Tasting at De Wetshof with Peter de Wet

Winemaker Peter de Wet in the tasting room

First the crisp riverside style Sauvignon Blanc and then the very German styled Riesling. Peter trained at Geisenheim, so he does know a lot about making Rieslings. This is a cracker

Next, three well known De Wetshof Chardonnays, each different and showing the terroir they are grown on. Limestone Hill, Bon Vallon and Finesse (we’d tasted the flagship Bateleur Chardonnay the day before), then the elegant but fruit filled Pinot Noir and finally their red Bordeaux blend 2008 Thibault

 A view of the spring vines, just beginning to flower, through the tasting room window

Peter spent a lot of his time with us, telling us how he makes the wines, where they are grown and what styles he prefers to make

A view of the beautiful De Wetshof Manor which houses the tasting room and surrounding cellars

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Sunday fun at the Wine on the River Festival, Robertson

Arriving at the festival, on a rather gloomy day, but the rain did hold off

Marquees are strung along the grassy riverside so, even if it does rain, you don’t get wet

The view down the Breede River towards Robertson

Wine, Olives, art, all were on show

The tempura prawns were good, the sushi freshly made on the Mimosa Hotel stand

People relaxing and enjoying themselves with wine as the main attraction

Lots of places to sit, to empty your glasses and there are even chandeliers

The band was amazingly good.  They played everything from Chris Kristofferson to America, Neil Diamond, Stones, Mammas and Poppas and good rock and had the crowd loudly singing along

Lynne with Colyn Truter at the Arendsig stand. No sign of Arendsig’s owner, Lourens van der Westhuizen, because his wife has just given birth to twins and he was with her

With Bennie Stipp, De Wetshof marketing director, on the De Wetshof stand

The two De Wetshof MCC bubblies

All the Chardonnays, Shirazes and MCC Bubblies of the area were available in the tasting tent, so you could sample them all and find the ones you liked without having to go to the stands trying to taste everything on the show. We thought this a very sensible idea.

The wines were separated into the different characteristics

A short explanation of the wines open for tasting

There are some really wonderful Methode Cap Classiques being produced in Robertson/Bonnievale

More, chilled to taste

Some classic and some interesting Chardonnays to taste

From pale partridge eye to bright pink, these are the Pinot Noir MCC’s

And a selection of Shirazes

Lovely quiet ponies to ride

The children were having a lot of fun

We finally catch up with Elizma Spangenberg-Botha, Manager of the Robertson Wine Valley

Here comes a big hug!

Martin Bruwer, the viticulturalist at Quando, and Estelle, his wife

Our heart stopping lunch, in both meanings of the phrase! Crisp and very greasy onion rings, crisp battered fish and chips for John and two perfectly cooked and seasoned lamb chops for Lynne

Our hosts for the weekend, Philip Jonker, owner of Weltevrede and his affectionate wife, Lindelize

Perhaps not the best day for a trip on the river but normally a fun experience

Karl Uwe Papesch owner and winemaker of Fraai Uitzicht restaurant and vineyard with his helper Tina Chimutashu

Johan van Zyl, winemaker at Springfield Winery

Festival visitors getting into the spirit of the occasion

Time to depart – you can see the rain is finally coming closer.

This is the huge tent stocked to the gunwales with wines of the area to buy and take home at very good discounted prices. Profits go to local charities

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Wade Bales Wine and Malt Whisky Affair, 2013 at the African Pride 15 on Orange hotel

Sauvignon enthusiast Pieter de Waal and Dr Winnie Bowman CWM

Maryna Strachan and Paul Cluver the younger

Lots of tasting activity in the hotel concourse

and lots of chat in the restaurant

Cheeses, jams, breads and other snacks were provided

It was a good venue for a wine tasting

Dalla Cia’s latest limited edition release Teano.

Barend Barnard of L’Avenir talking about the wines

So good to see our old friend Chris Keet showcasing his excellent wine First Verse, a Bordeaux blend.

The whisky room was very, very popular and therefore very, very crowded

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013