily for wine and olive oil tastings. For more information on their range visit www.morgenster.co.za.

Issued by: ON THE MARQUE PR & COMMUNICATIONS
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© 2024 Herman Lintvelt - WineTourismZA

Today, three generations of the Pentz family, Peter Sr., Nick, and Peter Jr., drive an inclusive heritage of innovation in their vineyards, cellar, and marketing at Groote Post in the Darling Hills on the Cape West Coast.

“The Old Man’s Blend range reflects modern sophistication without compromising on taste or value," says Peter Pentz, Communications Manager. "Each bottle is a tribute to our family’s vision; every sip captures the essence of transformation. Let’s embrace the past, toast to the future, and revel in the joy of life’s evolving flavours.”

Winemaker Lukas Wentzel has been part of the Pentz family tradition for over two decades. “The Old Man’s Blend range offers the same exquisite taste that has won a loyal following,” says Wentzel. “The red blend is characterised by raspberry and fresh cherry flavours, and tastes of ripe red fruit. The white blend is a Sauvignon Blanc based summer wine, that shows tropical fruit flavours, and a fresh, lively acidity with a finish of citrus flavours.”

Groote Post Vineyards is excited to announce the rebranding of its iconic The Old Man’s Blend range.

TASTE AND BUY THE GROOTE POST THE OLD MAN’S BLEND RANGE

Only an hour’s drive from Cape Town, visit Groote Post for wine tasting, open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 (only closed on Easter Friday, Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day). Buy The Old Man’s Blend range at the cellar door, online at https://groote-post-wines.myshopify.com/collections/all and at select fine wine merchants around the country. The approximate retail price is R114 (White) and R119 (Red).

For more information, visit www.grootepost.co.za or call 022 492 2825 or email wine@grootepost.co.za. Join the conversation @Grootepost on Facebook at www.facebook.com/grootepost/, X at https://x.com/grootepost and Instagram at www.instagram.com/grootepost/.

Issued by: YOLANDI DE WET PR
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© 2024 Herman Lintvelt - WineTourismZA

“Taste of Terroir presents a rare opportunity for winelovers to experience red wines of the Durbanville region at a single event. While the region is well-known as a producer of world-class Sauvignon Blanc, our red wines are equally renowned,” says Durbanville wine route manager Natasha de Villiers.

“Durbanville celebrates its 200th anniversary of wine growing next year, and this occasion certainly showcases the excellence and expertise that dedicated families have evolved over two centuries of honing of their craft.”

The Red Wine Tasting Soirée follows on the heels of the region’s annual tasting of Sauvignon Blanc, which has been a sold-out success for two consecutive years.

A region of champion red wines

Durbanville wines are consistently awarded and recognised at the most authoritative local and international shows.

In the case of red wines, the most recent top performance was achieved at the 2024 Trophy Wine Show where Durbanville Hills claimed the trophy for its 2022 Collectors Reserve The Promenade Pinotage; and was included in the Top 10 Red Wines and Top 10 Best Value Reds. Diemersdal Estate 2022 The Journal Pinotage won Gold at the International Wine Challenge.

Last year saw Durbanville red wines among the highest accolades. Among them, Veritas, the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirit Awards and Terroir Awards, and was the receiver of amongst others, five stars from the Platter’s South African wine guide for Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and in the category of Red Blends/Cape Bordeaux. Durbanville reds were also included in the Shiraz SA Challenge Top 12.

More about Durbanville

At the root of this success is an ideal terroir as well as multi-generational know-how. The vineyards just north of Cape Town have thrived here since 1698 with their success underscored by a diversity of soil types, climatic conditions, and aspects. Mists and oceanic breezes ensure lower-than-average temperatures that promote slow ripening and intense flavour development.

Loch Lynne Wine Estate, Durbanville

Taste of Terroir event details

Venue:                       

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You won’t want to miss our special June celebratory offer – our legendary Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank served with a glass of Ansela for R300. And pop into our Tasting Room on your way out and take home a celebratory 6-bottle mixed case of Ansela van de Caab and Laurens Campher for a special price of R2000.00 – or email wineclub@muratie.co.za.”

