Delarey

Down to my last few bottles of this beauty. Hy loop mooi vanaand!

One of my best wine experiences ever is from that region. Was over in Toronto for business a couple of years ago and over the weekend we drove to Niagara to tick the tourist box. It was Feb so pretty cold. After looking at the waterfall for about 20min, we decided to rather hit the wine route on the way back. Ended up at a place called Vineland Estate for a late lunch. We pushed the boat out on a 5 course fine dining meal with wine pairing. That sensory experience of amazing food, interesting wines and the afternoon sun setting over the cold vineyards will stay with me for ever. Can barely remember what the waterfall looked like, but I still think of that afternoon at Vineland.

Where in Canada are you?

I do have NordVPN, but when I kick back to watch something on TV, I do it on Apple TV which does not allow VPN. The rigmarole to connect my laptop with my TV inevitably just result in me watching something that does not require VPN.

Damn, does not seem to be on SA Netflix. VPN is such a schlep!

Another wine I discovered at Wine-on-the-River for the first time. Beautiful farm as well!

Based on their online store their red wines are around R200/bottle. Strange choice of label at that price point. The Creation connection is also very interesting. Creation is at the other end of label design spectrum with super minimalistic labels.

I googled them and sounds like an interesting estate. Based in between Worcester and Robertson but make wines with grapes from Swartland and even Elgin. Interesting choice of label, but probably aimed at the export market. Pity that you say the quality does not match the price.

Ding Ding Ding....I believe we have a winner. Perfect for the cold weather!

That looks like the labels I see on the South African shelf at Tesco or Morrisons in the UK. As much as I try and punt SA wine overseas, its damn frustrating that the wines that make it to retailers shelves over there are almost always bulk wine that gets bottled on some label with an African motif. Maybe that was an export order that got cancelled under lockdown.

Is that the one with a cock on the label?

John E. Lewis: ”I distrust camels, and anyone else who can go a week without a drink.”

Shannon Sauvignon Blanc from Elim tonight.

Here’s one from Facebook my wife asked me a while back. If you were given R10 million for never drinking a drop of alcohol again. Would you take the money?

Well spotted! I did miss a day in July 2018 when I was sick so can’t claim an unbroken streak anymore.

Does it sound bad if I admit that I drink wine almost every day?

Eikendal Charisma. Damn cold in the Cape tonight!

You live in the wrong part of the country. Here in the Boland they typically have decent glassware and more importantly, it is not frowned upon to bring your own wine. Even Top 10 restaurants like Terroir just add corkage when you bring your own wine. I have seen several of the Stellenbosch upper class rock up with something special from their home cellar. Just be sure to bring decent wine otherwise you look like a bit of a d!@k.

I am totally sold on the benefits of Riedel. A friend of mine have a set of two of almost every possible cultivar Riedel glass you can think of. Makes a HUGE difference. I have however realised that the zoo I live in would not gel well with the price of Riedel glasses. It will just lead to tension. My solution was to buy decent quality cristal glasses from Crystal Direct. I go for a long stem glasses that can be used for both white and red and then I buy bulk. Last time I bought 48, which then gets me wholesale prices and lower stress levels when someone breaks a glass.

One of my all time best purchases was a Liebherr Vinothek wine cooler. Got a crazy bargain on gumtree from a guy who emigrated. It takes about 200 bottles I think. Apart from perfect maturation conditions, it is awesome to drink red wine at exactly the right temperature in both summer and winter. It makes a HUGE difference.

Anyone who have done W2W would know this one. Not sure how I got up in the mornings, but it sure went down well in the evenings on those bean bags.

Pinot is probably my favourite cultivar, but the price point for a good one excludes it from being a daily drink. My favourite SA red wine is probably Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak, but there are a few others that are in a similar league. Sadly I have to admit I once preferred La Verge Pinot over Galpin Peak in a blind taste (most people at the the tasting did the same). Peter Finlayson said something very interesting in explanation: "in a blind tasting, sugar is very seductive". Same reason why Pepsi outperformed Coke in blind tastings.

Which South African Pinot is your favourite?

Looks like Breede River Valley is a firm favourite here (Robertson, Springfield, Nuy, Alvi's Drift). I've been to most wine festivals in the Western Cape and Wine-on-the-River in Robertson is my absolute favourite. We've been going every year for the last 10 years and it has become one of our "must do" activities every year.

Touché!