Sense of Place is the go-to wine this festive season
19:45:00Versatility and quality characterise Stellenbosch Hills’ flagship range
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| Sense of Place wines are limited and only released in years the vineyards show their best. |
The award-winning Sense of Place wines take the headache out of shopping this festive season in a new campaign that offers wine-lovers the go-to solution for every occasion.
Whether it’s a top-quality gift that’s required, a refreshing all-rounder or a bold food-wine, this flagship range from premier vineyards of Stellenbosch has it all.
Sense of Place by Stellenbosch Hills comprises three wines: an exceptional red, white and bubbly. To promote their excellence, the winery recruited celebrated foodie Ilse van der Merwe aka The Food Fox to devise a special festive season recipe.
“This year, for the first time, we’ll all hopefully be able to take a break without fear of last-minute cancellation,” says Ilse. “Goodness knows, we can do with a little time with those close to us; to enjoy time around a table; and, to treat each other. This is the rare quality we all pursue, like these wines - a sense of place.”
The range is made exclusively from the best individual vineyard components at the winemakers’ disposal and is made with the focus on showcasing the quality of the terroir to which the winery has access. As such, quantity is limited by what the vineyard provides and the quality of the growing season.
The 2017 Suikerboschrand Cape Blend is voluptuous, with abundant aromas of ripe berry fruit, dark chocolate and cedar wood. The choice of barrels is reflected in this beautiful wine and supports its structure. Elegant tannins linger in the finish along with a hint of fresh spice.
It is the Cap Classique that inspired The Food Fox recipe of a pavlova wreath for Stellenbosch Hills. “To me, pavlova is one of the best summer desserts. It’s light, always popular and can be decorated to be the showpiece of your table. The dry Anna Christina Cap Classique is an ideal partner for fresh seasonal berries like strawberries and cherries. It brings balance with the fruit and the sweetness of the meringue.”
“Earlier this year I had the privilege to visit the other Sense of Place vineyard blocks to get a feel for their terroir. It’s a unique portion of Renosterveld and fynbos, where large swathes are untouched and magnificently beautiful.
“I drive past the Anna Christina vineyards almost every day on my way to town. The wines are absolutely representative of the best of the area – top quality, balanced and outstanding.”
The property from which the fruit for the Anna Christina bubbly is sourced, also farms berries, which makes the use of berries in the festive season pavlova recipe most appropriate.
“This year, for the first time, we’ll all hopefully be able to take a break without fear of last-minute cancellation,” says Ilse. “Goodness knows, we can do with a little time with those close to us; to enjoy time around a table; and, to treat each other. This is the rare quality we all pursue, like these wines - a sense of place.”
The range is made exclusively from the best individual vineyard components at the winemakers’ disposal and is made with the focus on showcasing the quality of the terroir to which the winery has access. As such, quantity is limited by what the vineyard provides and the quality of the growing season.
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| Kastanjeberg 2021 Chenin Blanc |
The latest vintage of the Sense of Place range is the recently released 2021 Kastanjeberg – a wooded, single vineyard Chenin Blanc. The wine is rich and complex, displaying sublime aromas of stone fruit, honey, dried apricots, violets and vanilla oak spice. The palate is full, balanced by creamy texture and crisp acidity, and characterised by notes of pear and peach with hints of vanilla and almonds. Only 2 700 bottles of the wine are available.
The 2017 Suikerboschrand Cape Blend is voluptuous, with abundant aromas of ripe berry fruit, dark chocolate and cedar wood. The choice of barrels is reflected in this beautiful wine and supports its structure. Elegant tannins linger in the finish along with a hint of fresh spice.
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| Suikerboschrand 2017 Cape Blend |
The 2020 Anna Christina Cap Classique is made entirely from Chardonnay. Enticingly elegant, it shows fresh Granny Smith apples and citrus blossoms with a nutty yeastiness on the nose. Crisp acidity tingles the well-balanced palate while a delicate mousse delivers a satisfying, mouth-filling explosion of bubbles with every sip. Just 3 000 bottles were made.
It is the Cap Classique that inspired The Food Fox recipe of a pavlova wreath for Stellenbosch Hills. “To me, pavlova is one of the best summer desserts. It’s light, always popular and can be decorated to be the showpiece of your table. The dry Anna Christina Cap Classique is an ideal partner for fresh seasonal berries like strawberries and cherries. It brings balance with the fruit and the sweetness of the meringue.”
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| Sense of Place Pavlova wreath with summer berries |
Notably, Ilse has an extra special understanding of Sense of Place. “We live in the Vlottenburg Valley, surrounded by the vineyards from which the wines are made. The Suikerboschrand vineyard is actually right behind our house!
“Earlier this year I had the privilege to visit the other Sense of Place vineyard blocks to get a feel for their terroir. It’s a unique portion of Renosterveld and fynbos, where large swathes are untouched and magnificently beautiful.
“I drive past the Anna Christina vineyards almost every day on my way to town. The wines are absolutely representative of the best of the area – top quality, balanced and outstanding.”
The property from which the fruit for the Anna Christina bubbly is sourced, also farms berries, which makes the use of berries in the festive season pavlova recipe most appropriate.
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| Anna Christina Cap Classique |
For the recipe click here:
Sense of Place Pavlova wreath with summer berriesSense of Place wines are available at selected leading wine specialists and restaurants around the country as well as from Stellenbosch Hills’ online store.
For more information about Stellenbosch Hills, visit www.stellenbosch-hills.co.za; call 021 881 3828/9; or, email info@stellenbosch-hills.co.za. Stellenbosch Hills is also on
Stellenbosch Hills is located at the intersection of the R310 and Vlottenburg Road, just outside Stellenbosch. It is open Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00; and, Saturdays: 10:00-15:00; and, closed on public holidays.
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