Tuesday, April 09, 2024

In MENU This Issue, London Bistro at The Hyde, Overberg Weekend, Agulhas Triangle Festival


This time, most of our stories are part of one big story – a visit to the Agulhas Triangle area of the Western Cape Overberg and they are all connected with the Agulhas Triangle Wine Festival. The Triangle is, undoubtedly, the coolest area in our wine country. As Strandveld winemaker Conrad Vlok said, “Winter starts early here”. This gives the cool climate varietals which thrive there a special quality. See our story about the Festival to read more about it. Look at the places where we ate and slept… and think about visiting there yourself

Supper in The Hyde Hotel's London Road Bistro


Hyperli is an on-line site selling vouchers for bargain meals for two people. They sell other things which might be contentious, but we stick to the meals and accommodation! The deals are in and around the big cities in SA. We have tried a few meals and accommodation deals over the years and have not been disappointed. Lynne had bought one to try as the Hyde Hotel is local (London Road, in Sea Point) and it sounded good

We were there recently for the launch of Bruce Jack's Jack at SKYE Rooftop Bar on the roof. They have off-street parking in their underground garage, useful as parking in the street is limited Read on…

Lunch at Fick's Pool, Hermanus

Friends from the Netherlands have been visiting for several weeks. We wanted to take them to the Triangle Wine Festival in Elim, so we planned a great weekend for them and another couple. We drove down on Friday and had a reasonably good trip to Hermanus until a huge boat, called Shangri-La, slipped off its trailer in Somerset West, causing absolute traffic chaos. We planned to stop for lunch en route in Hermanus. A place, recommended by locals, which was totally new to us, despite our many visits to the area

It is a great find. Fick's Pool is tidal, and was apparently dynamited out of the rocks by a local farmer named Fick. It opens at 1pm and you have to get there promptly as they do not take bookings. Read on…

Doornbosch Guest Farm

Searching on line for good out of town accommodation can be arduous; after many searches, Lynne had almost given up. We needed a place for 3 couples and, at our age, we all want our own bathrooms, a view and space. We were planning to go to the Triangle Wine Festival in Elim for the weekend and she found this marvellous place at the last moment; almost every other affordable place was already booked

It is called Doornbosch and is between Baardskeerderbos and Elim. Read on…

Supper at Marietjie's Pub & Grill, Baardskeerdersbos

We have been to Marietjie's Pub and Grill in Baardskeerdersbos a few times. This time, it was just 7 kilometres from our accommodation, so that sorted out supper on our first night in the area. At weekends, you'll need to book; it's a popular place. Read on...

The Agulhas Triangle wine festival at Black Oystercatcher

We had attended the previous Triangle Wine Festival which showcased the excellent wines of the area so well and were very keen to attend this one. The venue had changed to Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm. Elim is quite a distance from Cape Town so we had arranged good accommodation just 9 kilometres away and drove down on Friday and visited the festival on Saturday. Read on…

Elim, in the heart of the Agulhas Triangle

Our route to the Agulhas Festival took us through the historic village called Elim. It has its roots in wine production, something we believe that too few people know. it is appropriate that the Agulhas Wine Festival took place on an Elim estate. Read on…

This story and all previous stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email

Posted by MENU at 11:56 am 0 comments

Elim, in the heart of the Agulhas Triangle

Our route to the Agulhas Festival took us through the historic village called Elim
It has its roots in wine production, something we believe that too few people know
it is appropriate that the Agulhas Wine Festival took place on an Elim estate

We can do no better than to quote Wikipedia to tell you the basic facts about it:

"Elim is a village on the Agulhas Plain in the Western Cape of South Africa. It was established in 1824 by German missionaries as a Moravian mission station. When selecting the location, the missionaries placed a high priority on the proximity of water and on terrain that was suitable for planting vines so that wine for communion could be produced. As well as preaching the Gospel, the missionaries taught the villagers a variety of trades and skills. Elim's thatchers continue to be renowned for their craftsmanship

The village is picturesque and has changed little over the years. It is filled with whitewashed cottages, fruit trees and fynbos. All the roads in the village lead to the thatch roofed church. The community, still mainly Moravian, consists of farmers, farm workers and artisans.

Elim is becoming known for the export of fynbos, and as an emerging area in the production of wine"

These photographs were taken on a miserable, damp Saturday; there were very few people out braving the weather

The quality of the thatching on this bus stop gives a good indication of the craftsmanship in the community 

a farm with horses at the edge of the village


The village as one sees it when entering from the Bredasdorp end

Brightly coloured thatched cottages line the main road

A row of immaculate thatched cottages

A rare tin roof

A neighbourly chat



This cottage could be 200 years old, but still in great condition

The immaculate state of most of these houses is a testament to the pride of their inhabitants
A wonderful example for so many other villages and townships in South Africa to follow

The Moravian church is the heart of the village and stands at the top of the main road through the village

These photographs were taken as we drove through and reflect only a few of the lovely local cottages
A better opportunity to see the village will happen in August when they celebrate their 200th anniversary
We could not find a web link, but more information may be found on their Facebook page


All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email

Posted by MENU at 10:33 am 0 comments

Monday, April 08, 2024

The Agulhas Triangle wine festival at Black Oystercatcher

We had attended the previous Triangle Wine Festival which showcased the excellent wines of the area so well
and were very keen to attend this one. The venue had changed to Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm
Elim is quite a distance from Cape Town so we had arranged good accommodation just 9 kilometres away
and drove down on Friday and visited the festival on Saturday

Rain was threatened and we had some in the night, but it stayed dry for the whole day
They had put up marquees where various vendors sold their food

Nelson Mandela's boat?

