The Brink family of Groot Phesantekraal, located on the outskirts of Durbanville, invites you to a heartwarming Thanksgiving dinner on the farm on Friday, 29 November, starting at 18:00.

This occasion is intended to express gratitude not only for the annual wheat harvest currently underway, but also for a successful year overall. 

And for good reason! André Brink, head of Groot Phesantekraal has just been named Western Cape Farmer of the Year of 2024 by the Agricultural Writers SA Awards.

Join in celebrating the start of the festive season - everyone is welcome!

Connect with others while enjoying delightful wines and savouring a delicious farm-to-fork Thanksgiving feast featuring hyper-seasonal food, with most ingredients, including the meat, sourced directly from the farm.

As you arrive, enjoy a glass of refreshing Cap Classique while mingling with fellow guests. Then gather around a beautiful long table for a delightful starter course featuring freshly baked breads, local cheeses, charcuterie, dips, and seasonal preserves.

Chef Germaine Esau and his team will serve a South African twist on traditional Thanksgiving fare.

For the main meal, chef Germaine Esau and his team will serve a South African twist on traditional Thanksgiving fare. Look forward to a feast of:

• Chicken roast
• Bread and sage stuffing with slow-cooked onion
• Dry-aged free-range beef with chimichurri
• Roast potatoes
• Roasted boerpampoen (pumpkin) with miso honey and pumpkin seeds
• Garden greens with croutons, local hard cheese, and mustard dressing

And don’t miss the decadent desserts: sweet potato soft serve with spiced pecan nuts, peppermint crisp choux bun, and num num tart!

Throughout the evening, enjoy a selection of Groot Phesantekraal’s finest wines.

Throughout the evening, enjoy a selection of Groot Phesantekraal’s finest wines, including the award-winning Anna de Koning Reserve Chenin Blanc 2023 and Berliet Reserve Pinotage 2022, all included in the price of R750 per person.

After dinner, feel free to visit the tasting room to stock up on some fabulous wines for the festive season.

Reserve your seat at https://www.quicket.co.za/

Contact details:
E-mail: restaurant@phesantekraal.co.za
Tel: +27 (21) 825 0060
Address: Groot Phesantekraal Farm, Klipheuwel Way (R302), Durbanville, Cape Town, South Africa


Also see:

The days are longer and the weather (slightly) warmer, which makes a visit to Morgenster Estate in Somerset West the perfect opportunity to bask in the sun on the patio, whilst enjoying their recently launched summer menu. 

What would the festive season be without Middelvlei’s annual Sunset Carols. 

A magical evening for young and old, celebrating the end of another year. Sunday, 1 December (from 6:15pm) is the date you need to diarise for this special event.

A child’s dream, Middelvlei is set on a working farm where the young ones can run around freely on the sprawling lawn, get to know the farm animals or participate in some fun traditional games. This allows for the older generation to sit back and relax whilst sipping on a glass of Middelvlei wine. The bonus of a breathtaking Stellenbosch sunset makes the evening so much more special. Father Christmas will be making a special guest appearance to hand out gifts to the young ones, and the evening concludes with everyone joining in to sing along to Christmas carols.

Your evening at a cost of R450 per couple includes a Boerebraai-inspired tapas platter. Freshly made sweetcorn fritters with a sweet chili dipping sauce, mini braaibroodjies, chicken kebabs and boerewors sosaties are some of the delicious morsels you can expect to tuck into on your platter. Dessert is an optional extra. The kids get to tuck into a yummy snack box which includes boerewors, chips, a juice box and some sweets, at a cost of R100 per child (under the age of 12 years).

Pre-booking for this unforgettable evening is essential. For bookings and / or queries email middelvleiwines@gmail.com or phone 021 883 2565.

Issued by: ON THE MARQUE PR & COMMUNICATIONS
Pictures: SUPPLIED 




© 2024 Herman Lintvelt - WineTourismZA

Brookdale Estate in the Paarl Winelands has appointed a dynamic new winemaking team to continue the groundbreaking work started by current winemaker Kiara Scott Farmer, who is moving on to start a new position at Hazendal.

Brookdale winemakers Xander Sadie and Shanice du Preez .

