3-5 May 2019, with 3 race options.

Dear Pinotage Stakeholder Every year, wine lovers from all over the globe celebrate South Africa’s national wine, Pinotage. The second Saturday of October is always a highlight on the wine calendar as International Pinotage Day is celebrated. Over the past five years interest and excitement has grown immensely for this special day which is celebrated on 13 October this year. Wines stakeholders have planned numerous campaigns , events and promotions and consumers are invited to join in the celebrations. Wine lovers are encouraged to celebrate this day by raising a glass to our beloved Pinotage. An ‘e-cheers’ can be raised by using the #PinotageDay . South Africa will be a buzz of activity of events and promotions as wine stakeholders have grabbed the opportunity to create numerous special offerings and campaigns. In the Western Cape , a Pinotage heritage festival , Pinotage FunRun and MTB race, as well as vertical tastings and exclusive pairing menus, have been created .  In Gauteng the Pinotage and Biltong festival in Centurion will treat guests to a uniquely South African celebration. This year Pinotage Day will also be celebrated at Die Groot Plaasproe at Sandringham with a Pinotage & Biltong tasting presented in conjunction […]

A new (and free) eco-tourism app shows activities and outdoor events happening at wine farms in the Cape Winelands. The Champion Wine Guide brings together the collective activities and events from 38 nature conservation minded wine farms, in a single, easy-to-use platform at your finger tips. The app is focussed on friend groups and families that want to find places where they can hike, mountain bike, dine, stay over and drink wine. It also provides first hand opportunity to view promotions and specials from wine farms. Wine lovers, locals and tourists are encouraged to use this guide to discover nature at it’s finest – from fynbos walking trails and cycling tracks, to seasonal menus at scenic restaurants and special places to relax. Download the app on Android or iOS from www.championwineguide.co.za. Environmental Conservation The app is provided by the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) which runs a land and water stewardship program with 38 wine producing farms in the Western Cape – called the Conservation Champions. Together, WWF-SA and 38 Champion wine farms endeavour to protect endangered environments and animals, uphold the highest standards in environmentally friendly wine production and promote sustainable farming practices. WWF-SA proudly supports […]

Boxed for DAD Celebrate the versatile Pinotage this Fathersday. A mix case with the Deetlefs MCC (white Pinotage bubbly), Deetlefs Pinotage 2013 and Stonecross Pinotage 2015 Packaged in a Deetlefs branded wooden gift box. Price includes VAT and Delivery: R550

Winemaking Skill, Superb Grapes the Key to Du Toitskloof’s Award-winning Red Muscadel Correct timing and achieving the elusive “sweet spot”, that’s the secret to creating an award-winning Muscadel dessert wine. Shawn Thomson, winemaker at Du Toitskloof Wines in Rawsonville, says the making of a quality Muscadel is all about timing to get optimum flavour and complexity in the finished product. “Like all good wines, a fine Muscadel requires great grapes,” says Thomson who won his second Platinum Award for the Du Toitskloof Red Muscadel 2014. “The Breedekloof Valley, where Du Toitskloof is situated, is the ideal region for growing the Muscat de Frontignan grape from which this wine is made. These superb grapes come from the farm Dagbreek, owned by farmer Peet Smith. Plenty of sunshine, alluvial soils and a healthy, natural environment allows our Muscat de Frontignan vines to ripen to a state of sunny sweetness.” But once the grapes are harvested and the process of making Muscadel begins, the winemaker’s skill is tested to the maximum. “To capture the full ripe sweet complexity of the grape, making Muscadel requires that we stop the fermentation process by adding wine spirit,” explains Thomson. “But deciding when to add the spirit […]

hiking-trail-flyer

Please join us for an exciting event in the Breedekloof on Friday 28 October 2016. The Chenin Blanc Association, in partnership with the Breedekloof Wine Valley and Stellenbosch University  is hosting the day with the spotlight on Chenin blanc.  The technical seminar in the morning will also include feedback on recent research and tasting of the Standard Bank/Chenin Challenge 2016 Top 10 winning wines and also wines from some the oldest vineyards in the country. The seminar will be followed by leisurely lunch under the oak trees with more informal tastings.  Date: Friday 28 October 2016 Venue: Die Eike, Goudini www.dieeike.co.za Ticket prices: R750 for the full day, lunch and wine tasting included.  Full day: 8:30-16:00 R250 for half day, lunch and wine tasting in afternoon. Half day: 13:30 – 16:00 Please visit our website for programme and link to ticket sales.  http://chenin.co.za/events.html https://www.quicket.co.za/events/11808-spotlight-on-chenin/ Do not miss out – we urge you to book early.

