John had another wine tour in Durbanville on Thursday, so Lynne caught the bus which was laid on by L’Avenir to get to this lovely event
which started on their lawn at sunset with MCC from Villiera and some canapés. L’Avenir
produced some of the very best Pinotage in South Africa and they have opened a
lounge in the cellar with a vinoteque where you can taste the wines of the past
and hold functions
John arrived just in time for the
opening speech by the Chairman of L’Avenir owner Advini
A spectacular moonrise over the Stellenbosch
mountains, reflected in the lake
We all go to inspect the new Pinotage
Lounge
and sample barrel tastings in the
barrel cellar...
...with winemaker Dirk Coetzee. We tasted
the 2012 Pinotage
Using an implement known as a wine
thief to remove wine from the barrel
There were two older pinotages for
tasting in the lounge, a 2011 and a 2008. Both are really special wines,
pinotage at its best. The older one was made by Francois Naude and the 2011 by Dirk
Coetzee
The vinoteque
L'Avenir's first Winemaker Francois Naude and Winnie
Bowman CWM
We all congregated outside the Cellar
doors where wine and food were served
Kalinka Lombard, Western Province Director of Rugby Gert Smal and Winnie Bowman
Beetroot and feta cheese salad
We were invited to stay the night and
gratefully accepted as John was very tired after his tour. This is our
comfortable room
Early morning weavers take the air
Reading the papers with breakfast.
There is a good spread to choose from
Some people chose to breakfast on the
deck outside by the pool
Fresh eggs, bacon and tomatoes
A cheese and bacon omelette for John
John spotted a grey heron in
the tree
The cellar door
The Vinoteque the next morning
The lounge without the crowds
Commemorative plaques from the central
tasting table
Winemaking happening in the stainless
steel tanks
A view of the lounge from the barrel
cellar
Cockerels for the French heritage at
the door of the tasting room and restaurant
Same sculptor, same sense of humour: A
French Poodle and an SA Boerbul. Depicting the two nations who run L’Avenir
A crab apple tree filled with autumnal
fruit
So pretty
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2015
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