Taking over from Kiara at the end of the year as the new Brookdale winemaker for the 2025 harvest, Xander Sadie will be assisted by Shanice du Preez, who joined Brookdale earlier this month (October 2024).

Since its maiden vintage of 2017, Brookdale has received global acclaim that has cemented the young estate’s reputation as a producer of wines of character and elegance. Brookdale challenges one to ‘stay curious’ while it sets out to try harder, push further and explore more deeply with every vintage. This philosophy in winemaking is driven by the talent and energy of a youthful team under mentorship of accomplished consultant winemaker Duncan Savage and proprietor Tim Rudd.

Outgoing winemaker Kiara Scott Farmer has been instrumental in the successes achieved by Brookdale to date. In 2021 she was recognised by WineLand magazine as one of the most promising young wine ambassadors in the South African wine industry in its 30 Under 30 line-up. Highlights during her tenure include the Brookdale Estate Chenin Blanc 2020 taking Gold with a top score of 97/100 in the Trophy Wine Show of 2022, placing it first in its category to win the coveted Rosa Kruger Trophy for best Old Vine Wine. Her talent and intuitive, minimal intervention approach to winemaking has been the driving force behind the development of the Brookdale and Mason Road ranges, including the Brookdale Sixteen White Field Blend, which was first released in 2021. In yet another career highlight, Kiara has just been selected in the line-up of six finalists in the prestigious 2024 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year competition in the Chenin Blanc category (to be announced on 23 November 2024).

Brookdale owner Tim Rudd expressed his gratitude and thanked Kiara for her invaluable contribution over the past five years: ‘Kiara has made an indelible mark on our young brand and our wines. It was a real pleasure to have her on our team and she will be sorely missed but, we encourage her to spread her wings and wish her everything of the best in her future ventures.’

Brookdale Estate in the Paarl Winelands

Xander Sadie is joining Brookdale from BlankBottle, where he started in 2023 as assistant winemaker before his promotion to winemaker. During his tenure at BlankBottle he notched up invaluable experience working with a wide range of cultivars. Born into a family where winemaking is rooted deeply within its DNA, Xander Sadie holds a diploma in Cellar Technology and Viticulture from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute. After his studies he completed his practical training at Hamilton Russell and worked two harvests at Intellego Wines in the Swartland. He gained international experience in the vineyards of Vincent Carême in Vouvray (France) and in the cellar of Luis Seabra Vinhos in the Douro (Portugal), before spending five months with the winemaking team of the Bedrock Wine Co. in the Sonoma Valley in California (USA).

Brookdale’s recently appointed Assistant winemaker, Shanice du Preez represents the new generation of talent mentored by the CWG Protégé Programme. She won the CWG Protégé of the Year Award in 2022, and in 2023 she was selected as Protégé judge at both the Shiraz SA Challenge and the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competitions. She holds a BSc Agric degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University and completed her harvest internship at Groot Constantia. She gained invaluable experience during her three-year internship under the Protégé Programme, first at Kanonkop under the mentorship of Abrie Beeslaar, followed by De Grendel Wines, and most recently, she completed her internship at Savage Wines. Her international experience includes a harvest worked at Pascal Clément in Burgundy (France) where she was exposed to Bordeaux, Rhône, Champagne and Burgundian wine styles, and earlier this year she took part in the harvest at Wine & Soul in Portugal’s Douro Valley.

“Our proximity to the sea is what lends such freshness and elegance to our layered Cabernet Sauvignon,” says Vusi Dalicuba, Vergenoegd Löw’s young and energetic winemaker.

Ranked runner-up at the inaugural 2024 Next Generation Awards, sponsored by FedEx Express and convened by Winemag.co.za, he earned a score of 95 points for his 2022 Vergenoegd Löw Lara Cabernet Sauvignon. 

It also won gold at the recent Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Competition. The 2022 vintage was his first on the estate.

The low-lying historic luxury Stellenbosch estate, less than 5kms from the False Bay coastline, is situated along Stellenbosch’s Helderberg Wine Route. It is just 12m above sea level.

“The winds off the Atlantic create a cooler environment than in the Stellenbosch area in general, sometimes by as much as 3°C.”, Dalicuba explains. “That’s a major benefit. Also, unusually for Stellenbosch, our soils are rich in lime, thanks to our low-lying, ancient seabed location, dense with sea fossils and minerals.

