Harvest festivals in Paarl andW’tonIn March the harvest season in the Winelandsreaches a peak, and so too in Paarl and Wel­lington, when these two towns in the heart ofthe Winelands host their respective festivals tocelebrate the fruit of the vine.The first festival, the annual PaarlOmmiberg

“Round the Rock” festival will be held on 8 and9 March. This festival not only offers visitorsthe opportunity to taste the first unfilteredwinesof 2014, but to enjoy a relaxed day out in thewinelands with unique offerings and activitiesto suit the whole family.For the first time this year, the festival will

be hosted over the entire week­end for eachand every person in the family to enjoy.Visitors are given a glimpse into working

wineries, and offered the opportunity to pickand stomp their own grapes. They can enjoytractor rides through the vineyards and testtheir wine making skills by creating their ownblends and pairing the young unfiltered wineswith traditional onion tart – a custom rootedin Germany and adopted by the OmmiBerg“Round the Rock” festival. Also on offer arecooking demonstrations, art exhibitions, liveentertainment and cellar tours.Adding to the day’s festivities are jumping

castles, slippery slides, pony rides, face paint­ing, croquet and rides on a goat’s wagon tokeep the kiddies busy.Withmore thanseventeenwineries to choose

from, visitors will be spoilt for choice, not tomention an array of delicious eats on offer.Ticket prices are R80 per person (over 18)

when booked through www.webtickets.co.zaor R100 at any of the participating winerieson the day. Ticket holders will receive a tastingglass and access to taste young wines from the2014 harvest. Accompanied children under18 years of age enter free. For more informa­tion go to ommiberg.co.za.FiveEnjoy/Winderous readers caneachwin

a double ticket to Ommiberg. Just SMS thename of the wine region where this festival istaking place, together with your name, to33679 by Wednesday 5 March.The Wellington Harvest Festival kicks off on

15 March.In keeping with the quest to bring the world

to Wellington, a 3­themed festival has beencreated: . New Fashioned Boere Bazaar atDiemersfontein, which will portray all things

authentically South African with suikerkaske­nades, boerekos and the Kaapse BoeremusiekGilde.

. Top Chilling at Bosman Family Vineyardswill be a laid­back long lunch with relaxingvibes in a family orientated and kids­friendlyatmosphere.

. And Wilder as die Wildtuin at Welbe­dacht will embrace all animals – in or out thebottle, mechanical or live – all to the rockingrhythm of a big name band which will bringout the animal in you.Come for the weekend because the next day,

16March, is declaredannualWine crawl Sun­day when you can leisurely visit the wine farmsand make use of their special wine deals anddiscounts. Visit www.wellington.co.za for spe­cial accommodation offers.R100 per person gives you a glass, pro­

gramme and map and loads of fun. Under 18enter for free but no wine/beer/alcohol willbe tasted or sold without an armband.See more at http://www.harvestfesti­

val.co.za/#sthash.5WE2TZTg.dpufOne lucky reader stands a chance of either

winning a double ticket to theWellington Har­vest Festival or one night accommodation toLaRochelle LavenderCottagebetween15Mayand15August 2014 to the value of R750. Sim­ply SMS ‘Harvest’ ( for the tickets) or ‘Lavender’(for the cottage) to 33679 by Friday, 7 March.

Come and enjoy the hospitality and fine wi­nes of the heart of the Winelands, Paarland Wellington, at the various festivals tobe held in March.

Twomagical months of harvestingin the Robertsonwine valleyThe sense of community may havechanged, but it is still a time for people,who are passionate about the potentialwithinahumblebunchofgrapes to cometogether.For the first time ever, the RobertsonWine Valley welcomes the public for amagical month of harvesting that kickedoff on 1 February until 30 March, withits Hands­on­Harvest Festival. Tradition­ally this festivalwasheldannuallyduringonly one weekend, but due to populardemand the festival has been extended.There are refreshments aplenty andfood for the soul as well. Sore muscleswill be as pleasant a reminder of a day’swork well done as the heft of the grapeis of the summer. Yet nothing is as specialas the emptying of overflowing baskets

into barrels and the rolling up of pants– there are grapes to be stomped on andfun to be had at this festival.Feast your eyes on the intricate art ofwine making, stomp grapes to yourheart’s content or take a leisurely tripthrough the vineyards by tractor or onhorseback, followed by a picnic.As some of the wineries are not tradi­tionally open to the public, their focusis on hosting a series of intimate events,ensuring that visitors are treated to aunique “hands­on” experience.Visitwww.handsonharvest.comfor theprogramme of activities. Visit www.rob­ertsonwinevalley.com, for accommoda­tion options. For enquiries, contact Eliz­ma Botha at 023 626 3167 or email:manager@robertsonwinevalley.com.

