wine

Winter menu specials at Aubergine

21 May, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Chef Harald Bresselschmidt invites you to try Aubergine’s new Winter Bistro Menu, offering a choice of two or three courses with optional wine pairing. Enjoy Halrald’s classical cuisine with innovative interpretations of local produce in front of a vintage fireplace, ensuring a cosy atmosphere on chilly evenings. The Winter Bistro Menu at Aubergine in Gardens, Cape Town, costs R215 for two courses and R298 with wine pairing. For three courses you pay R290 and R415 with wine pairing. This menu represents exceptional value in a fine dining environment. View the winter bistro menu here. The dishes will change over time so check Auberine’s website or facebook page for updates. The menu will always include a range of

Tagged With: aubergine, Cape Town, dining out in cape town, eating out, food and wine pairing, places to eat, restaurants, wine, winter specials

Wine & Wineries

Experience Durbanville Hills Winery

20 May, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Durbanville Hills Wines has transformed its tasting room and dining areas to offer contemporary spaces where you can escape the hustle and bustle of city-life. Just 20 minutes from Cape Town city centre, the relaxed indoor and outdoor areas of the cellar offer panoramic views of Table Mountain, Table Bay, the rolling hills and adjoining vineyards. The tasting room’s chic décor invites wine lovers to linger in the new lounge area and taste the range of wines on their own, or paired with either chocolate or biltong. The tasting room opens on to a new outdoor seating area where nature lovers can savour their glass of Sauvignon Blanc overlooking the new renosterveld garden; the threatened indigenous fynbos, which the cellar

Tagged With: Cape Town, durbanville hills, eating out, food and wine pairing, places to eat, restaurants, wine, wine tasting

Festivals

Taste the Helderberg

15 May, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Taste what the Helderberg has to offer this winter! The 5th annual Taste of the Helderberg is set to take place on Thursday 6th June 2013. The event showcases more than 100 local wines - more than enough to keep you warm and cosy during winter. The Helderberg wine route has more than forty wineries, of which twenty five of the wine producers will be available to chat at the Taste of Helderberg. This year, the event will be held at NH Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West. A limit of 500 tickets on sale makes this particular event a far more intimate affair with time to really get to know the men and women behind the wine and food. Some of the well known vineyards include JP Bredell Wines, Longridge Winery, Ken

Tagged With: avontuur estate, JP bredell wines, ken forrester, longridge winery, morgenster, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, taste of helderberg, Waterkloof, wine, wine tasting

Eating Out

Reuben’s at the One&Only

7 May, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

From hearty new dishes to a sophisticated tasting menu, time-saving business lunch offerings and even cooking demonstrations, with chef Reuben Riffel, winter looks set to be a sensational season at Reuben’s One&Only Cape Town. Reuben loves winter as much as any other season – it’s a chance to bring heartier offerings onto the menu, and some spicier choices too, all perfect for the cooler weather. “We understand that many of our guests eat at restaurants all over the world and we work hard to keep the menu sophisticated without losing touch with our down-to-earth roots and never ever compromising on quality”, he says. South Africa is well known for its outstanding meat culture and Reuben’s One&Only

Tagged With: Cape Town, cooking demonstrations, dining out in cape town, eating out, food, food and wine pairing, One&Only Cape Town, places to eat, restaurants, Rueben Riffel, special occasions, wine, winter specials

Interesting People

Introducing the new Two Oceans winemaker, Natasha Williams

6 May, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

It’s a dream come true for Natasha Williams, the new Two Oceans winemaker. At 29 years old she is another of the new generation winemakers and a gorgeous representation of South African winemakers. Natasha says she was influenced into the world of wine by her mothers Asian style cooking, “I guess the taste for flavour, if you like, came from growing up in my mothers kitchen.” Oh, and it didn’t hurt growing up in Stellenbosch, the heart of the Cape Winelands. She's hungry to keep learning and extend her skills and her repertoire. Once a month, she and her colleagues take part in benchmark tastings. They taste wines from all over the world, across the style and pricing spectrum to keep in touch with international

Tagged With: natasha williams, two oceans, Two Oceans Pinot Grigio, Two Oceans Wine, What's Up Wine, wine, winemaker