“In our experience, vines grown in these calcareous soils make for graceful, harmonious wines of good acidity – qualities you can immediately pick up in our wines”.

He is also quick to point out that the estate’s regenerative farming practices don’t hurt either. Followed to promote biodiversity, they also enrich the soil and make for healthy, well-balanced and climate-resilient vines.

That is why at Vergenoegd Löw, the winemaking recipe, he says, is to “follow the grapes”. In this land above hand approach, the grapes themselves dictate how the berries should be vinified.

The low-lying historic Stellenbosch estate is less than 5kms from the False Bay coastline.

Of the 2022 vintage aged in a combination of new and older oak for 18 months, he says: “It shows intense concentration of black and red fruit flavours with traces of herbal notes and dark chocolate.” He describes the tannins as “chalky” and speaks of a slight salinity on the palate that he attributes to the influence of the sea. “This is definitely a wine with the structure to age.”

Dalicuba highlights the wine’s food-friendliness and recommends serving it with hearty meals, from grilled steaks and lamb chops, to casseroles, roasts, deeply flavoured vegetarian dishes and strong, mature cheeses.

His success with the grape is reprising the estate’s reputation for outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon established by the Faure family, the previous owners, who held the property for almost 200 years. It was the fifth generation’s Jac and Brand Faure, who planted Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in 1972 and went on to win the General Smuts Trophy many times over the next few years. During the 1980s, Platter’s South African Wine Guide lauded the winery for its expression of the grape, calling it “one of the best reds in the country”.

The Faure family sold the historic farm to German heritage specialist and investor Prof Dr Dr Peter Löw in 2015. Since then a major vineyard replanting has been underway.

Vusi Dalicuba, Vergenoegd Löw’s young and energetic winemaker.

“Our vineyards have been mapped according to soil type with each grape variety matched to its optimal soil,” Dalicuba says.

There are currently just over 51 ha under vineyard. Red varieties account for 75% of the plantings with Cabernet Sauvignon in the lead.

He suggests purchasing a bottle via the estate’s online shop. “Whatever you choose as your dish, go for full-bodied, robust flavours, whether it’s your next braai, a fancy fillet dinner or Sunday roast.

“Or visit us for a personal tasting presented by our resident award-winning sommelier George Young, or come for a meal at one of our two restaurants.”

The wine, along with the entire Vergenoegd Löw collection is served at both Geuwels, a casual eatery and the fine dining Clara’s Barn. Both restaurants, that reinterpret traditional Cape dishes, are the domain of chef Bertus Basson and his colleague, Drikus Brink.

To sample the wine on the estate, look out for Young, recently announced South Africa’s Best Young Sommelier of 2024. He heads up wine service in the 1773 Homestead Wine Lounge with his team of accomplished wine ambassadors.

Sit back and relax in a luxurious, serene environment and discover finely crafted wines that speaks of place.

As Dalicuba urges: “Sit back and relax in a luxurious, serene environment and discover finely crafted wines that speaks of place. If you’re up for a sensory experience, try the special Indigenous Tasting, where you also get to sample local flavours like bokkoms, biltong, dune spinach and roosterkoek. Or enjoy a generous platter with artisanal cured meats and cheeses, fresh fruit and more. “

Visit https://vergenoegd.co.za/ for more information, https://vergenoegd.co.za/bookings/ to make a reservation, and https://vergenoegd.co.za/collection/all/ to peruse the selection and buy wines.


Also see:

Steenberg Hotel & Spa in Cape Town’s majestic Constantia Valley has released its packages for the 2024 spring-summer season – and the experiences are every bit as unique as the estate itself.

In a thrilling first for five-star Steenberg Farm, a scenic helicopter flight over the V&A Waterfront, Greenpoint, Sea Point, Camps Bay, Noordhoek, and Sun Valley has been included in its new “Steenberg Takes Flight” Package.

The estate’s 2024 Summer Package and the ever-popular Fives Lives Package have also been meticulously crafted to showcase every amenity and activity the centuries-old urban sanctuary has to offer international and local travellers alike.

