Much like the outdated notion of red wine with red meat and white with fish or chicken, you definitely do not have to sip a sticky sweet wine with desserts.
Something lighter and fresher is much better to combat something already sugary.
If you need further proof of this, I recommend you go to Eikendal for its new cheesecake and wine pairing. It could be the revelation you are looking for.
The wines and squares of cake are presented on a wooden board with fresh sliced fruit, and accompanied by tasting notes.
First up is the sauvignon blanc with a tart lemon cheesecake, and you don’t need to know much about the characteristics of this varietal to understand the logic behind this combination.
The sauvignon blanc/chardonnay blend goes with a berry cheesecake in the middle, but the pièce de résistance is the final pairing - the estate’s award-winning Janina unwooded chardonnay with salted caramel cheesecake.
Not only is it a successful pairing but each of the elements is spectacular on its own. I haven’t stopped dreaming about that cake and it’s been a few weeks now.
The pairing costs R80 a person and is available until April next year, Tuesdays to Sundays between 10am and 4.30pm.
For more information or to book, call Chantal-Lee on 0218551422 or e-mail [email protected]
Eikendal is on the R44 in Stellenbosch, and offers a host of other activities - wine tasting (which includes a tasting of the estate’s exclusive Icon range), a cookie tasting for the young ones, cellar tours, fly fishing, cheetah encounters (the cubs should have been born now), vineyard rides and a children’s play area. Cucina di Giovanni restaurant offers lunches and dinners and you can even spend the night at the Eikendal Lodge.