Make your way to Robertson in March for the Hands­on­harvest festival.PHOTO: LARESA PERLMAN

Hello enjoy-lesers!Dit is met trots en opgewondenheid dat ek,tesame met die enjoy­Winederous span, ’nuitgawe propvol feeste, talle wynproe­ge­leenthedeen kompetisiesmet heerlikepryseop die spel, bied.Wynboere in dieWes­Kaap is almal tans

kliphard aan’t oes en is vanmening vanjaarseoesgaan ’n uitdagingwees. JohanMont­gomery, wingerdbestuurder by HamiltonRussell Vineyards in Hermanus sê die oesmag moontlik veeleisend wees omdat hulledeur ’n moeilike seisoen is. “GedurendeNovember 2013 het ons 194 mm reën ge­meet en 229 mm gedurende Januarie2014.Met grondvog by ’n optimum en ver­spoelingsplek­plekhetdie tydigeuitvoeringvanal die seisoenalewingerdbestuursprak­

tyke onder druk gekom.Die hoë temperature met gepaardgaan­

de humiditeit wat tans beleef word kan ge­lyktydige rypwording van al die kultivarstot gevolg hê.”Ten spyte van die uitdagings is boere eg­

ter opgewonde oor die aangename geurevan die druiwe wat reeds gepars is en sienuit na ’n suksesvolle 2014­oes.Dankie aan al die medewerkers vir die

Februarie­uitgawe: Lise Beyers vir die voor­blad en lekker gesels met Hagan Viljoen,Ilse Fourie, Cilene Bekker, Theresa Olivier,Maryke Lourens, Kenneth McIntyre, Anne­mie Bruce en die ongelooflike span by diehub.

ANNETTE

A NEW DEVON VALLEY WINEEXPERIENCE: Nestled in the heartof the Devon Valley, Brenaissancehas uncovered their newest gem –an exclusive outdoor wine tastingvenue tucked away in the plumorchards. A natural, chic environ­ment for wine tasting and winedrinking. Opening times (Fridaysand Saturdays: 11:00 ­ 19:00and Sundays: 11:00 ­ 17:00.)Contact 021 200 2537 or in­fo@brenaissance.co.za

STANFORD SHOWING OFF ITS FLAIR: Make your way to Stanford forthe long weekend from 21 to 23 March when this Overberg village willbe showcasing the best of small­town life with the Stanford Village Fair. AJazz Soiree at one of Stanford’s newest hot spots, Don Gelato, kicks offthe festivities on Thursday evening, followed by all things arty on the Fri­day including the Art Route Opening and an art auction at the StanfordTable. A champagne breakfast at Coffee Corner will start the Friday offright, and a stroll around town to see the Scarecrow Trail is a must! Inbetween, shopping, antique hunting and local restaurants will keep youexploring. And just in case you could not make the Thursday soiree, therewill be a repeat on the Friday night after the Art Route opening. The vil­lage green is the centre of attention on Saturday from 10:00 as artisanfood and crafts, coupled with local wine and beer tasting, get visitorsdrooling. A fun run, classic car show, and a dog show add to the excite­ment, as will some good ol’ fashioned children’s games and activities. Forfurther information contact us at ask@stanfordinfo.co.za