According to Steenberg Head of Sales Neilen Tolmay, the Farm has evolved to deliver experiences that are unique to the property, and the packages are tailored to highlight everything there is to see and do at the centuries-old urban sanctuary.

Mountain biking is included in the packages.

Steenberg Hotel gardens.

“Sometimes people are unaware that there is also horseback riding or mountain biking, for example. Our packages encompass all that we offer,” Tolmay said.

The Steenberg Takes Flight Package is the ultimate example of this holistic approach.

In addition to viewing Cape Town’s magnificence from the skies, with the helicopter taking off from and landing at the hotel and spa, the two-night stay for two guests includes: Breakfast at Steenberg’s award-winning Tryn or Bistro Sixteen82 restaurants or in-room dining;

• Lunch at Tryn or Bistro Sixteen82 (seasonal special menu for two, includes a 12% service fee);
• Dinner at Tryn or Bistro Sixteen82 (Seasonal special menu for two, includes a 12% service fee);
• Bottle of Steenberg Lady R Cap Classique in room upon arrival;
• Welcome bottle of mineral water;
• Steenberg Flagship wine tasting experience;
• 2 x 60-minute Holistic Touch massages, including a glass of bubbly and truffles;
• Use of mountain bikes to explore the 300-hectare Farm and
• Complimentary use of the Relaxation Area and shower for early arrivals and late departures.

Lunch at Bistro Sixteen82's outdoor terrace.

Steenberg Hotel - 1 Bedroom Suite - Room 14 - Bedroom & Bathroom.

Steenberg Hotel - 1 Bedroom Suite - Room 14 - Lounge.

Steenberg Hotel - Premier Room 18 - Lounge.

Steenberg Managing Director Catherine Schulze says the hotel’s reputation among luxury travellers is built as much on ensuring guests’ individual expectations are effortlessly met as on its beauty, world-class wines, and fine dining.

“What we offer in our packages is the true Steenberg experience. We pride ourselves on doing all the work for our guests. For us, the goal is a seamless experience,” she says.

“In spring and summer, you can experience so many things outdoors, from enjoying our gardens and sculptures and outdoor spa experiences to golf at our championship course, breakfast on the patio of your room, or al fresco dining at the restaurants overlooking our beautiful pools.”

In spring and summer, you can experience Steenberg's beautiful gardens.

The Hello Summer Package takes the form of a one-night stay for two guests and includes breakfast at Tryn, Bistro Sixteen82, or in-room dining; a bottle of Steenberg Chardonnay Brut Cap Classique in the room upon arrival; lunch or dinner for two (includes 12% service fee) and a welcome bottle of mineral water. A guided E-Bike tour through Steenberg grants you exclusive access to the breathtaking vineyards where you can enjoy a scenic and undulating route. The 7km journey across gravel roads, farm tracks and vineyard trails, culminates in a delightful wine tasting experience where you will get to sample some of Steenberg’s finest wines. The use of mountain bikes to explore the Farm; and complimentary use of the Relaxation Area and shower for early arrivals and late departures is also available.

The Five Lives Package boasts a 60-minute Holistic Touch massage for two.

Tryn Restaurant -  Main Dining Room & Outside Seating.

Steenberg Hotel Picnics.

Meanwhile, the Five Lives Package, also a one-night stay for two, boasts a 60-minute Holistic Touch massage for two with a glass of bubbly and truffles; breakfast at Tryn, Bistro Sixteen82, or via room service; a bottle of Steenberg Five Lives Red Blend in the room; a seasonal special menu for two; a welcome bottle of mineral water; a classic Steenberg wine tasting; use of mountain bikes; and complimentary use of the Relaxation Area and shower for early arrivals and late departures.

All packages carry complimentary Wi-Fi usage across the hotel property.

Steenberg Reservations Manager Heinrich Hartnick explains the packages suit foreign travellers and local holidaymakers seeking a luxurious escape close to home.

Steenberg's tasting room terrace.

Steenberg's hotel pool.

“For international travellers, this timing coincides with the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, offering a perfect escape to sunnier weather. Domestically, these months are ideal for end-of-year celebrations, summer holidays, and long weekends,” he says.

Although Steenberg Hotel & Spa accepts bookings through travel agents and OTAs (online travel agents), it encourages guests to make direct bookings to optimise their experience of the Farm.