Slanghoek was awarded the following Vitis Vinifera awards: Double Gold: Crème de Chenin 2014  Gold: Cuvee Brut Chenin Blanc 2016 Vinay Chrispy White Merlot 2015 Special Late Harvest 2015 Cape Ruby 2016 Hanepoot 2015 Red Muscadel 2016

Badsberg Wine Cellar basked in wine accolade glory at the 2016 SA Young Wine Awards on Saturday 20 August, taking home coveted trophies. Cellar master Willie Burger and his formidable winemaking team left the stage with the competition’s two top trophies.  Their wooded Pinotage was awarded the desirable General Smuts Trophy for overall SA Champion young wine for 2016.  “This is the third time in 10 years that a red wine hailing from the Breedekloof strip has won the General Smuts Trophy”, Burger commented with pride.  Badsberg also clinched the Pietman Hugo Trophy for the highest score with five best entries for an impressive sixth time.  What is equally notable, he added, is that Badsberg is the first cellar to have twice won both trophies in the same year: 2009 and 2016. Their winning streak continued with a trio of SA Champion trophies. The top-performing wooded Pinotage was also named SA Champion Pinotage. The Badsberg Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc (wooded) and Chenin Blanc (wooded) won SA Champion trophies for White Blend and Chenin Blanc respectively. When asked about the winning formula of their success, Burger is humble.  He states that the notion is actually quite simple, “you start with quality grapes from […]

Opstal Live bied aan – Lowland & Ligstraaltjie! ‘n Aand van goeie kos, wyn en musiek op Vrydag die 26ste Augustus om 18h30 ten bate van die Ligstraaltjie crechè. Die crechè in Slanghoek, buite Rawsonville, word al vir 22 jaar bedryf en volg ‘n spesifieke leer program. Kaartjies vir die vertoning kos R200 per persoon, ete ingesluit. Besprekings is noodsaaklik. Kontak ons by 023 344 3001 of stuur ‘n e-pos aan wine@opstal.co.za . Vir meer inligting: http://www.opstal.co.za/news-events/2016/08/16/opstal-live-lowland-ligstraaltjie/

Badsberg Cellar is offering a 30% discount on their Chenin Blanc 2016 which means you can buy this wine for only R26,60 per bottle. Special valid Friday, 17 June and Saturday, 18 June only.

Prices below with 10% discount on 17 June 2016 Chenin Blanc – R34.00 Crème de Chenin – R42.00

Carl Everson Vintage Collection Case A wooden case with 4 vintages of Chenin and 2 of our Cape Blend Very limited quantities R2000 per set

Soetes & Soup 2016 tickets sales now open. Click here to book. WARM UP THIS WINTER AT SOETES & SOUP: 22 – 23 July 2016 Keep the winter chills at bay with a steaming cup of Red wine & Onion Marmelade soup, Chicken Curry soup, Chocolate soup, Waterblommetjie soup or traditional Vegetable soup – these are just a few of the soups being served at this year’s annual Breedekloof Soetes & Soup 2016 festival, taking place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July. Your festival pass only costs R120 per person and this year there are limited tickets available, so buy yours early online at www.webtickets.co.za Please note: No ticket sales at the wineries. Highlights during the weekend include live entertainment, soup & wine pairing, a farmer’s market, cooperage demonstrations, hiking trails, craft beer, an art exhibition, various stalls and children’s entertainment. The festival will be hosted at the following cellars and venues: Badsberg Cellar Bergsig Estate Botha Cellar Deetlefs Estate Die Eike Restaurant Du Toitskloof Cellar Goudini Wines Jason’s Hill Kirabo Private Cellar Lateganskop Cellar Merwida Winery Opstal Estate Slanghoek Cellar Slanghoek Art Gallery and Slanghoek Mountain Resort uniWines Vineyards Wineries also offer discounts of between 10% and 25% […]

6 Bottles Deetlefs Pinotage MCC in a specially crafted Deetlefs wooden box. R1200 (VAT & Delivery Included)

Koop die 6 bekroonde wyne geskenkpak vir slegs R580! Beskikbaar tot einde Nov 2015. Veritas Toekennings 2015 http://www.veritas.co.za/2015/index.html Goud: Bergsig Icarus Rooi 2011 Goud: Bergsig Icarus Rooi 2012 Goud: Bergsig Chardonnay 2015 Michelangelo Toekennings 2015 http://michelangeloawards.com/results/results-2015/ Dubbel Goud: Bergsig Sauvignon Blanc 2015   Novare SA Terroir Wyn Toekennings 2015 http://www.terroirwineawards.co.za/results/national-certificate-winners/2015-national-certificate-winners/ Top Wit Versnit: Bergsig Icarus Wit 2014 Top Port / Top 5 Landgoed Wyne: Bergsig Cape LBV 2006 Vir meer inligting en bestellings kontak sales@bergsig.co.za / www.bergsig.co.za

