Paarl Wine Awards at the KWV

Off to a glamorous dinner in KWV’s Cathedral Cellar on quite a chilly night but we were warm enough with lots of space heaters placed in this cavernous cellar filled with huge old carved vats from the past. They don’t actually use these much any more as things have go much more high tech but it is a place with huge atmosphere.  Lynne was first taken to visit there by a young winemaker when she was only 17 and it hasn't changed as much as she has

The courtesy car took us to and from Grande Roche, where we stayed the night

Entering the cellars at KWV

Welcomed in one of the barrel storage cellars with music and

a choice from several bubblies from the area

Stanislav Angelov , a talented organist who played lots romantic French style music and some other  popular tunes

This plaque tells the story of the Old Bill barrel

An historic barrel with a story attached

Shall we have the Brut? Or Brut Rosé?

Lynne with Zelda Oelofse, General Manager of Laborie. Zelda was the major domo of the event and had the organization running very smoothly

Media members arriving for the dinner and awards This is Maryna Starchan of Wine Extra

Journalist Norman McFarlane and his wife Eppie

This is the magnificent cathedral cellar with is huge carved barrels

One of the messages on a barrel

We join our table for the evening

Kobus van der Merwe, winemaker at Laborie

The menu. The food was prepared by Chef Matthew Gordon from Harvest Restaurant at Laborie

Master of Ceremonies was Stephen Richardson of  Mellasat Vineyards. Stephen is the President of the Paarl Wine Route

Sponsor of the Paarl Wine Awards, Zoyon Le Sueur of Collotype, who produce labels for the wine industry

The awards

The first course of moist smoked chicken with raw apple, beetroot, sprouts and pine nuts with a lime dressing was very refreshing and went very well with the white wine served, the KWV Mentors Semillon 2013 and the Chardonnay 2012 both were prize winners

The audience listens to Guest speaker Katinka van Niekerk’s speech

Cellarmaster Razvan Macici and White Wine maker Natasha Williams of Nederburg

Katinka presenting some of the awards to the worthy winners from Perdeberg

The white wine trophy went to Perdeberg for their 2014 Sauvignon Blanc

Proudly received by ??

Kobus van der Merwe, winemaker at Laborie, receiving an award for the Top MCC which went to KWV’s Laborie Brut 2010

Stephen Richardson having a word with Analize Stroebel

She presented this enormous bouquet to Katinka van Niekerk

We shared our table with Marketing Director of KWV, Jeff Gradwell, with his wife Lize-Marie

The proud trophy winners

Main course was a lovely tender piece of beef fillet on a gratin of potatoes with a good caramelised parsnip and horseradish cream sauce and was topped some rather odd sweetened raw parsnips. On our table we had the wining Rhebokskloof Shiraz 2011, The Perold and the Taillefert. There were also tables at either end of the cellar where one could taste all of the winning wines

Entertainment during dinner was provided

Dessert was a Melktert (custard tart) pannacotta, redolent with cinnamon, a praline ice cream, a rooibos jelly and a biscuit crumble. This was served with a beautiful Nederburg Noble Late Harvest dessert wine

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© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014

A night at the Grande Roche in Paarl

How fortuitous it is when invitations collide. We were asked if we would like to spend a night at Grande Roche and arranging it for the night we were to be in Paarl anyway meant we didn’t need to drive back to Cape Town after the KWV event. We have visited it many times before for meals, wine tasting event and the Old Mutual  Trophy Feedback sessions each year but this was our first stay

Traditional Cape Dutch design, this is the front of the mansion house

The view from the terrace of the magnificent Cape mountains

The dining room and entrance foyer with a great Fin de Siècle bronze statue amusingly carrying her handbag

We had a lovely pot of coffee in the reception lounge while they got our room ready. The staff were very helpful and attentive

They have thought of most things.  In case you have forgotten your reading glasses, you may borrow the appropriate pair to read the papers at breakfast or when relaxing in the lounge

Calamondim  orange trees full of fruit on the pool terrace

One of the hotel’s pools in the courtyard

Our suite was in part of the Coach House

Nice private terrace facing the mountains

Lots of comfort and nice crisp sheets

Shower room with all the fittings fixtures and supplies you could ever want

A separate dressing room with a work desk

The mini bar

Having a complimentary glass of red wine as the sun sets

The courtesy car which took us to and from the KWV function meant John didn’t have to drive

The night view makes it look rather like a French chateau

We returned to a glamorous candle lit room and bathroom

Time for breakfast. On the terrace or inside?

Tables laid for the brave, it was sunny but still a little chilly

The naughty shelf!  Fresh breads and pastries, jams and muffins

Lynne helping herself to fresh fruit and plain yoghurt

Lots of choices of fruit, cold meats, fish or cheeses  or you could order from the a la carte Menu

There were fresh oysters and a local Methode Cap Classique bubbly included in the buffet

We settled for a traditional English breakfast and we must say the very well prepared soft buttery scrambled eggs were the best we have ever had in an hotel.

Time to depart.  Thank you Grande Roche

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© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014