STELLENBOSCH WINE ROUTES UNVEILS ITS NEW BLOG: South Africa’sgranddaddy of wine routes, the Stellenbosch American Express® WineRoutes, has launched a new blog – StellenBlog – as part of its dynamicmarketing campaign, Stellenbosch Experience, which was launched in col­laboration with Stellenbosch 360 to expand the region’s wine tourismfootprint locally and abroad. The new, inter­active StellenBlog shares andcelebrates the latest success stories, communities and rich culture of thisprominent Winelands destination with daily updates on the latest Stellen­bosch attractions and achievements. The Stellenbosch Experience aims to

position the Stellenbosch Winelandsas Africa’s wine tourism capital andone of the top wine tourism regionsin the world and invites wine andtourism entities to join the campaignas preferred marketing partners to el­evate the region and their brands na­tionally and internationally. The regionand participating marketing partnerswill be represented at ITB, Berlin inMarch for the international launch ofthe Stellenbosch Experience to theworld’s top travel trade and media,followed by the Tourism Indaba in

Durban in May. In addition to the launch of the new blog, other cam­paign elements include an enhanced digital presence across all social me­dia networks and an innovative wine tourism blogger campaign with topinternational and national travel, lifestyle and food bloggers betweenApril and September. For more information on the Stellenbosch Experienceinitiative or to become a marketing partner visit the new blog http://blog.wineroute.co.za/ or contact Mariette du Toit­Helmbold at experi­ence@wineroute.co.za or phone 083 225 5955.

DELIGHT IN POST­HARVEST BEARDS AND WINES WITH LOCAL WINEMAKERS: Barrels & Beards 2014 takes place on Saturday 5 April at TheOld Shed at Anysbos Farm on the Swartrivier Road, off the N2 and startsat 17:00. Now in its third year, the ever­popular Bot River Barrels &Beards, one of the quirkiest wine events on the circuit, invites enthusiaststo share in the fruit of the wine makers’ labour and to have fun with thelocals at the same time. The annual grape harvest comes with a self­im­posed shaving ban throughout this strenuous period. This year the luxuri­ant growth of post­harvest facial fur and wacky whiskers will once againbe revealed at its annual Barrels & Beards celebration. A shuttle service(departing from the Botrivier Hotel) will be available on the evening insupport of responsible drinking. For more information or to book yourtickets contact Nicolene Heyns at nicolene@botriverwines.co.za or call 082852 6547. If you want to extend your Bot River sojourn click onwww.botriverwines.com for various accommodation offerings.

WEINTAUFE HARVEST CELEBRATIONBECKONS: Eikendal is set for happy timesand high jinks in the vineyards when thisprominent wine estate hosts its ever­popu­lar Weintaufe Harvest Celebration with afeast of activities to delight the whole fam­ily on Sunday 2 March. A beautiful settingat the water’s edge beckons young andold to kick off the shoes and indulge inlaid­back weekend vibes and vibrant fami­ly fun on the farm, fuelled with live musicand barrels of entertainment, all washeddown with delicious estate wines andwholesome country fare. Conveniently situated midway between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, Eikendal is aprominent Winelands destination renowned for its consistency in producing quality wines and at the Weintaufethe spotlight will fall on its flagship Chardonnay 2014. After the baptism of this first wine of the harvest, visitorswill get to taste the newcomer straight from the barrel. Attractions and activities at the not­to­be­missed Wein­taufe 2014 include vineyard tractor rides and walks, cheetah viewing, craft stalls, lucky draws, golfing action atthe dam, pony rides, a jungle gym, grape stomping action and fly fishing. Delicious food and wine will be onsale, so bring your friends and family and claim your spot on the lush lawn for the perfect ending to yourweekend. Entrance to the Eikendal Weintaufe 2014 is R30 per person and includes a complimentary glass andbarrel tasting of the christened Chardonnay for adults, whilst children under the age of 12 get in for free. Ticketswill be available at the gate on the day and the event starts at 10:00 with the official baptism and tasting ofthe new Eikendal Chardonnay at noon. For more information on the Eikendal Weintaufe 2014 or to secure yourtickets prior to the event, contact the cellar on 021 855 1422 or send an email to info@eikendal.co.za