Tolmay describes the process as “treating reservations as your personal concierge”.

“Our reservations team ensures your rounds of golf, dinners and any other activities you want to experience are booked. The team ensures you don’t miss out on any of the incredible opportunities on the estate.

“Often, when you book through an online travel agency, you seek the best deal. But if you want the best service, book directly through the hotel. This is how you guarantee the quality of your experience.”

Enquiries and bookings can be made directly through the Steenberg Farm website, contacting the reservations team via phone or email, or through the estate’s social media platforms.

Steenberg's golf course.

About Steenberg
Steenberg Farm boasts the 5-Star Steenberg Hotel & Spa, with 24 rooms encapsulating the dictum of understated luxury, offering spectacular views and discreet, personalised service. Choose from relaxed dining at Tryn or popular bistro-style fare and tapas at Bistro Sixteen82. A complete destination, the farmhouses are an exceptional winery, producing some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa, along with several other celebrated varietals.

Issued by: TRANSFORM MARKETING
Pictures: SUPPLIED 




© 2024 Herman Lintvelt - WineTourismZA

As SA’s largest producer of bottled Viognier, and overall winner of the 2022 Viognier Challenge, Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar has long been synonymous with world-class Viognier wine.

With their latest release, the Scherpenheuvel winery steps well off the beaten path, offering wine enthusiasts an intriguingly aromatic white wine (and perfect festive gift) that’s been described as “a white wine for red wine lovers”.

Indeed, this fruit-forward, perfumed white varietal not only comes with a fascinating history, its vinification is also known to require a high level of skill and expertise on the part of the winemaker.

“Because of its extraordinary combination of perfume and body… Viognier could truly be said to be the hedonist's white grape variety”

- Jancis Robinson, wine.co.za

Viognier: A Hidden Gem On the South African Wine Landscape

Originating in France's Rhône Valley and brought back from the brink of extinction in the mid-1960s, Viognier has mostly remained on the fringes of South Africa's wine landscape. Today, this grape represents just 0.7% of white grape varieties cultivated on local soil.

But head winemaker Alvi van der Merwe’s ongoing passion for this fascinating, white cultivar is no secret. With one of the biggest Viognier plantings and South Africa’s first retail friendly Viognier, Alvi’s Drift has become well-known for producing superb-value, world-class Viognier wines.

Alvi’s Drift Crowned Overall Winner in SA’s 2022 Viognier Challenge

The cooler-climate winery’s long list of local and international awards for their unwooded Signature Viognier bears testimony to the passion and craftsmanship poured into producing this lesser-known, floral white cultivar.

Previous Viognier accolades for Alvi’s Drift include being crowned overall winner in SA’s 2022 Viognier Challenge (for their 2021 vintage Signature Viognier), as well as receiving SAWIS Grand Gold Certificates of Excellence for their 2022 Signature Viognier three years in a row (2021-2023).

Now, Alvi’s Drift is excited to announce the launch of their first oak-aged Viognier, a wine that forms part of their acclaimed Reserve range.

“Our Reserve Viognier is just incredible on the palate. It truly is the result of our constant pursuit of excellence in everything we do here at Alvi’s Drift.”

– Alvi van der Merwe

Alvi’s Drift’s 2023 Reserve Viognier: Fruit-Forward, Complex & Textured

Even before its public launch, this “complex, textured wine with hints of floral perfume and oak” was honoured with a coveted 2024 Great Gold award at the International Wine & Spirits Awards (IWSA), and a Medal of Excellence (90 points or more) by celebrated UK wine expert Tim Atkin in his 2024 South Africa Special Report.

Subtle Notes of Toasted Coriander & Vanilla, with Hints of Floral Perfume & Oak

Alvi’s Drift’s 2023 Reserve Viognier presents a pale-gold hue and a medium-bodied profile, with an enticing bouquet of ripe peach, juicy apricot, and tropical notes of mango and pineapple.

Subtle hints of toasted coriander and vanilla, along with delicate notes of floral perfume and oak, add complexity. This fruit-forward, aromatic wine offers a well-balanced, rounded mouthfeel and a delectable, lingering finish.

