A huge bumble bee enjoying the delights of a blue water lily in our pond
Suddenly, we have a few stories to tell. The wine industry in South Africa has come, bruised and quite battered, through government imposed punishment that it did not deserve. Influential members of government, we believe, had a political agenda and decreed that the industry was closed down for five months in 2020. They made exports of wine illegal and/or impossible at a time when they were desperately needed and it was only because of desperate efforts on the part of VinPro, WOSA and other members of the industry that last year’s harvest could be completed. Now, because of the embargoes that were imposed, many producers have huge tanks full of unsold wine just when we have had what may well be the best quality harvest in South Africa’s history.
So it is encouraging to see wonderful efforts by individual organisations to boost the industry. We have never regurgitated press releases from PR agencies, but in this edition of MENU, we have broken that rule and there are three stories which incorporate information, whole or in part, that we have received and which we believe it is important to pass on to you. Please read on, click on the links and help us to support the oldest wine industry outside Europe
As we write this a terrible fire, apparently lit by an arsonist, is raging on Table Mountain, with disastrous damage to the University of Cape Town which lost the Jagger Library with its rare collections of African books and archives, historic student residences and much more. The Rhodes Memorial tea room and the iconic Mostert's Mill, which dates from 1796, have also been destroyed. Our hearts go out to everyone in Cape Town to whom all these places are precious.
Easter lamb braai
We do a traditional Easter meal every year and daughter Clare joins us for dinner. This year, we had a deboned leg of lamb, so it went into John's amazing marinade the day before. It’s an easy recipe with soy, red wine, lots of garlic and fresh lavender and/or rosemary. You can see it after the photographs. The lavender adds an unusual and delicious flavour. Read on...
A False Bay day with lunch at Kalky's
It is still summer, but we often feel that we are shutting ourselves away. We have made a resolution to go out to a different area at least once a week and so we decided to go to the False Bay coast to have a lunch of Fish and Chips. The views from Boyes Drive were magnificent; the day was clear and fresh. Looking down on the Vleis and Muizenberg brings back lots of memories for Lynne of her early years when she used to come fishing and kite flying here with her father. And, of course, swimming off Muizenberg beach. Read on...
A light lunch with friends at Green Point Park's Café
We often need to find places that are wheelchair accessible so that we can meet with friends who can’t come to our house, as it is not very disabled friendly – on a steep hill and with lots of steps. The Green Point Park restaurant has recently opened with new owners and this seemed like a good opportunity to try it out while meeting our friends. Read on...
Stellenbosch Wine Route celebrates 50 wonderful years
To celebrate their 50th Anniversary, the Stellenbosch Wine Route sent us a huge box of goodies this week so that we could enjoy the route's golden anniversary at home. The wine route was founded in 1971 when three intrepid winemakers – Spatz Sperling of Delheim, Neil Joubert of Spier and Frans Malan of Simonsig, after a visit to France, realised the marketing potential and necessity of such an endeavour, and the rest was history as it spread across our winelands to much success. Stellenbosch Wine Routes paved the way for the creation of the country’s wine tourism, an industry that contributes R7.2bn to GDP per year. Read on...
The 2021 Old Mutual Trophy Wine and Spirits Shows
This year, judging takes place in the heart of the Mother City, at the Westin Cape Town. Michael Fridjhon is chairman of the judges for both competitions. Per last year’s format, all panellists are South African experts, and in the case of the spirits’ judging, also have a wealth of international product experience.
The entry kit and entry form for each of the competitions is available on the respective websites: Read on
Well-known wine family celebrates four decades with a refined new look
Robertson Valley’s Van Loveren Family Vineyards relaunches its heritage range
Forty years after the Retief brothers Wynand and Hennie, sons of the founders, established the well-known, modern-classic Van Loveren brand, the label, focus and appearance have been polished towards an even brighter future for the popular wine range. Read on...