BUBBLES & BRAAI: If you love the smell of braai meatand the taste of the finest sparkling wines then #Bub­bles&Braai at the Grande Roche Hotel is the place youneed to be at on 1 March. There is something for every­one’s taste buds, from seafood to traditional steaks, ribsand chops. The evening will consist not only of the won­derful food and wine pairing but guests will be enter­tained with the excellent music from top band, The Mix.This extremely versatile band knows how to set the moodfor any type of function – the guarantee for a memorableevening. Guests will taste the celebrated Cap Classiquewines from the Grier family’s Vil­liera. Also on offer willbe Silverthorn’s much­anticipated Special Cuvée, ‘JewelBox’, a classic French blend of Chardonnay and PinotNoir. Add to the mix the delightfully different Rickety Bridge MCC Brut Rosé NV and Blanc de Blancs 2009 andguests are certainly in for a treat. Michelin­trained Executive Chef Roland Gorgosilich and his team conjure up averitable feast of divine seafood, traditional steaks, ribs and chops. The difference is in the preparation and im­agination that takes the braai to new heights and creates a Winelands Boma experience of note. For reserva­tions call 021 863 5100 or mail reserve@granderoche.co.za. Above from left are Jenny Prinsloo, Francois Lie­benberg and Annelize Stroebel.

What’sHappeningWhat’sHappening March diaryMarch diary

Eight reasons to visit Napier inMarchANNETTE THERON

“The Union Castle guide to South Africa for the tourist, the settler, the sportsman and the invalid”dated 1896, describes Napier as the only settlement this side of the mountain en route fromCaledon to Bredasdorp “where refreshments may be had.” This still seems to be the case aftermore than 100 years as the restaurants and eateries in the town of Napier are still soughtafter, especially over weekends!The postal coach took 10 hours to reachNapier fromCaledon – probably the travellers needed

refreshments by that time!The popularity of Napier has increased dramatically during the past few years. Napier is

now rated by the Tourism Board as the fourth most attractive village of the Western Cape afterMontagu, Greyton and McGregor, all of which are within an easy drive of Napier itself.

RICK CREATIVE: (072 866 9120) Rick Creative is a decor out­let in Napier. Ulrich Riek, the owner and artist, has a work­shop next to the gallery. All his art is made from recycledmaterials. On 1 March the gallery is three years old. RickCreative currently represents about 40 artists, mostly local,with a handful in surrounding towns. The gallery stocks paint­ings, ceramics, pottery, glass art, rustic furniture, mosaic anda host of other creative concoctions. Ulrich also makes coffeetables, lamps, sculpture, benches, chandeliers, metal insects,bugs, dragons, stone cows, textbooks and more. He mostlyuses scrap metal, wood and basically anything that can beturned into art. He also does sign writing, decor for guesthouses and restaurants, and garden art.

ALL SORTS ARTS AND CRAFTS:(028 423 3861) Leon and Adri Visser willhost you as you explore Napier All Sorts.As you enter this quaint shop, you will begreeted with an “Aladdin’s Cave” of treas­ures and gifts to browse through. As thename indicates, the business encompassesarts and craft, a coffee shop that offers cof­fee, tea, and scones. Leon makes chess setsfrom pewter and Adri paints the boards(made to order). Leon is prepared to showprospective clients how he makes the chesspieces. The shop boasts a military collection(it is not a museum, but a private collec­tion), mostly medals but over the past six­teen years it developed into collecting uni­forms, caps, badges and buttons, all linkedto military and paramilitary regalia. AllSorts also offers self­catering accommoda­tion. PHOTO: ORA LAUBSCHER

VINDIGO WINE AND DECOR:(028 4233 069) Vindigo, owned by Grahameand Maria Griffiths for over eight years, sellswine, art and gifts. They are situated at 108Sarel Cilliers Street (the R316) on theBredasdorp side of town. Grahame’s empha­sis for the wine section is on the local wines,which include Jean Daneel wines from Napi­er, the Elim region (Strandveld/First Sighting,Black Oystercatcher, The Berrio and Zoetend­al) plus others nearby (Quoin Rock, Bruniaand Lomond). Coming soon will be winesfrom De Baar and other smaller wineries inNapier. This area is producing stunningwines at present, and there are a lot moregood things to come. The remainder of thespace in the cellar is filled with wines fromthe Robertson valley. Art and gifts are Mar­ia’s domain – the art is mainly by local ar­tists.

