Sax ‘n’ Berg at the Vineyard

SAXENBURG WINE ESTATE Monday 7 August 2017 http://saxenburg.co.za/ https://www.vineyard.co.za/ Experience: 4/5 Wines: 4/5 It has been a while since I have been to the Vineyard Hotel, Newlands, for a Monday evening wine tasting. Tonight, it was the turn of Saxenburg to showcase 4 of their wines. I introduced myself to Paula, their representative, as she …

Tastings for August

These are the fun meetings that are coming up over the next few months. We meet monthly on Thursday evenings in Wynberg at 7.00 for 7.30pm. Eight wines are showcased at each meeting. You will receive an information folder and there is a cheeseboard after. The R300 per person fee covers costs. You also have the …

Fun(ny) Times at Lourensford

LOURENSFORD WINE ESTATE Thursday 6 July 2017 https://lourensford.co.za/ Experience: 4/5 Wines: 4/5 It was more than a year ago when I last visited Lourensford and that was not for wine tasting. I was there for Mountain Rescue search dog training. I remember lying in dense grass on slopes above the vineyards waiting to be found …

It’s High Time Again

HIGH CONSTANTIA WINE CELLAR Wednesday 5 July 2017 http://highconstantia.co.za/ Experience: 4/5 Wines: 4/5 I have always wanted to bring my partner to High Constantia since I first visited in February. There are few wine farms or estates I have returned to yet, preferring to explore anew. There’s so much choice in the Western Cape. When …

Purring at the Wines in Tyger Valley

TASTE OF TYGER VALLEY WINE FESTIVAL 30 June 2017 https://www.tygervalley.co.za/ Experience: 4/5 Wines: 3.5/5 Tyger Valley Centre was a bold and unusual place in which to hold a wine festival (R150 entry fee). I hadn’t been shopping here before, parked at the end opposite the Arena, and soon realised just how large the Mall is. It …

Quality Abounds on the Mound at La Motte

LA MOTTE WINE ESTATE 22 June 2017 https://www.la-motte.com/ Experience: 4/5 Wines: 4/5 Franschhoek vineyards have long been under-represented in my tastings. I was very much reminded me of so as I passed signs to big named wineries such as Babylonstoren, Rupert and Rothschild, Vrede en Lust, Allée Bleue, Solms-Delta, Anthonij Rupert, La Chataigne and Le …

A Myth, a Princess, History and Destruction, 2 Names and 4 Styles – Shiraz with Pizzazz

SHIRAZ EXPERIENCE AT LA MOTTE ESTATE 22 June 2017 https://www.la-motte.com/ Experience: 4.5/5 Wines: 4.5/5 It is always a pleasure to taste a single cultivar wine from many winemakers on one occasion. I much enjoyed the Pinotage and Biltong Festival at L’Avenir Estate and the Cabernet Franc Carnival at Avontuur Estate. Today gave me the opportunity …

Maiden Visit to Lord’s Bowled Me Over

LORD’S WINERY 3 June 2017 http://www.lordswinery.com/ http://www.wackywineweekend.com/ Experience: 4.5/5 Wines: 4/5 I planned to visit the McGregor vineyards during my Wacky Wine Weekend Saturday, having stayed in McGregor for the festival. I reckoned too that the area might be a little less busy than in and around the Robertson wine farms over the busy weekend …

Dis-gorgeous at Weltevrede

WELTEVREDE ESTATE 2 June 2017 http://www.weltevrede.com/ http://www.wackywineweekend.com/ Experience: 3.5/5 Wines: 3/5 The Wacky Wine Weekend vineyards closed for tasting at 5pm and so it was a rush to get to Weltevrede Estate from Quando Vineyards & Winery. The journey was less than 10 kilometres back across the Breede Rive via Bonnievale and should not have …