We were invited to attend the guided tasting held in the wine cellar, where many of the region's wines are made
Two wines each from four local farms, introduced by the winemaker; one current, one an older vintage
A very good way to see how the wines progress

The line up of wines we tasted

and a good line up of enthusiastic tasters

Dave and Kathy Raath were sitting next to us and we had lots to chat about
Somehow Dave's phone ended up in Lynne's bag, must have been all that great wine!

André Morgenthal, until recently associated with the Old Vines Project, promoted the event

Black Oystercatcher winemaker Dirk Human introduced his wines
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc has a dash of Semillon; a Classic Nose, with richness, nectarine, grape, a hint of pyrazines
On the palate, crisp and green with lots of racy acidity, long flavours with green peppers, lime lemon and white peach
Then his 2013 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It shows that it has aged well
slight honey colour, lees character from 10 months contact in the tank
Round on the integrated palate, it still has good acidity. Both are good wines for food

The Giant Periwinkle winemaker, Pierre Jacques Rabie
The 2022 Blanc Fumé Sauvignon Blanc is initially shy, more sophisticated, with a hint of smoke
Round and very crisp on the palate, green with greengage, plum, lime, it's very enjoyable and will age well
The 2017 Blanc Fumé has smoke, and is shy initially
Lovely greengage, nectarine, lime and racy acidity. It Has aged well
Made in a Flexicube with added Ukrainian Oak

Beautiful light through two glasses of Sauvignon blanc

Lomond winemaker Kelsey Nel showed the 7 Rows Snowbush blend
made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier, which has spent some time in barrel
Honey peach takes over from the Sauvignon, a hint of smoke
Beautiful on the palate with more honey and peach and lime, high acidity on lips, some wood shows, a food wine
We gave it a high score. Sadly the Lomond Snowbush 2012 which was blended in barrel was faulty
Its crispness faded fast

Strandveld Vineyards winemaker Conrad Vlok (deservedly last year's Winemaker of the Year)
His current vintage of the 2021 Syrah; 75% spent 20 months in new French Oak barrels
Richness, red velvet, wood, spice and cherry on the nose. Rounded and soft on the palate
then a fruit delight with cherry, cassis, raspberry, long, long flavours and nice chalky tannins,
wood is holding station in the background
We scored this very highly.  It will last but it is drinking so well now that it may well sell out
His Strandveld 2012 Syrah has 15% viognier added. Maturity of red berry fruit, incense wood, more berries and floral notes
Delicious on the full palate, so much fruit, chalky tannins and looooong flavours. Hope we have some
He told us he has stopped making his Pinot Noir, (sadly for us),
but is using the grapes in his new Pinot Noir Cap Classique which is deliciously crisp

A bottle of 2005 The Berrio Cabernet Sauvignon made by Bruce Jack
Brown on the edges, slightly porty on the nose
Dark, from Cabernet with 3% Cabernet Franc, still has some tannins and has lasted well

Lots of seating and a crowd of enthusiastic people enjoying the festival

Karen van Helden and Robert Stelzner of The Giant Periwinkle

It was a very well organised festival with plenty of space and many good wines to sample and buy

Denzil Swarts,  Sales & Brand Executive at Zoetendal Vineyard & Rive Estate

Nick Vlok and Janine Steyn showing Cederberg's Ghost Corner wines, which were really exceptional, as expected

The First Sighting wines for tasting
Lynne fell in love with the new Pinot Noir Cap Classique, so a box come home with us
We regularly buy their wines, the Rosé is  summer in a bottle

Our friend Peter Kampmeinert from the Netherlands had met Denzil before, when he worked at Simonsig
We went there for Peter's 80th Birthday a couple of years ago
where Denzil organised a Sabrage experience for Peter


We found a table under the awning and enjoyed some of the food on sale for lunch

The landscape across the road

Boys will always enjoy playing in the dirt with their cars

The girls were enjoying themselves too
Young activists, promoting the protest against proposed mining in the Napier area

Lost Boy and Latigo Rosés and Lost Boy Blanc Fumé
R300 from every case sold goes to African wildlife conservation projects

Bruce Jack's sons Rob and Ben at the Bruce Jack table

Assistant winemaker Willem Pietersen showing the Black Oystercatcher wines

Another sale of Lands End wines

"The vineyard is a bunch of spirit"

Pink dahlias in the garden

Billie Lambrechts, manager of the Agulhas Triangle wine group, and André Morgenthal drawing for the winner of a raffle

with a prize of a case of Agulhas Triangle wines

Despite the cooling weather and the promise of rain, visitors were still enjoying themselves on the lawn

A small grove of Eucalyptus trees in the misty rural landscape
Winter comes early here, we were told by Conrad Vlok

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email


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