Fijnwyn Innie Lente
Shokran Events Venue, Pretoria, 24-25 September 2016
+ TICKETS TO WIN!
Fijnwyn puts on its spring finery this Heritage weekend at the Shokran events venue in Pretoria. As always you’ll be able to taste wines from loads of top Cape estates – 40 of them to be precise. It’s not often you have the opportunity to taste wines spanning the entire Western Cape wine region, from the hot arid Klein Karoo to cool Walker Bay. If you fancy yourself a bit of a terroir fundi, this is your chance to impress your mates.
Or you can just pitch to have a jolly good time with friends and family. Hermanupietersfontein, Raka, Vrede & Lust, Almenkerk, Deetlefs, Remhoogte and Muratie are but a few of the estates you can look forward to getting to know better.
As always there will be fab eats with loads of food stalls to pick from. You can also pre-book a picnic box online. There will be fun activities to keep the wee ones occupied, and for you live music of course. On Saturday Rob Marx, Fighting Monday, Kristen Jade and Altus Theart will be there. On Sunday Christiaan Baartman, Marno van der Merwe and Loriska join the lineup.
Gates open at 10am and close at 6pm. Tickets cost R150 per adult and include a glass and the tasting. Limited tickets will be available at the gate, so rather buy them online beforehand at iTickets. Kids 12-18 enter for R50 and under 12 go in free.
WIN TWO TICKETS! That’s right, I have two Fijnwyn tickets to give away to one lucky winner. Someone must win and it could be you! To enter, simply visit my Facebook page and follow the instructions there or drop me an e-mail at lizet@melkkos-merlot with your name and phone number.
Nederburg Heritage Heroes collection: The Beautiful Lady Gewürtztraminer.
Take a trip down memory lane with Nederburg this Heritage Day
The Red Table restaurant, 24 September 2016
The Red Table restaurant in the manor house of historic estate, Nederburg, on the outskirts of Paarl is another choice destination this Heritage Day.
Treat yourself to a refreshing glass of Nederburg Cuvée Brut on arrival, while snacking on farm-fresh flat bread and artisanal cheeses, olives, basil pesto, cream cheese and sundried tomatoes. The main meal guarantees to delight with chimichuri beef rump, venison sausage, wild Atlantic prawns prepared with garlic and lemon butter, spicy chicken wings, summer vegetables and triple-baked potatoes. The finale will be a selection of rich and delectable mini desserts.
Select a wine from Nederburg’s award-winning Heritage Heroes collection to complement your meal. This exclusive range was created by Razvan Macici, cellar-master of Nederburg from 2001 until 2015, to honour some of the visionaries who have shaped Nederburg and its history as one of South Africa’s most awarded wineries.
There’s The Anchorman, a wooded Chenin blanc that commemorates Nederburg’s founder, Philippus Wolvaart, who bought the farm in 1791 and planted Chenin Blanc, amongst other varietals. The Brew Master, a Bordeaux-style red blend, honours Johann Graue, a pioneering winemaker who was amongst the earliest to recognise that vineyard quality dictates wine quality. The Beautiful Lady, an aromatic Gewürztraminer, recalls Johann Graue’s wife Ilse, who brought grace, hospitality and a beautiful rose garden to Nederburg.
The Motorcycle Marvel Rhône-style blend pays tribute to the winemaker Günter Brözel, who was cellar-master at Nederburg from 1956 to 1989. (The final wine in the collection, The Young Airhawk, a wooded Sauvignon Blanc, is sadly sold out and will not be available on Heritage Day.)
Heritage Day at Nederburg costs R350 per adult, and R150 per child younger than 13. The cost excludes beverages and service charge. The event starts at 12:00. Call 021 877 5155 to book, or send an e-mail to theredtable@nederburg.co.za.
Franschhoek Uncorked fun
Anthonij Rupert Estate, 24-25 September 2016
The annual Franschhoek Uncorked Festival takes place on the beautiful Anthonij Rupert Estate the weekend of 24 and 25 September. As always you’ll be able to indulge at their all-day Oyster Bar. Pair these gems of the ocean with L’Ormarins Cap Classique wines. Sample the latest vintages from their pocket-friendly and eye catching Protea range, which now includes a ‘perfect for summer’ Pinot Grigio. Keep hunger at bay with the delicious smokey Angus BBQ Brisket sandwiches served with a homemade mustard aioli.
Refreshing summer inspired cocktails, Litchi Eau de Vie sorbet, live music and festival-exclusive wine specials complete what promises to be a perfect day out in the winelands.
Avoid the queues and pre-book your Uncorked Weekend Pass through Webtickets. Tickets cost R140 per person and allow you access to all of the participating wine farms as well as a complimentary tasting glass and free wine tastings. For more info visit www.franschhoekuncorked.co.za
About this article: I only write about places and things I actually really like. Should I receive complimentary meals/tickets/diamonds, this will always be revealed. I’m not in the rubbishing business, so if something is not my cup of tea, I’ll simply not write about it (but I’ll keep the diamonds). Therefore this is not so much a review, as a personal recommendation of places and things I like.
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