Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Sunday concert at Nederburg

Sundown, time for wine and music
The Nederburg Manor House, which now houses the Red Table Restaurant
Lynne with David Biggs and Gail Alswang, enjoying a glass of sherry
Pianist Philippus Hugo, Soprano Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi,  Cherile Adams and Dylan Tabisher of US Slagwerk/Percussion Duo on the small stage in the Manor house
A large as possible audience crammed into the small room
listening with rapt attention
The first song was a perfect rendition of Ave Maria, full of emotion, light and shade.
The marimba adds a very good melodic background to the classical music
and requires a lot of skill
The performers taking a bow after a really accomplished and wonderfully enjoyable and varied performance
The buffet supper included a seafood soup and a tomato soup, bread, small venison pies, mini pizzas, chicken kebabs,. And for dessert chocolate brownies, quarters of chocolate tarts, creme brûlée and parfaits.
A glass of Nederburg Sauvignon blanc with the seafood soup
A glass of Nederburg Winemaker’s Reserve shiraz with a plate of snacks
Some people found it warm enough to eat supper on the terrace
but we ate in the voorkamer, in front of the fire








Tasting Overhex Balance wines portfolio at The Bay Hotel

Held on the most beautiful day, the second of real Spring which has finally arrived
We chat and drink a glass of Balance’s Boldly Brut sparkle made from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin
Crocodile bacon and green apple samoosas on a sweet tomato jam chutney
It is spring and everyone is feeling happy and wearing bright and flowery clothes.  Journalists Fiona McDonald and Maryka Roberts
First round - To taste: five whites and one rosé
Overhex co-owner and MD Gerhard van der Wath with Nicolette Waterford of Waterford Communications who handles the PR for Overhex wines
Tasting and tweeting in full swing
The wines for tasting
We hear about how the wines are sourced and made
Winemaker Ben Snyman tells us about the wine
Nelia Viviers of Get It magazine
Melvin Minnaar, Angela Lloyd and Mike Duggan
Ben explains the difference between the branding of the Best Blend wines on the left and the Winemaker’s Selection on the right
JC Martin, owner/cellarmaster of Creation wines, joined the team in 2006 as production director and later as partner and is responsible for the all wine styles and blends
The lunch menu
Waiting for food to arrive
The magnificent view of the bay from the restaurant. The colour of the sea belies its chill.
A summery Karen Glanfield with Cathryn Henderson of Classic Wine
Gossip? Jonathan Snashall with Mike Duggan of Wine Concepts
Tomato Confit Tart with Olive Oil Ice cream
Karoo lamb phyllo “Wellington” with crisp butternut rösti and rather sour pickled Provençal vegetables. The lamb was not a single fillet as usual, but rather fatty, overcooked and tough pieces shaped into a square. It was a very large serving.
A rather over-cooked maple glazed baby salmon trout on a strange butternut sauce. Spätzle and spinach were missing.
Sadly, the ‘mi-cuit’ chocolate fondant was not fully cooked in every case
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Top 10 Sauvignons competition winners at Blaauwklippen

FNB’S TOP 10 SAUVIGNON BLANC COMPETITION DELIVERS CONSISTENCY AND CLASS
The winners of the 2013 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competition were revealed on Friday, 27th September, at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.  Held under the auspices of the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa (SBIG) with sponsorship provided by FNB, this year's competition attracted a record number of 207 entries (compared with 195 in 2012)

The Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition was started in 2007 to promote innovation and excellence in the category, and reward those endeavouring to make wines of true distinction. 

Welcomed by music; the musicians were soon overwhelmed by chatter of arriving guests
Caprese canapés seem to be the fashion this year.  Another way of serving them
Gary Jordan with the serving team, who gave us glasses of Bramon MCC from the Southern Cape, which is made from Sauvignon Blanc
Mini onion tarts filled with lovely sweet caramelised onions
Organiser of this prestigious annual award, Pieter de Waal, Secretary of the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group
A very large group of winemakers, retailers and media awaits the announcements
We could vote for our own favourites by placing stickers on the card, over the names of the wines we liked most, and then submitting the card for a prize – an iPad. It did not affect the real voting, which had been done previously by the judges, but it did involve everyone in a very enjoyable way
Stephan Claassen of FNB tells us about their involvement and sponsorship
The spicy and Herbaceious category consisted of five wines : Alexanderfontein Chip off the Old Block 2013 – Winner Top 10; Cape Point Vineyards Woolworths 2012 – Winner Top 10;  Jordan 2013; Ormonde 2012; Virgin Earth The Pepper Tree 2013
and was paired with Spiced Seared Tuna loin with a fried kataifi wrapped prawn on a  lime aioli
This was the dish to go with the four Flinty and Mineral wines: Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2012 – Winner Top 10; Cedarberg 2012; Hillcrest 2013; Thelema 2013 – Winner Top 10;. Served with  Grilled baby aubergine with babaganoush, salmon trout mousse and fennel pesto.  It badly needed bread, as aubergine on its own can be slightly slimy.  Good flavours with the wines though.
This hefty slice of smoked Norwegian Salmon with blackcurrant polenta and rosewater scented honey dressing (why?) was paired with the Lime, Green Melon and Grapefruit style wines: Cape of Good Hope Altima 2013 – Winner Top 10; Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run 2012; Nederburg Private Bin D234 2012 – Winner Top 10; Thelema Sutherland 2012 and the one Blackcurrant leaf, Elderberry and oak influence wine, Vrede and Lust Casey’s Ridge 2012
Pieter de Waal chatting to the media about the wines
Martin Moore, Cellarmaster at Durbanville Hills and Director of Distell Wines
The dish to match the Tropical and Yellow fruit style of Sauvignon was a very moist Chicken Ballotine with a melon salad and an orange blossom cream cheese. The Ballotine was stuffed with Quinoa, pinenuts, herbs and fruit. Wines were:  Boschendal Reserve Collection 2013 – Winner Top 10;  Durbanville Hills Rhinofields 2012; Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme 2013 – Winner Top 10; Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 20120 – Winner Top 10; Phizante Kraal 2013 – Winner Top 10; Sumaridge 2013
Charl Sandenbergh presented the awards
Journalist Christian Eedes, who was one of the Judges.
Pieter de Waal presents the award to the winning member of the audience whose preference was closest to the actual winners.
The ten 2013 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competition winners: Alexanderfontein Chip Off The Old Block 2013, Boschendal Reserve Collection 2013, Cape of Good Hope Altima 2013, Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2012, Cape Point Vineyards Woolworths 2012, Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme 2013, Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2012, Nederburg Private Bin D234 2012, Phizante Kraal 2013, Thelema 2013
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013