Muratie Ansela van de Caab
Tasting notes: Muratie Ansela van de Caab is a classic Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot which spent 22 months in French oak. Dark, intense and brooding, the nose promises much – cedar wood, cigar box, blackcurrants and a distinctive herbaceous and spicy edge courtesy of the Cabernet Franc. The palate, rich and velvety, more than delivers on that promise with savoury hints of black olive tapenade, cassis, some perfumed sandalwood and a long finish which develops from fruit to savoury and ends with an enticing combination of the two. This wine epitomises balance, with the elegant tannins, fresh acidity and masterly oak treatment all playing their part. Muratie Ansela van de Caab is a wine to savour with the very finest culinary offerings, or simply to be enjoyed with good friends. This wine promises enjoyment over at least 10 years.

Retail price: Muratie Ansela van de Caab 2020 is available at the estate, online at www.muratie.co.za/wine/buy-wine/ and at select fine wine merchants around the country. Approximate retail price: R670

Muratie Laurens Campher
Tasting notes: This wine is a unique white blend of predominantly Chenin Blanc with smaller amounts of Sauvignon Blanc, Verdehlo and Viognier. For all its freshness and elegance, the wine’s flavours are complex and intense, ranging from bright lemon, fresh pineapple, apricots and juicy nectarine to more concentrated lime marmalade as well as caramel and cream (from barrel fermentation and 11 months of maturation in mostly older French oak). On the palate the initial impression is floral (heady honeysuckle) finishing with white peaches and apricots, with hints of citrus and a fresh acidity – great persistence promising enjoyment over at least five years.

Purchase: Muratie Laurens Campher 2022 is available at the estate, online at www.muratie.co.za/wine/buy-wine/ and at select fine wine merchants around the country. Approximate retail price: R250

MORE ABOUT ANSELA VAN DE CAAB

When the Cape of Good Hope was established as a Dutch colony in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck, the international slave trade was in full swing. Ansela’s story begins during this dark period in history when the Dutch colonists captured a Portuguese slave ship in 1658 carrying slaves (including Ansela’s mother) who had been forcibly taken from their home country of Guinea. Born into slavery in the quarters of the Cape’s notorious Castle (her mother a slave from West Africa, her white father most likely a servant of the Dutch East India Company), Ansela was destined to work in the Company’s Garden for the rest of her life. As a baby Ansela would have lived with her mother in the slave quarters under the granaries of van Riebeeck’s clay fort (on the present Parade). After the new slave lodge was completed in 1679, Ansela would have lived there, as well as her children. Ansela’s emancipation years later in 1695 was conditional on her being able to speak Dutch, profess the Christian faith and be a member of the Church.

It must have been very exciting for the slave girl to finally be free, to marry Laurens Campher and be able to live with him and their children in their own house at Muratie. Laurens had not only sought a picturesque place for the homestead, but a practical one as well. Their home was built on a rise near the mountain stream, beyond the reach of flood waters but near enough for the purpose of fetching water. There was a small drift and convenient scooping place just below the house. The house had an excellent view of the Simonsberg and across the valley Table Mountain could be seen in the distance. After her life in the slave lodge, this humble dwelling must have felt like a palace. Together the Camphers planted the first vines and developed a farm that is still going strong over three centuries later.

Muratie Estate

Muratie’s historic Tasting Room

Muratie, established in 1685 in the beautiful Knorhoek Valley north of Stellenbosch, is one of the oldest farms in South Africa, rich in history and heritage. A visit to the historic estate, guarded over by magnificent ancient oak trees, reveals a piece of history where time has largely stood still, where the unique old-world ambience is almost tangible. Thanks to the Melck family’s passionate guardianship, Muratie is a haven of heritage.

SIP ON MURATIE WINES AND TASTE HISTORY FOR YOURSELF