Cape Town - There can be few more agreeable ways of spending a winter Saturday in the Cape.
This year’s Feast of Shiraz and Charcuterie takes place, as usual, at Hartenberg estate on June 7, starting at noon.
Hospitable winemaker and shiraz fundi Carl Schultz has again collected a basket of top Cape shiraz for wine lovers to sample and pair with fine charcuterie, cheese, olives and bread.
For novices keen to explore the styles made from this rewarding grape, this is a great chance to taste a mix of the best.
Syrah or shiraz occupies just 10 percent of the South African vineyard area, but it’s one of our top red cultivars, with berry characteristics that vary from region to region, reflected in the wine. Its rise in popularity over the past 20 years has seen a parallel leap in quality with elegance, winning out over farmyard flavours.
The robust fare that will complement it offers similar evidence of the heights that some of our charcuterers, cheesemakers, bakers and olive producers have attained.
Some cellars, like host Hartenberg, will pour more than one shiraz. Those taking part include Boekenhoutskloof, Boschkloof, Cederberg, De Trafford, Eagles’ Nest, Fable, Fairview, Kleinood, Luddite, La Motte, Mullineux, Rijks, Rust en Vrede, Ryneke, Saronsberg, Simonsig, Stark Condé and Thelema.
Earlier this week I sampled two of the line-up that must rate as among the finest in the Cape.
The Franschhoek cellar of Boekenhoutskloof has a long-established reputation for a small range of superb wines.
Among these is its 2011 syrah, a benchmark shiraz that has been made from Wellington grapes for 16 years. This market leader combines elegance and purity with a fine balance of fruit, berry and pepper notes with subtle earthiness. It’s a joy to drink.
By comparison, Eagles’ Nest, established at the start of the century, is a lofty Constantia cellar that has attained equally prestigious heights in shiraz. The cool climate 2010 shiraz, which garnered five stars in the current Platter, among other awards, is beautifully crafted, silky and irresistible.
* Tickets are R180 and include all tastings. Book through www.webtickets.co.za. Call Hartenberg on 021 865 2541 or e-mail [email protected].
Weekend Argus