Tuesday, November 06, 2018

A hot Sunday at Robertson Wine Valley's Wine on the River Festival

We admit that we had been warned about the weather all week long, before we ventured to Robertson for the last day of Wine on The River, one of our favourite wine festivals. And boy, was it hot! At midday, it reached 42 degrees. Everyone was having a great time. First, we called in at the Robertson Wine Valley desk to get our media passes from Beatrix; also glasses, some vouchers, a lovely bottle of De Wetshof Finesse Chardonnay to drink with our lunch and some more of the very useful necklace wine glass holders, which allow us to control cameras and notebooks and keep our wine glasses hanging safely on our chests 
You can see the heat in the photos; most people were under umbrellas
or the trees alongside the river. As the afternoon wore on, a cooling breeze did appear
There were food trucks and some of the farms were also serving food
We cannot imagine what the temperature inside the bubble was! But someone was having fun
We found a shady nook under the trees and went to do some wine tasting
First to our friends at Quando; brothers, viticulturist Martin and winemaker Fanus Bruwer and their new marketing man Vaughan. We tasted their good crisp Sauvignon Blanc, the quaffable Chenin Blanc Viognier blend and the excellent Pinot Noir. Our favourite for the day was the Mourvedre Rosé, but we would buy them all if we could. We recommend you to try them
Then to Weltevrede to taste their wines. The chilled Philip Jonker Entheos Chardonnay Pinot Noir MCC was just what a hot day called for. They have a new range called Simplicity, where the wine label states the main flavour and it certainly is quite an interesting selling point - you know just what you are getting. The Rosé made from Gewurztraminer and Shiraz does indeed taste of Turkish Delight; the Tropico Sauvignon Blanc is indeed full of tropical flavours and the Lemon Zest Chardonnay is full of zingy citrus flavours. Ditto the red wines in the range
Lilies wilting in the heat
We took refuge under the awning at Montagu's Mimosa Lodge restaurant tent
Next to the tent was Mimosa Lodge owner Bernhard Hess with their wines
Lourens van der Westhuizen (Arendsig in Bonnievale) is their consultant wine maker
Our excellent lunch. A platter of sushi to share and 6 enormous tempura prawns
with a sweet chilli dipping sauce. And that lovely Finesse
This lean and elegant chardonnay certainly does have lots of Finesse;
it's quieter initially than De Wetshof's other wooded Chardonnays,
but opens up on the palate with such lovely minerality, citrus and lime flavours
John tasted at Klue - a name new to us, but a farm we have known previously as Wolvendrift
Lynne tried, but they were too involved in a conversation with a visitor, so she moved on
Marbin make some very good olive oils and Lynne could not resist their
Fennel flavoured extra virgin oil, it really enhances fish and salads
Pretty girls having a lot of fun in the sun
Lourens van der Westhuizen, owner of Arendsig wines in Bonnievale, showed us his really excellent organic single vineyard Solara Sauvignon Blanc, grown on Hout Baai Farm in the McGregor mountain river valley. Rich on the palate, with both tropical fruit and zesty citrus and cream lees, this wine is layered and big. Definitely a food wine. We bought a case. He is a very good winemaker and consults to many farms in the area. At this point, the heat got the better of Lynne, who had to go and rest in the shade. John continued tasting
He went to meet some of the people that we were to see over the next two days,
with whom we had made appointments. Here, Mont Blois owners Ernst and Nina-Mari Bruwer
We will be doing articles on each farm we visited
Henk van Niekerk at Paul René with their MCC
One of the few farms charging for tastings, but people do try to take advantage,
so he has to stem the flow
Lots of water was consumed in the heat
and ice creams
Live music all day from different groups
A salami stand, with sausages made by a Hungarian and his Polish partner
And lots of lovely bubbles at the Graham Beck stand
They had wonderful misters blowing cool air with a fine mist
It frizzed the hair, but calmed the heat stroke
All their bubblies were available for tasting. We tried the Blanc de Blanc, our favourite
Local lunch stand
There were even handbags and hats for sale. Bet they did a roaring trade in hats
Glamour and wine
Fancy a Toastie?
Yes please, Mum
and local produce for sale in the market tent
Old friends on the Bon Courage stand
Pallet tables and cling film wrapped hay bales. Lynne's legs did get badly bitten
by something and she hopes it was not hay bale mites; their bites last a long time.
Despite the punishing heat, everyone was having a great day

