Cape Port Producers’ Association Port & Wine Awards at Muratie

Carel Nel of Boplaas, Lynne, and Mike Neebe of Axe Hill

Muratie’s list of owners at the entrance to the farm with one of the farm dogs

Meeting in front of the rustic cellar

Artifacts in the cellar vestibule

The 10 winning ports

The 10 winning wines made from Port varietals

Muratie’s wines

The beautiful, historic window in the tasting room, with its iconic cobwebs – some say they should be a national monument

Tasting commences and lots of chatting about the wines and port

Carel Nel announces the awards with Sandra Lotz, the organiser of the function

Dave Hughes speaks about the awards

Dave presents Mike Neebe with his award

Dave presents Chris du Toit of Bergsig with his award

All the award winners with their certificates

The normal daily menu from Muratie’s Cellar Kitchen (for those of you overseas, Afval is offal)

A serious discussion over lunch - about port and farming no doubt

Lunch begins at our table with (from the left around the table) Mike Neebe, Lynne, David Biggs, Mike Bampfield-Duggan of Wine Concepts, Colin Frith, Cathy Marston

Another view of the charming time-warp Voorkamer (front room) – used as the tasting room

All these photographs are © John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus cc

Lourens and Lizelle van der Westhuizen at Arendsig, Robertson

Arendsig tasting room, rebuilt, with its Langtafel ready for interesting future events and delicious wine pairing dinners

Some of the current Arendsig wines, which are available for tasting

The small cellar where Lourens makes amazing wine, not just for himself but for several other farms in the area

Small cooling tanks and large oak fermenting tanks.  Much of the wine is made reductively.

Lourens believes in using older wood

Tank sampling in the cellar, lots of very interesting wines to come.  Watch this space.

Lourens waxing lyrical about his excellent Blanc de Noir

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, before we put a case in the car for later drinking – in a year or two

Lourens’s lovely wife, Lizelle

A view of the lovely Bonnievale valley from the lawn

Looking down the valley towards the Robertson valley and the Langeberg mountains

Vineyard workers having their lunch break on the banks of the Breede River. The river is in full flood after the heavy rains last week.

All these photographs are © John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus cc

Sunday fun at Robertson's Wacky Wine Weekend

Fun and sun in the leafy garden at Van Loveren

The indoor market at Robertson Winery where Lynne met an old school friend

Great music on the forecourt of Robertson Winery

The marvellous atmosphere on the lawn at Springfield

Queuing to buy lunch tickets and wine in the cellar at Springfield

The braai area at Springfield with the old vines making great coals to roast over

The freshest yellowtail and chips, half demolished already

Prego roll (steak in a spicy Portuguese sauce), chips and salad

Lynne chatting to Abrie Bruwer, owner winemaker at Springfield as he takes a break from braaiing

John Collins. Springfield’s distributor, and his lady enjoying life, good wine and a prego roll

The excellent jazz band in front of the dam

Inside the Springfield tasting room

A last late lunch at Zandvliet

Those burning wingerd stokkies (old vine logs) are waiting to braai fresh Norwegian salmon and steaks

All these photographs are ©John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus cc

Sea Point's new Backyard Grill

Great clean and modern layout

John’s rib eye steak with roasted baby potatoes

Which went with a mixed salad for the table

Lynne had half a rack of tender barbeque pork ribs with the potatoes and salad

Chocolate fondant with ice cream

Very moreish and sticky almond, candied orange peel and chocolate tart with ice cream

The covered terrace and outdoor grill

Our competent and charming waitress

A view down the restaurant toward Regent Road and the entrance

The bar room with relaxing sofas

Very good squid tubes and tentacles as a starter

Mussels in a cream sauce with garlic and lemon

A vegetarian starter or salad: mixed beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers and avocado

All these photographs are ©John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus cc