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There is excitement in
the Stellenbosch air
with harvest time upon
us! This year winemakers
will crush the 353nd
grape harvest in South
African wine history,
making South Africa the
oldest New World wine
making country in the
world.
On the 2nd of February
1659 the first wine was
produced from Cape
grapes. According to
documentation found, the
grapes were in all
probability Muscadel,
and they only produced
15 litres. Jan van
Riebeeck wrote in his
diary: “Today, praise be
to God, wine was pressed
for the first time from
Cape grapes.”
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When exactly a winery
starts harvesting
depends mostly on the
varietals they grow, as
well as the style of
wine they are planning
to make. It is best to
pick the grapes early in
the morning, when it is
cooler, to preserve all
the flavour compounds
and some wineries even
harvest at night, to
ensure the grapes are
not picked in the summer
heat. Winemakers decide
when the grapes are
ready for picking by
measuring the sugar
content, as well as the
natural fruit acid
content in the berries,
interestingly enough a
wine grape contains far
more sugar than a table
grape, as a wine grape
consists of about 25%
sugar, which is measured
in degrees Balling. |
Hannes Meyer
(White Wine Maker), Debbie Thompson (Red
Wine Maker) and Johan Malan (Owner and Cellar
Master) |
Luckily not all the
different grapes ripen
at the same time, giving
winemakers and
viticulturists time to
process the grapes they
picked. In the
Stellenbosch area,
Simonsig was one of the
first wineries to
christen the 2012
vintage. Cellarmaster
Johan Malan is
exceptionally pleased
with the quality of the
grapes this year even
after the extreme heat
experienced during
mid-January caused the
grapes to ripen faster
than usual. "The season
looks very promising as
a result of the mild to
cool weather conditions
that prevailed since the
vines budded in
September. The current
warm weather is not
unusual for this time of
the year, but February
is known for its high
temperatures. The heat
can cause sunburn on the
grapes, but by
irrigating the vines
wisely this can be
prevented, “ says Johan. |
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On that note – it is
possible to make your
own wine on Saturday
3 March!
Topaz Wines invite you
to make your own red
wine with Clive Torr.
Torr is an international
wine expert and one of
South Africa's most
renowned garagistes. The
day costs R1200 per
person and is taking
place at Delvera in
Stellenbosch.
For more
information, phone Tanja
on 082 323 4336. |
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Since the launch of
20 Stellenbosch,
the streets of
Stellenbosch have been
on everybody’s lips.
There are few towns in
the country which are so
suited to the display of
public art, and for this
reason, we have started
bi-weekly
Stellenbosch Street
Soirees.
On
Wednesday 8 February,
from 17:00-19:30, we
will be closing the
lower part of Church
Street. Join us for wine tastings, live music,
local restaurants and a
great vibe!
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If you want this year’s
Valentine’s Day to be an
unforgettable
experience, venture out
to the heart of the Cape Winelands, where you
will be spoilt for
choice between fine
dining establishments,
deli-style eateries,
bistros, braai
restaurants and picnic
destinations.
Whether
you choose to explore
the beautiful
architecture of this
historic Town of Oaks on
foot, browse through the
myriad of art galleries
and craft shops or
simply share an intimate
lunch and glass of wine
at one of the characterful street
café’s, Stellenbosch is
the perfect backdrop for
an unforgettable
experience.
Nature lovers can make
the most of a sultry
summer Valentine’s Day
and enjoy the bounty of
Mother Nature with a
kaleidoscope of outdoor
adventures such as bird
watching, horse riding,
game drives, cycling,
and hiking trails to
choose from.
For a
complete list of events
and specials, click
HERE. |
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On
Saturday, 25 February, Spier will host the
annual Spier Wine Harvest Festival – a
celebration to bless the grape harvest. The
lawns in front of Eight – Spier’s acclaimed
‘farm to table’ restaurant – will be transformed
into a wine wonderland. Adults can lounge under
the trees and enjoy great food and wine, while
children join in a host of interactive games.
