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.

The juniors in the cellar

Samuel Sunnyskies and Ana Kalander Badenhorst were seen in the cellar this weekend, trying their hands at wine making. By the looks of it Dad will have to give a few more tips... but you have got to start somewhere...

 Step one: check that the tank is safe for your little sister to climb in.

Step two: help your little sister into the tank

Adi's upcoming gigs...

"Luke Dale-Roberts. Adi Badenhorst. Eben Sadie. If food was music, that’s like getting Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis on stage together to cover your favourite song." says local food blogger Jamie Who on his blog. 


In the spirit of food and music, I bring you Adi's upcoming gigs:


Adi will be paying a visit to the Cape Quaffers social wine tasting club who meets monthly in Claremont on Thursday 19 May. 
Find out more about the group here.


Our wines will be tasted at the Old Cape Wine Shop Imhoff Farm on Saturday May 21st... Put that date in your diaries and come check in!
The Wine shop on Imhoff farm is just opposite Ocean View drive on the M65 near Kommetjie. (directions)


Come enjoy a 5-course meal paired with our wines at Bosman's at the Grande Roche on Friday 27 May... Canapés on arrival, a five-course dinner carefully paired with our wines, coffee and petit fours all in the charming company of Mr Badenhorst himself.
Click here for more info!


And then, the big one that everyone is getting excited about and that inspired Jamie Who to compare Adi, Eben and Luke to musical legends - for 6 weeks, starting June 15th Adi and Eben Sadie will join chef Luke Dale-Roberts at The Test Kitchen  to play with ingredients and combinations to produce a menu that will be unlike anything else on offer in Cape Town (what Jamie said...) 
Read more here.


Hope to see you at one of these... 

Hats off to a new Côte

The Yorkshire Post has published a lovely article on the Swartland. With focus on last year's revolution - and particularly the tasting by Stephane Ogier of the Northern Rhone, Christine Austin tells the story of a wine region that is fast becoming world class.


"The reason for Stéphane’s presence in South Africa that day is because Swartland shares many of the characteristics that create some of the Rhône’s finest wines. The soil is complex with granite, clay, slate and river shale creating individual pockets for different varieties; the climate is hot during the day but a cooling breeze spreads over the region in the afternoon; and there is enough distance between the Swartland and the manicured vineyards of Stellenbosch to feel that this is the pioneering, Wild West of wine growing."


She also focusses on Eben and Adi's journeys to the Swartland and rates some of their wines, including our "fresh-tasting complex, pepper and aniseed Badenhorst Family Red 2007, which is on its way to becoming one of South Africa’s great wines."

Read the full article here.