Gabriëlskloof salutes festive season with sumptuous fare

New Chenin blanc unveiled at Celebration Braai to toast happy days

Gabriëlskloof, a wine and olive jewel of the Overberg, will don a festive halo this season with a host of indulgent moments to savour with family and friends, including a Celebration Braai on Sunday, 17 December.

This family braai feast offers a marvellous excuse to swap the crazy shopping malls and end-of-year worries for a carefree day in the countryside. The scenic setting atop a hill outside Bot River will be delightfully decked out with sumptuous fare on the grill, impeccable wines and lush lawns to laze or run around on.

Wine fans also have the first opportunity to taste the all-new Gabriëlskloof Chenin Blanc, the latest addition to the Estate Range, which will be unveiled at the event to toast sunny days and happy yet quality imbibing during the festive season.

“Our Celebration Braai, or as we like to call it, Chenin-bration Braai, is your ticket to make merry with old and new friends. We are super chuffed with our new Chenin blanc so come, let me pour you some,” says winemaker Donovan Ackermann, who will roll out the barrels with cellarmaster Peter-Allan Finlayson for some farm-style fun. “This day is also a golden opportunity to stock up on our award-winning wines for the December holidays. Trust me, your Christmas guests will thank you.”

The two wine maestros will also be lending a helping tong or two when chef Frans Groenewald flexes his braai-ceps for a fire-‘n-smoke inspired buffet lunch to celebrate the communal spirit of the season.

His griddle will be filled with fresh takes on family favourites such as Sunday roast, snoek, mussels, spicy chicken, roosterkoek and pap-en-sous. The dessert table will brim with South-African all-stars like melktert spring rolls, malva pud and munch more.

“Based on the success of our recent Heritage Braai Day feast, our patrons basically begged us to light another fire. No-one wants to be stuck indoors in the middle of summer anyway, so come and join us for a lekker kuier-on-the-koppie,” says Frans.

The children will have a jumping castle, face painting and plenty of space to frolic and be free, while local muso Gian Groen provides live music entertainment with his upbeat tunes.

Other festive offerings at Gabriëlskloof

During the month of December, passersby can pull up for a trio of cheerful Wine Tasting Platters, ideal for those not-so-hungry, yet feeling-peckish, lazy, summer days.

The platters are on offer in the estate’s tasting lounge, and focus on provenance through a fusion of innovative bites for two people sharing. They include a sample of five Estate Range wines.

Snack on the Mzanzi Platter, complete with pickled fish taco, bobotie jalapeno poppers, snoek-and-patat croquettes, red wine biltong, biltong dukkah, vetkoek and roosterkoek as a light lunch for two, at R250.

Or nibble on a Meat & Cheese Platter while you relax for an hour or two, at R200 per platter.

The Deli Platter costs R400 and is a shared meal on its own. It beckons with all kinds of deliciousness from Gabriëlskloof’s deli with items including rillettes, focaccia, marinated olives, labne, pickled mushroom, frikadelle, and fig-and-cheese crackers.

During the month of December, Gabriëlskloof’s tasting lounge and its country-style restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch with a generous hand, will be open seven-days-a-week excluding 24 and 25 December. Restaurant bookings are essential to avoid disappointment.

The details:

The Gabrielskloof Celebration Braai: The cost is R350 per adult and R100 per child. Book your spot via the website www.gabrielskloof.co.za or call 028 284 9865.
Wine Tasting Platters: To book, call 028 284 9865 or email info@gabrielskloof.co.za.

Gabriëlskloof Estate – a mere 80-minute drive from Cape Town – is situated just outside Bot River, on the Swartrivier Road, off the N2.