Thursday, November 01, 2018

This Week’s MENU. Paul John Indian whiskies, Caroline's White Wine Review, Caroline's White Wine Review, Wade Bales Cap Classique and Gin Affair, Spaghetti Milanese, KWV Roodeberg Rosé

Kids at the seaside, drying off on the hot ground. Nothing changes; just what we did when we were this age
Our life and the weather are both mad; not sure which is crazier. We were in Robertson from Sunday morning to Tuesday night, visiting Wine on the River and 8 wine estates. We’ll be back there next week. We arrived there in 40º+ heat and left with a chilly North-Wester howling and the temperature down to 12º. We’ll write about all that in the next MENU. This week has been crammed full of activity, including replacing a tyre damaged in Ashton and dental work, but we’ll tell you about the more interesting events next time. Here are this week’s stories. We think they’re interesting….
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…
Caroline's White Wine Review 2018 at The Table Bay    
An annual event in Cape Town, Caroline's White Wine Review was held at the Table Bay Hotel this month. Caroline selects her favourite high scoring white wines and bubblies and it is a challenging tasting with so much quality in the room. One can never manage to taste everything, but there were some really good wines to enjoy…
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…
Wade Bales Cap Classique and Gin Affair      
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…
On the MENU this week. Spaghetti Milanese with Pork Escalopes    
A classic dish this week, one that is quite easy to make. You may use pink veal if you can get it, or chicken breasts, sliced in half and beaten flat…
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…


1st November 2018


© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2018
PS If a word or name is in bold type and underlined, click on it for more information

Phones: +27 21 439 3169 / 083 229 1172 / 083 656 4169

Postal address: 60 Arthurs Rd, Sea Point 8005

Recommendations of products and outside events are not solicited or charged for, and are made at the authors’ pleasure. All photographs, recipes and text used in our website and ancillary works are © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus. Our restaurant reviews are often unsolicited. We prefer to pay for our meals and not be paid in any way by anyone. Whether we are invited or go independently, we don’t feel bad if we say we didn’t like it. Honesty is indeed our best policy. While every effort is made to avoid mistakes, we are human and they do creep in occasionally, for which we apologise. This electronic journal has been sent to you because you have personally subscribed to it or because someone you know has asked us to send it to you or forwarded it to you themselves. Addresses given to us will not be divulged to any person or organisation. We collect them only for our own promotional purposes. If you wish to be added to our mailing list, please click here to send us a message and if you wish to be removed from our mailing list

Spaghetti Milanese with Pork Escalopes


A classic dish this week, one that is quite easy to make. You may use pink veal if you can get it, or chicken breasts, sliced in half and beaten flat
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil - 1 garlic clove, crushed – 400ml tomato passata – 100 ml good chicken stock – 1 Tbsp torn basil leaves - salt and black pepper
420g pack pork fillet, sliced into eight or more 3 cm thick medallions - 2 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with salt and pepper - 1 egg, beaten - 100g fresh breadcrumbs - 2 Tbsp canola oil - 300g spaghetti
Method
Heat the oil in a pan, then fry the garlic for a few seconds. Add the passata, basil and chicken stock and simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce is thickening. Season to taste. If the tomato is rather sharp, add a teaspoon of sugar.
Meanwhile, lay the pork medallions between two layers of cling film and bash with a rolling pin until they are about 1cm thick. Season the pork on both sides. Mix the seasoned flour in one bowl, put the beaten egg in another and the breadcrumbs in a third. Dip the pork in the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs. In a hot pan add oil then cook the pork for 3 mins on each side, until golden and cooked through, but not dry. Keep warm.
While you are cooking the Escalopes, cook the spaghetti following pack instructions till al dente. Stir through the tomato sauce and the chopped basil, divide the pasta between 4 plates, put the crispy pork on top and eat immediately. Delicious with an Italian style red wine like a Nebbiolo from Du Toitskloof or Steenberg

