The Stellenbosch Wine Festival

If you didn’t hear any of the hype leading up to the Stellenbosch Wine Festival then you should seriously consider that you are moving in the wrong circles. This festival is the oldest and biggest running country food and wine festival in the Cape, this weekend (28-31^st July) being the 10^th Annual festival.  The festival showcases over 500 wines from the surrounding farms, including sparkling wines, and is incredibly popular – so book tickets early! The Wine Festival has its own gravitational pull, as though it were a compulsory class every student enrolled at Stellenbosch University could be found on the fields of the Paul Roos Centre sampling glass after glass of premier wine.

The most popular by far was the JC le Roux stall, which had a constant horde of eager tasters bustling in front of it, threatening to deplete their stocks. A new addition to the festival this year was the MCC lounge which featured the most elite selection of bubbly; where one tasting coupon would get you a taste of wine, four would get you a lick of this delicacy and it would be well worth it. If you are a wine fundi you would consider yourself in your element with over 500 wines to choose from and all without much travel. There was some food being showcased – sushi, cured meats, and chocolates – however the Spur temporary tent had a snaking line of 200 meters.

Thankfully the festival planners put a limit on the amount of tickets sold; after being open for about two hours the festival grounds were already crowded and difficult to move through and the centre itself a noisy, bustling mass, making  queuing and tasting itself a bit of an arduous task. However, if these big crowds aren’t for you Sunday is considered the Family Day which I would imagine would be quieter – the masses will be recovering from Saturday.

For more info visit http://www.stellenboschwinefestival.co.za/ , the Stellenbosch Wine Festival 2012 is booked for the 2-5^th August 2012.

Cellars, canons and cocktails at Ke-monate

Ke-monate, which means “that’s nice!” in Sotho, is the Home of Signal Wines, aptly named as several restored canons surround the perimeter looking regal and somewhat out of place. That’s if, of course, you don’t know their history. The signal gun which stands guard at the entrance of Ke-monate on Hooggelegen Farm has sounded out for 300 years as part of the signal chain of the Dutch East India Company.  Although there is no need to call to arms the Burgher Militia to defend the cape quite so often anymore, so it signals that all is well at Ke-monate on the first Saturday of every month and like Pavlov’s cat, your palate becomes inexplicably dry and you are craving the taste of Signal Wines.

The restaurant, wherein you will find the wine bar and bistro, is an old renovated farm house and was recently opened last year October (2010). It is here that I came when I was signalled. The cocktail menu has an armoury of options, all the regulars are there (martini, cosmo, pina colada, margarita, mojito, fruit daiquiri, long island) at a reasonable price of between R26 and R44. Also on the menu is Ke-monate’s secret weapon, their house cocktail, the Signal Gun Martini (R34) which features their Signal Gun Sauvignon Blanc. Something unusual that I found was the White Chocolate cosmo, sounds delectable and I bet it looks explosive. There is also a small battalion of shooters, and you should recognise the ever classy Sowetan Toilet and the patriotic Springbokkie. Interesting enough this is not the only ‘springbokkie’ you will spot at Ke-monate and I don’t mean on the menu – game such as eland, springbok, and zebra roam freely on the Hooggelegen farm.

Wine tasting takes place down a skinny, winding, nightmare-originating staircase that leads into the dark cellars below. At R15 to taste any 6 Durbanville boutique wines, I think this place is a steal. The restaurant has an excellent selection on their Tapas menu, I can recommend the chicken springrolls – like little crispy fingers of deliciousness! Also a nice touch from the kitchen is you can pre-order a picnic to enjoy on their lawns and take in the view while a stray springbok nibbles on the basket handle… As if Ke-monate didn’t have enough unique quirks, every full moon you can enjoy sundowners and a special menu.

See more on Ke-monate at www.ke-monate.co.za or call 021 976 7343. Ke-monate is located just outside of Durbanville off Vissershok Road.

