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I t
is time for us to
celebrate yet again -
Stellenbosch has been
awarded the prestigious
Wine Town of the Year
Award for 2011 on
Monday 14 February, by
the influential Swedish
wine club, Munskänkarna!
Munskänkarna is a
Swedish wine club with
over 23 000
active members. It is
divided into 144
different groups, 136
based in Sweden, and the
others in Finland and
Spain. Munskänkarna was
founded in 1958 and is a
not-for-profit
organisation which aims
to spread knowledge and
interest regarding wine
and other noble
beverages. Munskänkarna
is very influential
among Sweden’s wine
consumers. Members of
the wine club tend to
spend more money on wine
than the average
consumer, and they are
looked upon as wine
experts in their own
social networks. The
knowledge of the members
varies. Some are just
very interested
consumers, while others
have knowledge on a par
with that of a
sommelier. But their
common passion is wine.
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From left to right : Kobus Basson, owner
of Kleine Zalze, and board member of
Stellenbosch Wine Routes, Su Birch, CEO
of Wines of South Africa, Annareth
Bolton,
CEO of Stellenbosch Wine Routes, Nisse
Kjellèn, Chairman of Munskänkarna |
This year Munskänkarna has chosen
Stellenbosch as the wine region of the year
(Châteauneuf-du-Pape was chosen for 2010). This
is the first time this honour has gone to a wine
region outside of the EU and something South
Africa can be very proud of. The board of the
club visited Stellenbosch this week, on a
program compiled by Stellenbosch Wine Routes.
During their week long tour of the winelands,
they visited some of Stellenbosch's most
prestigious wineries, met and tasted wines with
our award-winning winemakers, and explored the
wonderfully diverse cuisine on offer at our
restaurants - all against the backdrop of our
most breathtakingly beautiful vineyards.
South Africa currently holds 20,5% of the market
share in the Swedish wine market, making us the
largest exporter to their country. We expect
many more groups and visitors to our area, and
we look forward to showcasing our exceptional
quality wines and tourism offerings! |
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Join the
Hartenberg
winemaking team
in the vineyards
and pick your
own grapes at
the
Hartenberg
Shiraz Harvest
Festival to
be held on
Saturday, 19
March in the
heart of the
Stellenbosch
Winelands.
One of South
Africa’s oldest
producers of
Shiraz,
Hartenberg
welcomes all
lovers of this
spicy varietal
to join them for
a morning’s
grape picking
headed by
Winemaker Carl
Schultz and
Viticulturist
Wilhelm Joubert,
followed by an
authentic
harvest
breakfast of
coffee and
baguettes in the
vineyards. The
good old
fashioned
harvest fun of
treading the
grapes by foot
starts once the
grapes are
brought to the
cellar. The
cellar antics
will be followed
by a vertical
tasting of three
different
Hartenberg
Shiraz vintages
from the barrel
to the bottle,
showing the
consistency of
quality and how
the wine evolves
over time.
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The Harvest day will end with an al fresco style
lunch under the trees, accompanied by wine and
music. The day starts at 07h30 for 08h00, on
Saturday, 19 March, and tickets cost R450 per
person, including the wine tasting, breakfast
and lunch. Booking is essential as tickets are
limited. Call Tel: (+27) 21 865-2541, e-mail:
info@hartenbergestate.com or visit
www.hartenbergestate.com. Hartenberg
Estate is situated on the Bottelary Road off the
R304 to Stellenbosch. | |
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Three lucky local young trainee
winemakers, chosen for their
cellar experience, level of
knowledge and an understanding
of the industry, were able to
travel back in time by almost a
thousand years. As recipients of
the 2009 Patrick Grubb
Bursary they were given the
opportunity to work on ancient
French estates, dating back to
the 12th century, including two
in Margaux, Château d’ Angludet
and Château Durfort-Vivens.
