MAKING a beeline on the Cape winelands' Stellenbosch wine route is bound to induce a fuzzy feeling for a wine lover, much akin to a bee waltzing through a pollen-laden garden.
Not only is this route steeped in history and tradition dating back nearly 400 years, it is also the address for the cream of the country's wine estates.
To navigate through the route's maze of vinous pleasures, a wine lover needs something of a pilot's flight plan to plot the slippery adventure. One essentially needs weeks to complete an intense tour of all the estates on this route, which is regarded as the oldest in the Cape winelands.
A whirlwind tour cannot conceivably do justice to a wine lover's yearning for a fulsome experience. By wholesome experience, of course, one does not necessarily mean drowning oneself motherless in the fermented juice and departing on a stretcher. It means appraising oneself fully with the history of each cellar visited and listening to the stories behind each wine as told by the winemakers without over-indulgence.
One of the top estates worthy of a visit in Stellenbosch is Simonsig, a bottomless paradise for bubbly lovers. This is the home of renowned Kaapse Vonkel sparkling wine, which, if it were not for the French being fussy over the use of the term Champagne, would claim the appellation with credibility.
It was more than 40 years ago when the then Simonsig owner, Frans Malan, became the first local winemaker to make sparkling wine according to the traditional method, now referred to as the Methode Cap Classique style.
Hence Kaapse Vonkel is widely considered the granddad of sparkling wines in this country.
Today, Simonsig produces a rainbow of notable sparkling wines under the guidance of Malan's son, Johan, who dons the hat of cellarmaster.
A visit to the estate, 45km east of Cape Town, easily becomes a journey through time and tradition as one tastes various vintages of Kaapse Vonkel and its Brut Rosé edition with their rich distinguishing nuances.
As any winemaker will tell you, not every year is the same. What with every year turning out different weather elements, which have a direct impact on the quality and character of the wines. The opportunity to use one's palate to decipher the differences between vintages is priceless.
Simonsig's in-house Cuvée Restaurant has proven to be the best ambassador to showcase the estate's wines.
Its menu comes with recommended food-and-wine pairings.
The favourite pairing of Kaapse Vonkel with oysters seems to have won many a heart.
The estate is still basking in the glory of last year's highlights, which include two Veritas Awards double golds for its Redhill Pinotage 2009 and Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2012 as well as seven single gold medals.
Their Redhill Pinotage 2010 and Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2012 each claimed a spot in the Absa Top 10 Pinotage and the FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competitions.
A feather to the estate's cap was the serving of Kaapse Vonkel at a dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip last year as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
And, Simonsig Cuvée Royale was chosen the best Blanc de Blancs at the 2012 Amorim Méthode Cap Classique Challenge for the second consecutive year.
For me, though, dining at Cuvée Restaurant was a highlight - first with the mouth-watering starter (R100) of marinated crayfish with crispy curry squid, avocado and a Thai coconut sauce. Simonsig Chardonnay and the Thai sauce heightened the experience with their harmonious match.
The choice of the same wine with the line fish main course (R120) was also ingenious.
.
EVENTS
- TOMORROW Stellenbosch's award-winning Hartenberg estate will be hosting the inaugural Riesling Rocks festival. The event salutes the revival of Riesling. Visitors will also sample Weisser Rieslings from top cellars, paired with canapes. Entry is free for children and R180 for adults.
- The Beaumont winery of Bot Rivier is celebrating the release of the new vintage of its flagship wines - Hope Marguerite 2012 and Vitruvian 2009 - with a public tasting tomorrow. The two wines will be compared to previous award-winning vintages from the cellar.
- Mango Groove's Claire Johnston, Emo Adams, Die Heuwels Fantasties will be performing at the sixth annual ATKV Franschhoek Oesfees to be held at the Solms-Delta wine estate on March 23.
The event will celebrate the end of the estate's harvest as well as music and culture of the Boland. Tickets cost R95 for early birds and R120 a person if pre-booked at the farm or online.
A journey through time and tradition
MAKING a beeline on the Cape winelands' Stellenbosch wine route is bound to induce a fuzzy feeling for a wine lover, much akin to a bee waltzing through a pollen-laden garden.
Not only is this route steeped in history and tradition dating back nearly 400 years, it is also the address for the cream of the country's wine estates.
To navigate through the route's maze of vinous pleasures, a wine lover needs something of a pilot's flight plan to plot the slippery adventure. One essentially needs weeks to complete an intense tour of all the estates on this route, which is regarded as the oldest in the Cape winelands.
A whirlwind tour cannot conceivably do justice to a wine lover's yearning for a fulsome experience. By wholesome experience, of course, one does not necessarily mean drowning oneself motherless in the fermented juice and departing on a stretcher. It means appraising oneself fully with the history of each cellar visited and listening to the stories behind each wine as told by the winemakers without over-indulgence.
One of the top estates worthy of a visit in Stellenbosch is Simonsig, a bottomless paradise for bubbly lovers. This is the home of renowned Kaapse Vonkel sparkling wine, which, if it were not for the French being fussy over the use of the term Champagne, would claim the appellation with credibility.
It was more than 40 years ago when the then Simonsig owner, Frans Malan, became the first local winemaker to make sparkling wine according to the traditional method, now referred to as the Methode Cap Classique style.
Hence Kaapse Vonkel is widely considered the granddad of sparkling wines in this country.
Today, Simonsig produces a rainbow of notable sparkling wines under the guidance of Malan's son, Johan, who dons the hat of cellarmaster.
A visit to the estate, 45km east of Cape Town, easily becomes a journey through time and tradition as one tastes various vintages of Kaapse Vonkel and its Brut Rosé edition with their rich distinguishing nuances.
As any winemaker will tell you, not every year is the same. What with every year turning out different weather elements, which have a direct impact on the quality and character of the wines. The opportunity to use one's palate to decipher the differences between vintages is priceless.
Simonsig's in-house Cuvée Restaurant has proven to be the best ambassador to showcase the estate's wines.
Its menu comes with recommended food-and-wine pairings.
The favourite pairing of Kaapse Vonkel with oysters seems to have won many a heart.
The estate is still basking in the glory of last year's highlights, which include two Veritas Awards double golds for its Redhill Pinotage 2009 and Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2012 as well as seven single gold medals.
Their Redhill Pinotage 2010 and Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2012 each claimed a spot in the Absa Top 10 Pinotage and the FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competitions.
A feather to the estate's cap was the serving of Kaapse Vonkel at a dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip last year as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
And, Simonsig Cuvée Royale was chosen the best Blanc de Blancs at the 2012 Amorim Méthode Cap Classique Challenge for the second consecutive year.
For me, though, dining at Cuvée Restaurant was a highlight - first with the mouth-watering starter (R100) of marinated crayfish with crispy curry squid, avocado and a Thai coconut sauce. Simonsig Chardonnay and the Thai sauce heightened the experience with their harmonious match.
The choice of the same wine with the line fish main course (R120) was also ingenious.
.
EVENTS
The event will celebrate the end of the estate's harvest as well as music and culture of the Boland. Tickets cost R95 for early birds and R120 a person if pre-booked at the farm or online.
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