Caroline's White Wine Review 2018 at The Table Bay

An annual event in Cape Town, Caroline's White Wine Review was held at the Table Bay Hotel this month. Caroline selects her favourite high scoring white wines and bubblies and it is a challenging tasting with so much quality in the room. One can never manage to taste everything, but there were some really good wines to enjoy
Vondeling winemaker Emile van der Merwe showed their Rurale,
a Méthode Ancestrale sparkler, made from Chardonnay
Nice to see Nicolas Follet of Oenosense Consulting with Zelda Fox on the Charles Fox stand. He is their consultant and makes their wines for them each year. They were showing their fine Rosé MCC. His family makes Champagne Follet
John Loubser had his Silverthorn The Genie Rosé MCC for tasting
Here he is with Graham de Vries of Steenberg Vineyards
Lynne chatted with Andrea Mullineux' father, who was in Napa but now resides in Austin, Texas
Hurricanes and wine did both come up in the conversation
A new one for us, Morgenster's Cuvée Alessandra, made in Prosecco style from Cabernet Franc
Nice to see JP Colmant walking confidently and pain free after a successful recent hip replacement
His Brut Chardonnay MCC is outstanding and rather French in style
He was chatting here to Delight Aitken and her husband, Ken
A happy Michelle Elford pouring...
... Bon Courage’s best, the Jacques Bruère Vintage 2011 Blanc de Blanc MCC
Ann Ferreira and Lynne having a reunion and a chat over the Capensis Chardonnay,
made by Therese de Beer
This gently wooded Chardonnay with lovely ripe fruit and elegant minerality
was scored 95 by Tim Atkin
The Kruger Family. Paul, Regional Sales Manager at Villiera
with his father and mother, Emile and Sassa
Villiera winemakers Nathan Valentine and Xander Grier
had their excellent Brut Monro MCC 2011 on show
Caroline Rillema herself, chatting to Mark van Buuren of Antonij Rupert Wines and a guest
Robbie Wallace of Iona talking animatedly with Sebastian Beaumont about his wine, Beaumont - The New Baby, a white blend of Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Colombard. Lovely fresh nose, crisp, salty & grapey with hints of hanepoot, grapefruit, mint and a seaweed minerality, hinting at iodine and summer sea breezes. Robbie is a 2018 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year finalist
Questions for Chris Alheit about his Cartology white blend of Chenin and Semillon
Les girls on the Boschendal stand: Winemaker Lizelle Gerber with Anlea Rainer. This Elgin Chardonnay kept evolving in the glass, with savoury and sweet fruit notes, with good crispness
Jane Eedes showed the Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse White Blend by David Clarke
which has good and innovative labelling
Nadia Newton Johnson discussing the Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay,
lovely now, but will still improve if you keep it for a year or two
Charming Nina-Marie and Henk Bruwer of Mont Blois in Robertson with their Groot Steen Chenin
Read more about them, their wines and the farm in next week's MENU, as we have just visited them
The wines are exciting
The old crowd. Hein de Jager with Tracy van Maaren and John Collins
They are all present or past wine distributors
Paul Kruger visiting  Sarah Havard on the Hamilton Russell table
Groot Constantia Assistant Winemaker Louise van der Westhuizen,
showing her 2017 Constantia Chardonnay
... and having fun with the visitors
Jeanette Bruwer of Springfield chatting to an Elsenberg student
about their Méthode Ancienne Chardonnay 2016, always excellent
Winemaker Riandri Visser of Cape Point Vineyards showed her Isliedh 2017,
a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Here she is discussing it with Chris Mullineux
Winery of Good Hope Marketing Manager Abi Mitton and Winemaker Jacques de Klerk
Happy colleagues. They showed their Radford Dale Chardonnay