Choose Something Different This Festive Season

Ideal for pairing with creamy seafood risotto, aromatic Thai curries, or richer festive fare, this unusual wine would make a unique and memorable gift for any wine enthusiast, especially as the festive season approaches.

With only 150 cases available for purchase from Alvi’s Drift’s online shop starting October 2024, this much-anticipated wine is set to sell out fast. To avoid disappointment, make sure to order yours while stocks last.

For more information or to purchase Alvi’s Drift 2023 Reserve Viognier, visit www.alvisdrift.co.za

About Alvi’s Drift Reserve Range Wines

Crafted with passion, Alvi’s Drift’s acclaimed Reserve range of wines invite wine enthusiasts to taste what's possible in the art of winemaking.

The labels on the winery’s Reserve range bottles feature an illustration of Alvi’s Drift, the historic low-water bridge over the Breede River that cuts through the family farm. Symbolising the journey from possibility to reality, this bridge, built in 1930, was the vision of the wine farm’s founder, Albertus Viljoen “Oupa Alvi” van der Merwe.

Bertie van der Merwe, Oupa Alvi’s son, began the tradition of winemaking at Alvi’s Drift. Today his son, Alvi van der Merwe, crafts the estate’s internationally acclaimed wines, celebrated and enjoyed by wine lovers across the globe.

Alvi’s Drift’s Reserve range represents their winemaking team’s dedication to excellence, inviting wine aficionados to "taste what's possible" while exploring the rich legacy and quality of the estate.

About Alvi’s Drift

Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar is a third-generation South African winery, known for its passion and dedication to crafting exceptional wines. With a rich history rooted in tradition and innovation, Alvi’s Drift continues to set new standards in winemaking, while producing world-class wines of exceptional quality, complexity, and character.

Issued by: MAGNETIC CREATIVE
Pictures: SUPPLIED 




© 2024 Herman Lintvelt - WineTourismZA

For the second consecutive year Van Loveren Family Vineyards has been recognized as the Best Wine Tourism Diversity winner by Wesgro.

The Bistro at Brookdale Estate has been rated by diners as one of the most loved restaurants in South Africa, when it was ranked No 7 in the prestigious line-up of the Dineplan Reviewers' Choice Awards for 2024. 

This accolade follows only a year after it scooped a Dineplan Reviewers’ Choice Newcomer Award for the Cape Town and Winelands region (2023).

The results of the Reviewers' Choice Top 100 list are based entirely on more than 320 000 guest reviews of over 1340 restaurants across South Africa submitted on Dineplan in the last 12 months. Each of the Top 100 restaurants had to have received a minimum of 60 public reviews during the review period, with reviews enabled for all standard categories, comprising ambience, food, service, and value.

Since opening in February 2023, The Bistro at Brookdale has firmly established itself as a relaxed, contemporary destination restaurant where soulful dishes can be enjoyed with wines grown in the surrounding vineyards. With talented Executive Chef Gary Coetzee at the helm, The Bistro at Brookdale has also contributed greatly to raising the culinary bar in the Paarl winelands – an area which had recently seen a wave of sophisticated new eateries opening up to offer superior dining experiences.

Executive Chef Gary Coetzee.

Coetzee says: ‘It has been an incredible journey so far! We are very proud to have been recognised as one of the most popular newcomers last year and then achieving a Top 10 rating this year. We would like to give a big thank you to all our guests who have dined with us and shared their experiences on the Dineplan platform. We have just introduced a brand-new summer menu and we look forward to sharing some more good food and wine with our regular guests, as well as those who have not visited us yet.’

Festive season bookings for The Bistro at Brookdale Estate are now open via Dineplan.

Contact details and Social media

Website:  www.brookdale-estate.com

Manor House Accommodation Reservations:  Tel +27 (0) 87 057 4508

Restaurant and Tasting Room:  The Bistro at Brookdale Tel +27 (0) 87 183 3919 

Reservations: www.dineplan.com/restaurants/bistro-at-brookdale

Instagram:  www.instagram.com/brookdale_estate

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Brookdaleestate/

X:  https://twitter.com/brookdalewine

Issued by: FIVESTAR PR
Pictures: SUPPLIED 

© 2024 Herman Lintvelt - WineTourismZA