The three, Andrew Williams of
Steenberg, Nico Fischer of
Simonsig and M’Daan Pieterse of
Overgaaw spent three weeks
working in Bordeaux, mostly in
the cellars, but also learning
about the harvesting and caring
of vineyards, where they
discovered just how artfully the
French are able to blend history
with the latest technology.
Nico Fischer |
M’Daan Pieterse |
‘The French are wonderful
people, even though they refuse
to speak English. They have a
magnificent style of winemaking
and prepare the most delicious
food”, says Nico. M’Daan
concurs; “I felt right at home
and was treated to some amazing
1980s wines from the cellar and
many special dinners in town.
Contrary to what I was told
about the French, I found the
people very friendly”.
“I am so inspired by what I
learnt that I have a goal to
make my own barrels of Cabernet
one day, under my own label”,
says M’Daan. On asked how soon
his reply was: "I'm not quite
sure but I just know it will
definitely be a Cabernet
Sauvignon from Stellenbosch.”
Carina Gous, Distell’s Business
Director of Wines, says; “The
Patrick Grubb Bursary
initiative, which ran for 11
years in association with the
Nederburg Auction, has enabled
close to 20 individuals from
previously disadvantaged
communities, working in the wine
industry, to gain international
experience in the vineyards of
some of the world’s finest wine
regions. His contribution has
been invaluable in uplifting the
careers of young aspiring wine
professionals.” |
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Stellenbosch producer, Haskell Vineyards,
proudly announced that their wines have been
chosen to be served at the wedding of Prince
Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, a
former South African Olympic representative. The
wedding ceremony will take place in July this
year.
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"Obviously we're delighted and honoured to be
afforded this privilege," said Haskell Vineyards
partner, Grant Dodd. "Prince Albert has been a
regular visitor to the winery over the past five
years. He was also the first person to sign up
for our Platinum Wine Club. He's been a great
supporter and unfailingly complimentary towards
our wines. His validation has been pivotal in
helping to establish our brands in Monaco and in
bringing Haskell and Dombeya to the attention of
wine lovers both here and abroad."
Dombeya Wines, Haskell Vineyards’ foundation
brand, will be served exclusively at functions
in Monaco and South Africa as the royal couple
celebrate their nuptuals.
For more information on Haskell Vineyards and
the Haskell Platinum Wine Club, visit
www.haskellvineyards.com.
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This month I would like
to welcome a new member
to Stellenbosch Wine
Routes, Chabivin
Champagne & Méthode Cap
Classique House.
Chabivin’s seed was
planted in 2007 through
a meeting with Hendrik
Snyman, a young and
passionate South African
winemaker. Hendrik was
working in Napa Valley,
New Zealand and South
Africa, gaining valuable
international experience
in the making of red and
white wines. He then
contacted the Charbaut
family, applying for a
wine making job to gain
specialist knowledge
about Champagne. The
family took him in as a
foreign son, teaching
him about the French
culture, the language,
the history and secrets
of making fine Champagne
the French way.
This lifetime friendship
grew stronger and at the
end of eight months’
priceless experience,
Hendrik had to return to
South Africa due to wine
making responsibilities.
In 2008 Jean-Pierre and
Brigitte came for their
first visit and fell in
love with this beautiful
country. With a little
bit of imagination and a
few flutes of Champagne,
they started Chabivin.
In 2009, Hendrik finally
decided to manage
Chabivin full time,
representing the
family’s Champagne in
South Africa and also
carrying over the
knowledge gained while
being taught by the
best.
The tasting room
facility is on the
Blaauwklippen Road, and
serves Champagne, MCC
picnic baskets and
cheese platters. For
more info, visit
www.chabivin.co.za,
e-mail
info@chabivin.co.za,
or phone (021) 880 1643.
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Be sure to visit
Stellenbosch for the US
Woordfees from 4
to 13 March, visit
www.woordfees.co.za
for the full programme.
We look forward to
having a glass of wine
with you! | |
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Until next time!
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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