Cape Town - Mid-October means Wine on the River, that perennially popular three-day celebration of the wines and food of the Breede River Valley.
Taking place, as usual, beside the river flowing through Goudmyn farm, more than 300 wines from more than 40 cellars will be there for sampling and purchase at cellar-door prices.
The attractions vary – from river cruises to fare ranging from fast food to gourmet – while children’s activities are high on the agenda.
A schedule of free sit-down tutored tastings is on offer. Philip Jonker of Weltevrede compares a French chardonnay with Weltevrede’s three, De Wetshof pours its six chards and two mystery wines, Jeanette Bruwer takes visitors through the wine-making traditions at Springfield, and Heinrich Bothman uses Riedel glasses to show off Esona’s range.
There are only 20 seats for each event, so book soon with [email protected]
A free shuttle service will run from Robertson, Bonnievale and Montagu. The festival is on October 17-19. Tickets cost R125 on Friday, R160 on Saturday and R105 on Sunday. Weekend passes are R250. Pensioner’s rates are available, and children under 18 go in free. See www.webtickets.co.za, and visit www.wineonriver.com for the full programme.
Seriously cool recipe reaps double reward
Take two traditional “workhorse” cultivars, nurture the vines, and afford the grapes loving cellar care, using wild yeasts and minimal intervention.
This is the successful recipe used by winemaker Nadia Barnard of Waterkloof estate for the recently-released Seriously Cool duo, maiden vintages of a 2014 chenin blanc and 2013 cinsault.
Thirty-year-old chenin bush vines provided low yields for the white, which offers peach and apricot on the nose, impressive depth of character placing it firmly in the top league.
Grapes from the cinsault vines, between 40 and 50 years old, spent time in open-top fermenters before maturing in French oak. A serious wine with good structure, and long finish, with soft tannins.
The pair is more than a little reminiscent of Old World styles while the low sulphur content will appeal to many. Enjoyable proof of the potential of pleb varietals, they are priced at R95. Hopefully, ensuing vintages will be screwcapped for contemporary enjoyment from this hilltop Helderberg cellar.
Wine Calendar
A dozen cellars in the Durbanville valley will take part in the Season of Sauvignon festival on October 25 and 26.
Sip the 2014 sauvignons of Altydgedacht, Bloemendal, D’Aria, Diemersdal, De Grendel, Durbanville Hills, Hillcrest, Klein Roosboom, Meerendal, Nitida, Groot Phesantekraal and Signal Gun while sampling the varied attractions of the farms. The Durbanville Twelve sauvignon blanc, made from a ton of grapes from each farm, will be launched.
Visitors to Nitida will enjoy free entrance, live music and a delectable menu of fare from food stalls in the amphitheatre around Tables restaurant. Cassia will also be open for meals, and picnic baskets should be pre-booked.
For an alternative method of transport, take a Base 4 Aviation helicopter ride to three of the farms. Contact Francois Koening on [email protected].
See www.durbanvillewine.co.za for the full festival programme.
* Take the blue out of Monday by heading to the Vineyard hotel in Newlands for its weekly wine tastings from 6 to 7pm. Top cellars are scheduled with De Grendel estate’s wines featuring on Monday and Avondale taking centre stage on October 20.
Anthonij Rupert’s reds will be poured on October 27.
See www.vineyard.co.za for more information.
Weekend Argus