Journal

After such a fully packed, “lekker” (Afrikaans for “awesome”) year of filming Exploring the Vine, there’s been quite a few enquiries about what we’ve been up to. Off camera – myself and the duo still make time to get together (especially for those infamous Sunday lunches!) and constructively criticise and taste each others‘wines and the vintage that has passed. This year has been slightly different from other years because of the influence of South Africa hosting the soccer world cup. Because of the vibrant ambiance that radiated and resonated through our streets and lives, playing catch-up seemed to come unusually late this year. Never the less, as long as it does happen I guess…

Currently, it is the time of the year where the wine shows and competitions start to arise. The previous week I attended a red wine review in the Cape Town Convention Centre, in an attempt to acquire some of the top reds SA has to offer for our restaurants wine list. Take a wild guess who was posted behind the counter? None other than Stuart and his astounding 2008 Shiraz. This year kicked off with praises and accolades after the dust of harvest has settled. Eagle’s Nest dominates the trophy for best Shiraz of the show, as well as best overall red for a local wine competition, which is also acknowledged internationally. Stu also bottled his maiden vintage Sauvignon Blanc this week, which I am really anxious to taste.

I started to get slightly worried, because James became very scarce and quiet. I took some time out and drove up to his farm and soon realised his 13 week old golden retriever has all his attention! Let us not forget that he had the apple harvest weeks before his grapes were due. This must have seemed like a never-ending season for James, seeing that it stretched long after we thought it would. Traditionally we try to save something special to taste, for example a unique bottle or one of our own. In this case it was a Pinot Noir made from James’s grapes under the Elgin Vintners label. Succulent=red-berry=fruity-earthy-toasty… Need I say more? A few glasses down the hatch and all the voids of the New Year were filled!

I, on the other hand, am really happy to say that I bottled my first commercially available wine last week (harvested on my birthday, thus extremely special to me…). The almost forgotten – Weisser Riesling. I soon discovered that juggling sommeliering and winemaking leaves very little room for sleep or play. Not for the faint-hearted I must add, but surely never a dull moment. I find myself spending suspicious amounts of time in the kitchen smelling herbs like a blood-hound. This merely to pin-point numerous flavours present in the astonishing foreign and local wines I taste daily. My task: To delicately pare the romantic combination of food and wine to its appropriate harmonising counterpart, creating equilibrium of flavours and textures whilst enjoying the experience.

Till next time,

Cheers!

Exploring the Vine is currently showing on National Geographic Asia. Read more about this and get the programme schedule here: http://natgeotv.com/asia/exploring-the-vine

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