A look into the cellar (and the office)

Thanks to Real World TV and Bar Bar Black Sheep for this video of Adi. Take a look inside the cellar and into the office on Kalmoesfontein. Where the magic happens...

video (c) Real World TV

Bold reds and lush sweet whites

A brilliant (read flattering) article in the UK's Daily Mail on the Swartland wine region. Olly Smith writes that "Many of (these) young stars cut their teeth in big-name wineries before striking out on their own, and with a progressive approach to social media (I like to think that he is referring to my work on this blog and for the Swartland Revolution;) and an emphasis on fun, theirs is an example other wine regions could learn from."

He also talks about our Family Red Blend:
An outstanding red blend is AA Badenhorst Family Red 2007 (£29.95 at Harrods)  -  bold, harmonious and spicy, and an impressively restrained 13.5 per cent. Its creator Adi Badenhorst has an enviable bounce that's more than matched by his winemaking skill. 


And I love this quote by Marc Kent:

'Bank robbers rob banks, because that's where the money is; we're getting more involved in the Swartland, because that's where the quality is!'

Read more here!

Pressing time

This post is a tribute to the small, hard working and loyal team that helps us make amazing wines on Kalmoesfontein! 


The team consists of Adi's assistant wine maker Jasper Wickens, Elena Kotzev a Viticulture student from Alsace, France who has been doing an "internship" and helping out during the harvest and season of 2011, farm workers Fortuin (a Swartland local) and Zimbabwean Trust! Also special mention to Pierre Rossouw, neighbour and grape farmer.

 Fortuin, Elena and Trust, not scared to get their hands dirty!

 Jasper in the thick of things...

 Trust and Fortuin keeping a close eye!

 Elena getting stuck in there (not literally, she got out again...)

Adi and Jasper hard at work (with all that view!)

Oom Pieter, Adi and Jasper discussing something important (The stormers?)

Thanks guys (and girl, Merci beaucoup) your hard work and dedication is immeasurable to our success! 

Heating up in the Kitchen

We stumbles upon some more quality feedback for the "Eben, Adi and Luke Show' a 13 course menu paired with wines from our cellar and neighbour Eben Sadie. This is all happening at The Test Kitchen in Woodstock where chef Luke Dale Roberts prepares a feast for the senses.

Says Richard Holmes on iafrica:

"But let’s talk about that price. Yes, R850 for dinner is a lot of money. But when you consider that includes 11 to 13 courses, suddenly the value-for-money starts to outweigh the chunk of change. Throw in expensive ingredients like truffle and salmon, and it’s looking better. Oh yes, did I mention there’s wine carefully paired with each course? Now it seems a lot more affordable.

And those wines are nothing run-of-the-mill… they come from two of the Swartland’s most adventurous, and respected, winemakers; Adi Badenhorst and Eben Sadie. Limited release wines, often from their own private cellars, seeing the light of day for the first time."

So without further ado this winter; roll up, roll up ladies and gentlemen. Charge your glasses (and your credit cards) for the The Fantastic Eben, Adi and Luke Show!

For bookings or further information, visit www.thetestkitchen.co.za or call 021 447 2337. You can also follow Luke on Twitter: @ldrchef. The Test Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. The 11-13 course menu includes wines is priced at R850 per person. Prior booking is essential.

read the whole article here: http://food.iafrica.com/dining/735143.html

Test Kitchen - the Luke, Eben and Adi show

The much talked about Luke, Eben and Adi show has kicked off at The Test Kitchen in Woodstock. We blogged about this before  and have now started to pick up some feedback from people who have enjoyed the experience.


Flavour Cape notes a few noteworthy pairings from the 7 course meal (carefully prepared food to match the wines by Eben Sadie and Adi Badenhorst.)


Amongst her favourites is this:
The AA Badenhorst ‘Accepted white’ 2009, a blend of 10 different Paardeberg vineyards and 10 different varietals. From Luke: salmon tataki, halva, yuzu dressing, foie gras butter, Korean tartare. Simple salty and sweet elements bravely combined. As Adi summed it up best: “When you have food as complex as this, there are so many more meeting points.”


Read the article here! 

OesAf party(berg)

Only stumbled upon this post about our OesAf festival today. The Foodie remembers being there, enjoying great wines and even better (possible?) braai broodjies.
He tackled a dog. 
Caught Jasper in some funky "jhorts" (jean shorts)

And "hugged Kingsley Holgate" :)

Partyberg in-deed... 
Read about his adventure here: http://thefoodie.co.za/uncategorized/the-paardeberg-the-partyberg/

Swartland All Stars!

Anton Espost - owner of The Wine Kollective in Riebeek Kasteel's Short Street Square is also a keen writer and has recently published "Swartland Grapeheart 2011'.


We love:
1. The tattoo inspired All Stars cover.

2.   The clever quirky diagrams we found in there:
2.1 The Swartland Brain:

2.2 The Wine Regions of SA:

2.3 And the percentage of Landcruisers with designer dogs:

The Wine Kollective was started with the brilliant idea:

Start your own shop, call it 'The Wine Kollective', convince the best wineries to join the cause and viola!'

The Blue Building
Short Street
Riebeek Kasteel
t. 022 448-1008
e. espost@telkomsa.net 


Free tastings on weekends!!

WINE of the week

Our NV wine, simply labelled "Wine" is Alex Redfern's wine of the week. I love it when a plan comes together. 

He writes: "whilst I recommend trying all of the wines, the NV Solera is the most interesting!"


Read the whole post on the site http://www.alexredfern.com/index.php/wine-of-the-week

Swartland Revolution 2011 - final programme!

With the raging success of the inaugural Swartland Revolution organisers have made 250 tickets available for this year’s Revolution that will take place on the weekend of 11 – 12 November 2011.

With guest feedback that included praise such as “the best wine event that I have ever attended”; “like Woodstock... but without the sex”; “world class performance” and “a revolution against boring wines, against boring events; this was a revolt against the plain and the sad, the straight and the narrow; it was simply a benchmarking of joie de vivre” most of last year’s attendees have already booked their place at this year’s event.

The programme for 2011 has just been finalised and is bigger (and even better) than in 2010;

Three tastings of benchmark wines:

- Eight wines from the local Mullineux Cellar;

- Olivier Clape presenting six of his wines from The Northern Rhone in France

- and nine wines, all personal favourites selected by London based wine writer Jamie Goode, ze German Sommelier Jorg Pfutzner and local kenner Michael Fridjhon.

The food will again be “simply superb” as noted by 2010 revolutionary:

- Celeb chef Reuben Riffel and his team are ready to braai up a storm once more. If last year’s BBQ was any indication we can expect mountains of perfectly prepared meat, salads to stun and fire grilled veggies that will impress even the most hard core carnivores.

- For Saturday lunch the team at Bar Bar Black Sheep will again prepare a truly local feast to mesmerise guests.

The event will conclude with The Swartland Independent Street Party. At R50 per person this tasting is more accessible and open to the public. With local producers showcasing their natural wines it will attract a whole new crowd as we take over the Riebeek Main Street and party into the sunset.

Tickets sold via Webtickets.