Head through the tunnel and see the light. The Chenin Blanc light. For in the magnificent Breedekloof Valley, one of South Africa’s great wine regions accessed through the Du Toitskloof Tunnel some 80km from Cape Town, the newly formed Chenin Blanc Initiative is exposing wine lovers to some of the best and most expressive Chenin Blanc wines in the country. Currently nine of the 22 wineries who are members of the Breedekloof Wine Valley have produced unique, individually-crafted small-batch wines to showcase that which the Valley believes nobody does better: Chenin Blanc. “This region is the home of South African Chenin Blanc,” says WS Naudé, winemaker at Daschbosch, part of the uniWines Group outside Rawsonville and one of the members of the Chenin Blanc Initiative. “The access to water through the Smalblaar, Molenaars and Breede Rivers, the sunshine and cold nights and the fertile soils have resulted in Chenin Blanc having been the backbone of this region’s wine industry for centuries.” The Daschbosch Steen 2014, especially made for the Chenin Blanc Initiative was made from 24 year-old vines growing in the southern part of the Breedekloof Valley outside Rawsonville. “The soils are sandy with plenty of rocks, yields being in […]

Breedekloof launches Chenin Blanc Initiative Over the years the Breedekloof Wine Valley has established itself as an area for slow ripening vines. Key to this is the late bud break and long hanging time on the vines. The geography, climate, mountains, rivers and varied geology all contribute to a unique winemaking potential, essentially establishing the area as perfect for producing Chenin Blanc. Chenin Blanc represents 18% of all South Africa’s vineyards and the Breedekloof Wine Valley has 15% of all Chenin Blanc plantings and supplies 21% or one-fifth of all the wine made from Chenin in South Africa. The varietal has found its true home in this region, with deep alluvial soils containing smooth river pebbles, which is ideally suited to Chenin Blanc. Chenin Blanc is probably the world’s most versatile variety, ideally suited to many wine styles. This has prompted the Breedekloof winemakers to produce small quantities of Chenin Blanc using innovative winemaking methods and expressing terroirs, especially old vineyards, which has resulted in the Breedekloof Chenin Blanc Initiative. Nine wineries, all members of the Breedekloof Wine Route, form part of this exciting collaboration, and have all launched a 2014 vintage into the market: Bergsig Estate: Chenin Blanc Reserve […]

More info on Camandona Country House

WARM UP THIS WINTER AT SOETES & SOUP: 24 – 25 July 2015 Loose yourself this winter on the most scenic wine route in the Cape Winelands and beat away the wintery blues at the annual Breedekloof Soetes & Soup 2015 festival, taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July. This fun-filled event hosted by wineries in the Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini, and Breede River areas, combats the chills by serving complimentary cups of steaming homemade country soup accompanied by a glass of multiple award-winning soetes (dessert wines) including Hanepoot, Muscadel, Noble Late Harvest, Red Jerepigo and Port. Your festival pass only costs R100 per person and this year there are limited tickets available, so buy yours early online at Webtickets Please note: no tickets available on the day. Your pass includes your enamel mug, wine glass and coupon booklet for the soup tasting. Programme: Friday Prog Friday Prog Saturday Prog Saturday Prog Wineries also offer discounts of between 10% and 25% on red and fortified wines during this weekend giving you a great excuse to stock up for the winter. Highlights during the weekend include live entertainment, soup & wine pairing, a farmer’s market, chocolate soup & port tasting, […]

uniWines Vineyards from Rawsonville in the Breedekloof Valley has teamed-up with craft beer specialist Wild Clover Brewery from Stellenbosch to expand its offering to include quality craft beer in its beverage portfolio. A supplier of quality wine to the local and international markets, which includes a Fairtrade offering, uniWines Vineyards and Wild Clover have established a new company – Wild Clover Breweries. According to Ferdinand Appel, CEO of uniWines Vineyards, the venture into craft beer is aimed at expanding the winery’s beverage offering. “Our substantial wine range, based on an annual harvest of over 45 000 tons of wine grapes, will be complemented by the synergy with the quality craft beer sector,” he says. “This will include offering craft beer to our current national and international wine clients who have already expressed interest in accessing South Africa’s dynamic and growing craft beer industry.” The joint venture will also allow the current Wild Clover brewery based in Koelenhof, Stellenbosch to increase its brewing capacity and to extend its tourist facilities. Wild Clover CEO Ampie Kruger says the local demand for craft beer is exceeding supply. “The co-operation with uniWines Vineyards will allow me to expand production, improve distribution and get a […]