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Thursday, November 01, 2018

Wade Bales Cap Classique and Gin Affair at Grand Africa Café & Beach

On one of the hottest days in October we ventured to the Waterfront by bus to attend Wade Bales Cap Classique and Gin Affair at the Grand in the Waterfront. There were over 60 of South Africa’s premium MCCs and about 50 local craft and international gins to taste, with local producers present to share their knowledge. No one drives to an event like this

The Sea Point Pavilion was full to bursting and people had their bright umbrellas up to protect them from the punishing sun

This week's headline photo. Kids at the seaside, drying off on the hot ground

Nothing changes, just what we did when we were this age

On arrival we collected our tasting glasses and headed to the area under a marquee where the bubbles were being served. First to Villiera winemaker Nathan Valentine for a taste of the wonderful Brut Monro. They also had their whole Tradition range of MCC wines

Something new. Astraeus Rose and Brut from Waterkloof. It has spent only 9 months on the lees

The Iceman cometh! Villiera’s Paul Kruger keeping up with the heat of the day

Two on offer from Steenberg, their Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc and their 1682 Chardonnay MCC

Lynne trying out the Stellenrust Clement de Lure MCC NV

The Grand is on the beach, hence the sea sand. And the heat had everyone in casual beach attire

Francois Jacques Malan on the Simonsig stand with some of our favourite bubbles

The selection

Lots of seating for people to sit and eat lunch and enjoy something to drink

John and Karin Loubser's daughter Fain showing off her family's Silverthorn bubbles

Yachts in the bay in the heat haze

This catamaran came close for a look at the show

Haute Cabrière winemaker Tim Hoek showing the Pierre Jourdan range

Enjoying the bubbles if not the heat!

Petra and Nico van der Merwe with their Nico van der Merwe Nicolas MCC NV

Nico van der Merwe. The face of the name on the bottle

Can I buy some please?

Studying the menu. It is quite eclectic with low, medium and very high prices, but something for everyone

Scotch? No, Gin... Kirsty’s Gin from Arbikie Highland Estate in Scotland

Media friends Jan Laubscher and Anel Grobler enjoying the day

Your entrance ticket got you six large oysters, which John enjoyed very much

For lunch we ordered the fish and chips which is a huge portion of two pieces of battered cod, with lovely crisp chips, mushy peas, a tartare sauce and lemon slices for R125. It was so large we ate one and took the other home for supper

It was much cooler inside the bar area

Deep South gin. They were very generous with the samples, Lynne enjoyed a classic gin and tonic and found it very good. It is quite a classic gin, thankfully not too many additions and no rooibos or coloured rose or pomegranate additions. The Fitch and Leeds tonic works well, not too sweet

A nicely mixed crowd of young and old

Ginologist gin

Finery Pink Gin with additions

Two pretty girls having fun

and Beefeater were there too

In the Gin Palace

Lots of gin fans in Cape Town, its the IN thing to drink at the moment

An array of glasses and samples on the grand piano. A fun Affair indeed. We took an Uber home

Johannesburg readers can enjoy the Wade Bales Cap Classique & Gin Affair 2018
on 24th & 25th November at the Southern Sun Hyde Park Roof Top Terrace Bar
Limited Early Bird Tickets are available at R250 per person until Monday 5th November, thereafter Full Price Tickets will cost R350
Both sets of tickets include a Champagne glass, unlimited tastings of all bubbly and gin products showcased on the day, as well as 6 fresh oysters to round off the occasion
Additional food options will be on sale. It’s going to sell-out fast, so book your tickets today!
Go to QUICKET

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Tasting Paul John Indian whiskies at the Cape Grace

Another interesting invitation from Hector McBeth to taste Whisky; this time from Goa in India. We have tasted Japanese and Scotch whiskies with him on previous occasions. Held in the Bascule Lounge at the Cape Grace Hotel; where else? It has the best whisky collection in South Africa. We were to taste five whiskies from Paul John

We met Michael d’Souza, the Paul John master distiller. They introduced their whiskies in South Africa in 2017 and believe that there is a market for them here. They wanted to see what we and several other whisky lovers thought of them

The line up of whiskies. This is the number 1 Whisky brand in India. Three have not yet been bottled: numbers 1, 2 and 4. They wanted to know which were our favourites for this market. They were recently awarded a Trophy at the Michelangelo Awards for No. 5. The 6 row barley used (it is low in protein) is grown in the Himalayas and their water is rainwater, collected during the 4 month monsoon in Goa. It is free of magnesium salts. In their heat, they lose a very high share to the angels. The whisky is stored below ground, where it is cooler, darker and not humid. Their casks are imported from Cordoba in Spain and the whisky is in barrel for 8 and 6 years. Because of the temperature, 8 years is the equivalent of 20 years for Scotch whisky

The first was from a single cask of 8 year old, matured underground. 58%. It has caramel, roasted nuts, vanilla and tropical fruit notes on the nose; soft, then hot on the palate, reminiscent of hot chilli! Lots of perfume and vanilla. With a drop of water, it is softer, more perfumed like Chanel; floral, roses, gardenias, with vanillins from the wood, creamy and some smoke on the end. No. 2 was matured in Oloroso legacy oak, a Montilla cask. Nutty, almost a sherry nose, dark caramel, a very pretty, complex nose with Oloroso notes. Sweet and salty, with nuts, perfume; more complex than No. 1, more layered and at 55%. Fruit on the palate, raisins, sultanas, pineapple and maple syrup. With water, complex and layered richness, dry and crisp and fruity with roasted pineapple. Long flavours