Eating Out

Camphors restaurant at Vergelegen

6 May, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West, renowned for its history, award winning wines and natural beauty, is fast gaining a reputation for excellent food in contemporary surroundings. Following the success of 'Stables at Vergelegen', the bistro-style restaurant which launched in March 20L2, the estate has now opened 'Camphors at Vergelegen'. This signature restaurant, which overlooks expansive lawns and gardens, takes its name from the magnificent camphor trees – at least 300 years old - in front of the historic homestead. The Vergelegen culinary team, which includes renowned chef, mentor and food judge Garth Stroebel as a consultant, has brought acclaimed chef Peter John 'PJ' Vadas on board. The Camphors menu shows

Tagged With: Camphors Restaurant, eating out, food, food and wine pairing, Food Pairing, places to eat, restaurant, restaurants, Somerset West, vergelegen, wine

Festivals

Riebeek Valley Olive Festival

2 May, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Take a trip to the picturesque Swartland towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West for the annual Riebeek Valley Olive Festival on 3 to 5 May. This popular festival is a past winner of the West Coast Tourism Award in the “Tourism Event “ category and a nominee for “Crowd Pleaser” in the Klink Awards. The Olive Emporium, located in the center of Riebeek Kasteel, will play host to local South African Olive producers offering olives, olive oils, preserves, tapenades and a range of olive-based beauty products. Sample Riebeek Valley wines from the local cellars, artisanal beers, and enjoy abundance of local food and live entertainment. Free shuttles will run to the other participating venues where entertainment, good food

Tagged With: Artisan Producers, eating out, finest produce, food, food and wine pairing, Fresh Produce, market, olive oil, olives, places to eat, riebeek valley, Riebeek Valley Olive Festival 2013, Swartland, wine

Eating Out

Signature winter menu at The Jonkershuis, Grande Provence

30 April, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

From 1 May until 30 September, Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate in Franschhoek, will present guests with the opportunity to enjoy exquisite three-course lunches or dinners in The Jonkershuis, created by renowned Executive Chef, Darren Badenhorst, for just R275.00 per person. Darren Badenhorst says: “The 2013 signature winter menu offers refined yet hearty dishes with a classic French feel and created especially for the winter months. Dining in The Jonkershuis is the perfect way to enjoy quality time with friends and family. The Jonkershuis is a beautiful addition to dining in The Restaurant.” Enjoy the cuisine and atmosphere in The Jonkershuis, an intimate and private dining room, beside a roaring log fire with

Tagged With: Darren Badehost, eating out, food, franschhoek, grande provence, restaurant specials, restaurants, wine, winter special

Wine & Wineries

One truly has to experience Groot Constantia to #FeelGrootConstantia

23 April, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Feel Groot Constantia. What better way to get involved in this historic wine estate than on the City Sightseeing Red Bus. Even a Capetonian would be surprised at the things they’ll learn. Heading out of the V&A Waterfront, the top deck of the Red Bus is the place to be. Panoramic views abound for the hour or so drive. The audio clips tell a lot about Cape Town’s history which I’m sure many don’t know. Arriving at Groot Constantia brings about a sense of heritage and nostalgia. The estate is after all a National Monument. We were fortunate to have some important figures in the farm speak with us including winemaker Boela Gerber. The Gouverneurs Reserve range of white and red blends have taken on a new look,

Tagged With: constantia wine, groot constantia, wine, wine estate, wine tasting, wine tourism

Festivals

The Constantia Valley goes all out for the Constantia Food and Wine Fest

19 April, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Experience the magic of the Constantia Valley at the Constantia Food and Wine Festival. Visitors to the Festival will be treated to multi-layered culinary delights, local wines, and live entertainment to showcase Constantia as one of the world’s premier food and wine destinations. There will be ten wine farms from the Constantia Valley together with the top restaurants from the farms and surrounding Constantia area showcasing their delicious food, paired with wonderful wines. The live music lineup includes Fiona Hare, Shen Weinberg, Ike Mouritz, Blackbyrd and the Docetones. Children of all ages will be kept entertained with activities in an open-air kids play area. And Alan Mullins, together with Cape Point Vineyards, is

Tagged With: Cape Town, constantia, food, food and wine pairing, local producers, restaurants, what's up in cape town?, wine, wine tasting