Posted by {Whale Cottage Camps Bay} on October 3rd, 2007. Categories: {Food & Wine}
The wine bible John Platter Wine Guide will publish its 2008 edition in November, but has given a sneak preview of its five- star wine list.
The twenty-one highly sought after five-star wines include five ports, of which two are the Boplaas 2005 Vintage Reserve and NV Cape Tawny. Cape Point Vineyards (Woolworths) Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2007 as well as two further Cape Point Vineyards wines, Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2005, and De Trafford Shiraz 2005 are also on the five-star list.
For the first time, Platter will pick a Winery of the Year, reports Bolander.
The Diner’s Club International Wine awards have been announced, and the Western Cape won by far the most awards in the annual competition. Judging criteria included pricing, food and wine matching, the range of varietals, corkage policy, wine-by-the-glass availability, description of the wines, and legibility of the winelist. Award Convenor Michael Olivier observed that restaurants are sourcing a greater number of unusual wines, including organic and garagiste wines, reports the Cape Times. He also found that waiters are becoming better trained and that the quality of wine glassware has improved. The ‘Award of Excellence’ winners are 96 Winery Road, Au Jardin, Aubergine, Azure, Belthazar, Bosman’s, Bushman’s Kloof, Cape Colony, Catharina’s, De Oude Welgemoed, De Volkskombuis, Diaz Strand Hotel, Cellars Hohenhort Hotel, Harvey’s at the Mansions, JJ’s, La Colombe, Marc’s Mediterranean Cuisine and Garden, onewaterfront, Plettenberg Hotel, Poplars, Riboville, Rodwell House, Smokey Swallows, Vault Wine Cellar and Restaurant, Villa Belmonte and Zachary’s.
Bosman’s restaurant at the Grand Roche hotel in Paarl has won the American Express Platinum Fine Dining Restaurant Award.
Hamilton Russell wines from the Hemel and Aarde valley in Hermanus were served in Monaco when Prince Albert hosted Nelson Mandela at the fundraiser ‘United for a Better World’ earlier this month. The Hamilton Russell Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are sold at El Bulli and The Fat Duck, the two best restaurants in the world. The Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir won the Wine Spectator Critics’ Choice award last month, reports The Times.
Jancis Robinson, well-known UK wine personality, wrote a very complimentary article about her visit to Franschhoek in May, when she was a speaker at the first Franschhoek Literary Festival. In her Financial Times article, reprinted in the Franschhoek Tatler, Robinson described Franschhoek as “so damned beautiful that only the most blinkered, tiresomely obsessive wine lover could go there and ignore the scenery”. In the article she praises South African white wines in general, describing them as “some of the world’s great wine bargains”, and also states that “more and more exciting reds are made every year.” Robinson writes in sparkling terms about the leading Franschhoek wine estates Boekenhoutskloof, Chamonix, L’Omarins and Solms Delta.
Earlier this month, Franschhoek held its first Franschhoek Uncorked wine festival, encouraging winelovers to visit the 25 participating wine estates. The weather gods were unkind to the weekend event, and too little marketing impacted on attendance. However, the Festival is set to become a popular event in future. Each estate served food at very reasonable prices, e.g. prawns at Glenwood, a Reubens braai at Boekenhoutskloof, curry at Rickety Bridge, crepes at Plaisir de Merle, sushi at Chamonix, tapas at Lynx and cheeses at Dieu Donne. The second Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival takes place on 1 and 2 December.
A Whitehouse & Associates wine consultant has advised South Africa to focus on the lucrative African market. Chile already is successfully targeting Africa as one if its markets. South African wines are generally well received in Africa. Wines of South Africa research has shown that Angola and Nigeria are two important African markets. South African payment terms and promotional support hamper the success of South Africa’s performance on the continent, the research concluded, reports Business Report.
Thirty double gold awards were presented at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards this month, trophies being awarded to Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage 2003, La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Organic Trophy), Leon Engelke’s Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Garagiste Trophy) and Southern Cape Barry Nephews Potstill Brandy 2003. Hartenberg The Stork Shiraz 2003 won the Grand Prix Trophy.
Wamakersvallei Winery in Wellington has won the 2007 SA Young Wine Awards for its Pinotage.