Hector taking us through the tasting. Most people attending had taken a whisky course. No. 3 is the Christmas Limited Release, selling for R675 and only 500 cases made. Caramel, treacle, then interesting green notes; 46%. It is medicinal, almost pyrazine notes; nuts, apricots, caramel toffee and salt on the nose. Soft, sweet caramel nuts, treacle and orange rinds, nice and complex; the peat is shy on the palate. but adds something. Light smoke. The salt shows; with some water, the peat appears, treacle toffee, darker caramel, cooked apricots, and tart tatin apples, minerality too. It was a popular whisky at the tasting. No. 4 is a single cask 100% peated whisky at 60%. The peat is imported from Aberdeen, Islay and some from Ireland. Medicinal peat notes from Aberdeen, with honey and citrus under the peat, with leather & tobacco on the nose. A tiny sip and don’t light a match. Over peated for Lynne, the peat flavour stayed on her palate for too long. John loves this style, as did those who like peat, so it’s a personal choice

The final whisky was made in first and second fill American oak, and is 100% peated. A peat monster on the nose for those who love it, with smoky bacon wood, caramel and is bottled at 46%. Soft, sweet caramel on the palate, with a peat kiss on the end. Honey and nuts, and full in texture. With water, it changes: salty and smoky rather than peaty, silky on the palate; hiding the peat well, but it is present, as is the wood. Apricots and nuts with salty minerality on the end. Surprising and very well integrated. Also very popular and a surprise for those of us who don't like lots of peat

Michael d'Souza asking us which we preferred. They will make the most popular ones available locally. We were not the only group who were tasting these whiskies in Cape Town; they were also presented at the Whisky Live show in Johannesburg

Then some snacks were served and we relished them after the whisky

Some crisp meaty spring rolls with a dipping sauce

Roast beef on rosti

A rich creamy mushroom soup in demitasse coffee cups

Tiny salads with roasted butternut

A creamy snoek paté

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Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Launch of Roodeberg Rosé at Chart Farm

On a lovely summery day, we journeyed to the restaurant at Chart Farm in Wynberg for tea in the garden and the launch of KWV's new Roodeberg Rosé wine

Lots of beautiful roses from the farm surround a bowl of chilled bottles of Roodeberg Rosé

We sat under umbrellas and enjoyed the wine. It is made from Shiraz and Cabernet with a little Cinsault and Mourvedre added. It is made from free run juice and has brief skin contact, but not very much, as they need to keep the colour light pink. It is refreshing and is full of strawberry, raspberry and litchi notes on the nose and palate, with good fruit acidity

Lovely to just quaff, but a good food wine as well, especially for summer dishes. The alcohol is a low 12.5% and it retails for R85 a bottle. It was first made in 2014 when it was launched into the international market, where they sell 90% of the 100 000 litres they produce. Now, they are introducing it into the local market to grow the volumes. More and more of us, men and women, are enthusiastic about drinking good dry rosé wines

PRO Gudrun Clark dressed in the lovely rose colour

KWV Roodeberg Brand Manager Carli Jordaan told us about the wine

Next year, Roodeberg will celebrate its 70th birthday and they are planning celebrations

"This wine" she said "is a summer patio sharing wine"

Louwritz Louw of KWV is the wine maker

Nicely frosted bottle and a beautiful colour; we think that it will be very popular

Then it was time for tea and we could help ourselves to this amazing selection of cakes, quiches, tiny éclairs, scones, vol au vents, pasteis de nata, fruit kebabs and smoked salmon rolls. The quality of everything was superb. Well done Sandra Engelen, owner of the restaurant at Chart Farm, and her friendly staff. It was very hard to resist and not eat too much. The cakes, especially, were light as a feather and the quiches with their cheese pastry were really moreish

A savoury selection for those of us who do not have a very sweet tooth. Vol au vents at the top, smoked salmon rolls in the middle and egg mayonnaise rolls on the bottom layer. All went very well with the Rosé. We were allowed to pick a few of the beautiful roses to take home

Those fruit kebabs. Make time for a return visit to the Chart Farm restaurant now that summer is here. And thank you Roodeberg for a well matched and managed function

MENU’s Wine of the Week. KWV Roodeberg 2018 Rosé

It is made from Shiraz and Cabernet with a little Cinsault and Mourvedre added. It is made from free run juice and has brief skin contact, but not very much, as they need to keep the colour light pink. It is refreshing and is full of strawberry, raspberry and litchi notes on the nose and palate, with good fruit acidity

Lovely to just quaff, but a good food wine as well, especially for summer dishes. The alcohol is a low 12.5% and it retails for R85 a bottle. It was first made in 2014 and was launched into the international market where they sell 90% of the 100 000 litres they produce. Now they are introducing it into the local market to grow the volumes. More and more of us, men and women, are enthusiastic about drinking good dry rosé wines. Available in supermarkets and wine outlets

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