Tickets for wine tasting are R70 and kids can
look forward to interactive games that include
grape stomping, tractor rides to the vineyards,
and face painting. For more info, visit
www.spier.co.za, or phone 021 809 1100. |
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Literary art meets wine
legends when we team up
with the 2012
Stellenbosch University
Woordfees (Festival
of the Word) for a
Word-and-Wine
Celebration at
participating wine
estates on its Greater
Simonsberg sub-route
from 9 till 11 March.
From Neil Ellis Wines
and Sandra Prinsloo to
Muratie and Kerneels
Breytenbach…on Friday, 9
March, South Africa’s
oldest and foremost wine
route will add a fresh
new chapter to this
popular arts festival by
sharing the country’s
best authors and icons
in the company of
esteemed cellars
situated along the foot
of the Simonsberg, with
literature fanatics.
This unique
Word-and-Wine programme
includes exclusive,
intimate encounters such
as a lunch at Morgenhof
Estate with
award-winning writer
Annelie Botes and an
inspirational wine-
and-dine date with
business mogul Jannie
Mouton at Uitkyk to talk
about his recently
published autobiography.
Delheim cellar gems will
share the spotlight with
the inimitable Riaan
Cruywagen while the
famous author-brothers,
Johan and Christiaan
Bakkes, will treat
enthusiasts to a
‘snoekbraai and
adventure story-telling’
at Kanonkop.
On Saturday, 10 March,
Muratie Estate hauls out
the barrels for a
harvest festival and
families and friends are
invited to bring their
picnic baskets and claim
their spot for a chilled
afternoon under the oaks
with live music by the
Kitchen Jammin Blues
Band, grape stomping and
estate wines on sale.
Entrance fee for the
band is R80 per adult.
Enthusiasts can also go
for an enlightening
stroll through the
vineyards to learn more
about the history of
this prominent estate
over a glass of fine
wine (R30 per head,
pre-bookings are
essential.)
This celebration of the
art of literature and
winemaking culminates
with a buzzing
Simonsberg Wine Route
Market Day at Delvera
on Sunday, 11
March 2012. Young
and old…bookworms or
not…can delight in a
fun-filled family day
blended with the finest
wines from the
Simonsberg area, country
food, craft stalls with
proudly local produce,
harvest activities and
horse rides. The younger
crowd will have barrels
of fun in the play
corner or enjoy go-cart
rides, the trampoline,
jungle gym and a Kids
Theater (12h00 at R40
per child).
Live performances by the
vibrant Stellenbosch
band, Manouche,
celebrated for their
foot-stomping,
hip-swinging jazz vibes,
will add rhythmic soul
to this Winelands
soiree. The Vine Hopper
will provide a shuttle
service to and from
Stellenbosch on the day.
The Simonsberg Wine
Route Market Day starts
at 10am and entry is
FREE. Tickets for the
individual
‘Word-and-Wine’ events
hosted at the various
estates are available at
Computicket. Seating is
limited at most of these
bespoke events, so be
sure to book early!
For more information,
click
HERE.
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Congratulations to
Jan Kruger from Somerset West, who won a
bootful of Stellenbosch wine in our Summer in
Stellenbosch Valley competition!
Jan entered
the competition while enjoying lunch at Middelvlei, and is very excited to share his
prize with friends and family! |
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Sandra Nel,
accountant at the
Stellenbosch
Agricultural Society, is
moving to New York, to
be closer to her
children. Sandra has
been the bookkeeper for
Stellenbosch Wine Routes
for many years, and we
will miss her dearly!
Farewell Sandra! |
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To all our members – we wish you
well for the 2012 harvest. To
our readers – you are invited to
come join us during this busy
time, to see your favourite
Stellenbosch star in the making.
We look forward to seeing you!
Annareth Bolton
CEO Stellenbosch American
Express® Wine Routes
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Proudly sponsored
by:
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Stellenbosch American Express® Wine
Routes, Suite 224, Postnet, X5061,
Stellenbosch, 7599
Tel: +27 21 886-4310 | Fax: +27 21
886-4330 | Email :
info@wineroute.co.za |
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