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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Chenin Blanc Winter Showcase at Delaire Graff

The gathering on the spacious deck of Delaire Graff

President of the Chenin Growers Association, Ken Forrester, opens proceedings

Ben Kruger, CEO of the Standard Bank, tells us about their new sponsorship. It is a very worthy prize. He announced the signing of a three-year sponsorship agreement between the Chenin Blanc Association of South Africa and Standard Bank, in support of a new competition to be known as the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge. The competition will be open to all the ± 100 Chenin Blanc Association members. Entries open on 1st July 2014. An awards ceremony announcing the winners will take place at Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch on Wednesday 27th August. Winners will receive R20 000 each and the money must be used for the economic and social upliftment of the workforce

Past president Jeff Grier of Villiera

The hand that rocks the cradle. Ina Smith is the Manager of the Association and keeps it all together with marvellously quiet and gentle organisation

Line up of the first flight of Chenins

We get down to serious tasting

Johann Laubser, GM of Delaire Graff, wine maker Morne Vrey and Ken Forrester listen to Geoff Grier in the background as he takes us through a flight of Chenin

Many lunchers on the terrace with one of the best views in Stellenbosch, up at the top of the Helshoogte pass

As the vines shut down after harvest, the leaves turn all sorts of pretty autumnal colours

Delaire Graff’s winemaker Morne Vrey on his way to lunch at Indochine restaurant

Calm blues and hints of the orient make this a comfortable place to have lunch

Sean Griffiths of Mulderbosch, Wade Bales and Alan Mullins

We meet Ben Kruger, CEO of the sponsor, Standard Bank

Handsome restaurant manager Alex von Ulmenstein with two of the Chenins previously tasted and now on offer to go with lunch

The lunch menu

The wines on offer

Ken Forrester thanks Ina Smith for all the very excellent organisation

Johann Laubser, GM of Delaire Graff, who sponsored the Showcase

Willie du Plessis of Standard Bank Marketing

Ken Forrester signing the agreement with Standard Bank

Sponsors and heads of the Chenin Blanc Association. CEO Ben Kruger of the sponsor Standard Bank, President Ken Forrester, Willie du Plessis of Standard Bank and Jeff Grier

Ken Forrester with a bucket of wonderful chenin

The Amuse was a seared tuna slice with broccoli and black garlic puree

Our starter was a beautifully presented arrangement of lovely flavours, textures and aromas. Daikon radish wrapped beef tartar and pickled mushrooms, flavoured with chilli, black bean puree, and ponzu served in pickled onion ‘cups’ and topped with crisp deep fried noodles

Writer Johan Crafford also having a great day

The main course was small pieces of chicken and prawn covered in a tikka masala sauce on a cauliflower puree with a fresh chutney and topped with a mini bok choy We were very impressed with the food. The chef at Indochine, who works under Executive chef Christiaan Campbell, is indeed worthy of a mention - his name is Virgil Kahn

Ina Smith

Dessert looks deliciously simple and yet was full of very intense flavours. Coconut ice cream, lime curd ice cream and a pineapple sorbet. With intricate and delicate spicing one tasted echoes of melktert, and coconut lime pie, but it was so fresh and light. A masterstroke by the pastry chef.