in the summer time when the harvest is fine!

Just look at these, Chenin Blanc grapes from the 1957 planting - one of the oldest vineyards in the Paardeberg!

This cask (above) is for Cornelia's own consumption. Every year Adi makes a wine especially for his wife.  This year, Chardonnay! (it must be love)

 Above and below, other casks furiously fermenting... 

Jasper and Meike (our German intern) loading the (in)famous Klappomp - unique to Kalmoesfontein and says Adi, "it makes other winemakers nervous"...

working weekends

On Saturday our financial manager Gerrie got out of his office chair, put on some shorts and left the aircon behind to come help harvest on Kalmoesfontein. He brought his cute kids to lend another two pairs of hands (we are all for child labour here in the Swartland).

Gerrie with Alexander and Lenae.

Cheer up buddy, one day you can also drink wine! 

The "karookop shiraz" was everywhere.

Jasper sustained some minor injuries, but nothing worth writing home blogging about.

Are you excited yet!?

Victoria Moore meets the next generation of winemakers at South African wine festival Swartland Revolution and concludes: 'When it comes to wine, nowhere in South Africa is as exciting as Swartland right now!'

Moore attended the Swartland Revolution in Riebeek in November last year and writes a very nice article for The Telegraph. 

Read the whole story here. 

A spiritual journey for SA wines

Matthew Jukes, considered by many to be the most influential wine writer in the UK, turns his attention to South African wine after confessing "Are you, like me, one of those people who doesn’t really get South African wine? ... Well, it is time to think again because this mindset is completely and utterly outdated. "


He visited the Cape winelands, and the Swartland, in June and give a very insightful report on the current and future state of SA wine industry.


As he explains: "There is a very strong identity building in South Africa right now surrounding what other countries term ‘Young Guns’.  Young Guns are, by way of explanation, not necessarily young people, but they have a fresh, international view, and often a wide skill-set, which is rare in the wine business.  They also happen to be the people with their names or brands on the label.  They usually operate out of smaller wineries, often having quit large corporate wine companies, and they almost always enjoy instant, mini-cult status on release of their own wines, assuming that they stack up.  South Africa hasn’t had many YGs until recently." 


He then goes on to claim:
"Adi Badenhorst’s departure from Rustenberg signalled a spiritual downsizing for ambitious dudes to do their own thing.  This is happening in droves and I would venture to say that this movement is very close to becoming the single most important defining factor when it comes to South Africa’s vinous image abroad."


He mentions more of our Swartland neighbours and fellow Revolutionaries, you know, Sadie, the Mullineuxs, Lammershoek and more. 


We would recommend you Read more here as the article is very well written and insightful.

He also rates our AA Badenhorst, Secateurs White, Swartland, 2010 17/20 4 stars 13.5%

"One of a trio of marvellous entry level wines, Adi’s white is a wickedly priced and spankingly attractive wine.  With Chenin Blanc core it loads more complexity than any other rival at this price.  Watch out for a 2010 red and 2011 rosé coming soon.  Drink now – 2012 £9.95 Swig"

Friendly Family Farm wedding

Last weekend we hosted a big family (ours, the bride Rouxlene is Cornelia's cousin, sister to "the cousin who does the PR and marketing") wedding on Kalmoesfontein. Although the wind blew us (and the bride's veil) away during the ceremony and into the night it was a very cosy, love filled, fun affair. 

 "The Chapel" in front of the cellar. 

 "The cousin who does the PR and marketing, plans weddings and plays bridesmaid" with the proud father and blushing bride and 9 of the 10 blond kids who preceded them down the isle. Samuel and Ana also made the cut along with their cousins Richard, Jan-Hendrik and Hardy (who is the missing 1).

 The makeshift wind shelter - Swartland style. 

 The first dance.

Ouma Joey, the only grandparent in attendance, made all of the flags from old telephone books, to fit with the recycled, eco-friendly theme. 

 Simple, not so windproof, table settings of white and glass. 

 Every seat had a unique quote on love and marriage (in the glasses cause the original plan was even less windproof) 

The dance floor might have just been the parking lot in front of Adi's office, but that didn't stop the guests (everyone, from the vet bride's farming friends to the professional MMA fighter groom's cage fighting buddies) from busting a move and dancing into the night. We think we have Secateurs (and Oom Jan's Paradyskloof wines) to thank for that. Remember the Secateurs warrior!?

We hope Rouxlene and Paul will have a long and loving life together and we thank them for sharing their special day with us.

Photography: Maree Louw (Natural light Photography - click for more images) 
Make Up & Hair: Marti Bester (marti.bester@gmail.com / 0724594154)
Dress: Zani Lombard (0799269833)
Bouquet & wreaths: Cousin Marica Louw (marica@houseofarums.co.za / 0832655216)
Set up & decor: sister Helena Sheridan & cousin Cornelia Badenhorst (De Liefde)
Venue: Kalmoesfontein

When we revolted...

Pictures from the 2011 Swartland Revolution. We know we are a tad late, but it took us a while to recover, and then we wanted to wait for the full selection of pictures from 'neighbour' (it's a long bumpy drive to the Porseleinberg, but we still consider Callie & Maree neighbours) and photographer Maree, cause you know, we like to be a little different.

So here is our alternative choices of images from a revolution. If you missed it you missed out!

Oh goody (bag)!

Quality first - Olivier Clape

Revolutionary BBQ (by Reuben Riffel) at Bazaar. 

 entertainment from Die Baardskeerdersbos Orkes! 'dis n lekker ou jan...'

                                                                                      Adi's soap box from where he told many charming lame jokes while moderating the Expert Opinions tasting.

 lunch at bar bar black sheep!

Jasper receiving our official Swartland Independent decanter from Eben Sadie just before the street party!

Till next year!

The 2012 Swartland Revolution will take place on 9 & 10 November. Ticket sales will open in March 2012, start saving... Read more here / or follow the revolution on twitter / or like it on the book of faces.

More pictures from our first open day.

"We few, we happy few." - Shakespeare's Henry V


Here are some pictures of the lucky guests who got tickets in time for our first ever open day on Kalmoesfontein. Lunch is served!