Annual Bastille Day festival in Franschhoek

This was my first experience of Bastille Day celebrations, a festival that happens every year, a blur of colour and activity. The French Huguenots were drawn to Franschhoek in pursuit of freedom, and today scores of people are drawn to the beautiful town to celebrate just that in all its glory. Red, white and blue ribbons lead the whole way there, draped on the entrances of every farm and the town itself was a network of ribbons and banners. Berets were sold on every street and most revellers were sporting high French fashion in keeping with the theme, including moi! If you got there early enough you witnessed the memorable ‘Waiters’ Race’ where a representative barrister of each restaurant speedwalked or waddled his way from one side of the main road and back again with three bottles of wine precariously balanced on his unsteady tray, to much laughter and appreciation of the gathered crowd. The barrel-rolling race, and the Franschhoek minstrel parade, as well as the traditional boules contest all draw large inquisitive crowds– all in support of the SPCA.

The Station Pub, a monument of Franschhoek’s own history, hosted one of the Bastille Day after-parties, one of the many events in the festival program. The main attraction is the Food & Wine Marquee which offers tastings of many of the surrounding wine estates wares and top-notch chefs’ dishes – the catch is they vastly underestimated the popularity of the festival and only 200 tickets were issued and sold out days before the weekend of the festival. Judging by the seemingly infinite queue of cars waiting to enter the bursting streets of Franschhoek, there must have been thousands of disappointed people at the entrance of the Marquee. The French Corner Market would have to do for all those who couldn’t get a Marquee ticket, a concession – even so it offers some fine French and home cuisine as well as cheeses, chocolates, nougats, and other confectionary to taste and purchase. 

The great thing about Franschhoek is there is always a beautiful view three-hundred-and-sixty degrees around you, a monument and historical buildings to visit, and every sort of restaurant and boutique to wander in and out of – so no matter what the occasion a trip there is always rewarding. A tip for next year’s Bastille Day is book early for the Food & Wine Marquee and arrive early! Watch this spot the next time the festival comes round: http://www.franschhoek.org.za/events/franschhoek_bastille_festival_2011

The House of Fun

The House of JC le Roux, the place my taste-buds now call home, offers a sensory experience that will linger on your tongue for months to come.  The divine match-making of homemade nougat and bubbly that happened in my mouth changed my perception of how champagne should be enjoyed forever more.  Strawberries and champagne – MOVE OVER! It’s time to expose yourself to the 8^th wonder of the world, and JC le Roux have it in bottles. The champagne and nougat tasting covers 5 of their champagnes, each expertly matched with nougat, fudge, Turkish delight or dark chocolate by a superhumanly distinguished taste master or mistress. 

In fact the entire experience will be a sensory bonanza! Your eyes will scarcely be able to leave the sweeping rows of grape vines and the blue mountains of the surrounding Stellenbosch area, your nose will define each beautifully crafted champagne awaiting your lips, and your taste-buds will simply have a field day!  Not to mention the colourful and trendy design of the interior of the House of le Roux – you will count yourself ‘hip’ just crossing the threshold; just don’t let it all go to your head. Let me break it down for you: you will be presented with 5 sparkling wines (one must be sensitive to copyright laws) and 5 different types of nougat or other delight paired for your enjoyment.  A dashing young lad will guide you through the process and make sure you don’t ‘bugger up the order’ – don’t worry, he doesn’t stand there the whole time making you feel awkward as the Turkish delight’s icing sugar coats your chin in white! The helpings are generous, in both bubbly and sweet things – and when you stagger unbalanced from your seat to the large glass exit, before you’ve even stepped foot out the door you know you’ll be back.

Depending on where you live this adventure is more than likely going to be quite a drive so make it a day-affair and visit Stellenbosch while you’re at it. Also make sure to book, as you can imagine it is hot stuff and everybody is doing it! During the week, for you lucky ones who don’t work, you may not need to book.  Visit the JC le Roux site if you don’t believe me at www.jcleroux.co.za and book by calling 021 865 8200.