EL CARACOLTAPAS ANDTREAT:(07201264241)El Caracol Ta­pas Restaurantin Napier in­vites you to en­joy the offer­ings of the Overberg, enhanced with authen­tic Spanish flavours. Proper Iberico ham andtheir own chorizo sausages, garlic and chiliprawns or delectable Overberg veggies andmuch more.There’s always a nice glass ofsangria on offer and if you indulge a littletoo much,why not spend the night? It’s allabout sharing,relaxing and enjoying. For fur­ther information contact Deon on072 012 1492 or Ida on 076 426 4241 forreservations or bookings.

DOMINO FARM: (072 516 1579) Domino Farm is situated overtwo small holdings on the R316 in Napier, and makes use ofmarginal land with stunning views of the Overberg, its own bit ofriver frontage, and a profusion of wild flowers in the spring. Asbeginner farmers (they got the goats in December 2013) JeanetteO’Toole and her team are full of enthusiasm and keen to sharetheir experience with anyone who’ll listen. They’ve been cheesemaking since January 2014, but were fortunate to be taught thetricks of the trade by award winning cheese makers so alreadyhave a mouth watering product. Plans for the future include atasting room and a petting zoo, where visitors can interact withsome of the better behaved animals (they can be very naughty!)and perhaps even have a go at hand milking. Right now they arestill under construction, but do direct sales of cheese, yoghurt and

free range eggs from the farm and will show you around with pleasure. Unfortunately thereis not always someone here, and it’s much more interesting if you come at milking time, soplease give them a call first. Domino Farm is situated on the Skietbaanpad just off theR316. Email them at dominofarm@hotmail.co.za. You can follow their exploits on facebook.

RED WINDMILL: (028 423 3576 or082 462 8269) The Red Windmill is a vin­tage­styled farm stall located a mere threekilometres from the charming village of Na­pier, on the way to Bredasdorp. The restau­rant serves fine country cuisine, specialisingin organic, free­range fare and “ethical”meats wherever possible. Patrons can enjoya variety of venison dishes, curries, free­range chicken pies, salmon fish cakes andseasonal salads, all served with a dollop of country hospitality. The menu changes regularly.There is lots to do for the whole family ­ browse in Mrs Robinson’s Vintage Clothing, enjoyfarm stall produce, spend time in their little nursery, walk their magical Labyrinth in the For­est, feed their Alpacas and Rescue Chickens. They serve Sunday roasts and picnics. A safeplay area for children is available. Wi­fi Hotspot. Unlicensed. Open daily from 08:30­16:30.

NAPIER ON FOOTWITH ORA:(082 745 232 9) or028 423 3409) Everytown, village or cityhas its very own“spirit of place” –that difficult to define“something” thatcauses travellers fromall over the world to want to go back there,hoping to experience that feeling just oncemore. As we explore Napier on foot – asfast and as far as your own two feet can go– there will be ample time to rediscover andexperience the very essence of the town. Thecultural and historical walks are tailored tosuit the individual visitor’s wants and needsand do bear in mind, in Napier, we are nev­er in a hurry…

‘MY SKAT’:(076 375 3999) Thefolk of Napier arebusy all year roundcreating art, crafts,cards, décor and“things just foryou”. Creativecountry flair comesin buckets of talentand expertise filledto the brim withpassion for the ex­tra­ordinary and flamboyant, useful and un­usual in this delightful village! These wordstruly describe the owner of My Skat – Mo­nique Bentall. Originally from Cape Town,where her career in the corporate worldspanned many years and various industries,Monique moved to Napier after falling inlove with the country lifestyle and its simplic­ity. Fascinated by old furniture,she spendshours in her on­site workshop creating“wooden” items of interest, use or displayyou will want to own. My Skat opened inOctober 2011 in Napier. My Skat alsoboasts great “bean to cup” coffee which youcan enjoy whilst browsing...

Legend of the SpiritsNICK YELL

Walking around my hotel, the Con-stance Belle Mare Plage in the north-east of the island, I notice the endemicvolcanic rock has been incorporated in-to the buildingswherever possible. Butthere’sa large,stand-alonecurvedwallmade of smaller volcanic rocks thatlooks like it must have some particularartisticorreligioussignificance. Iaskforsomebackgroundon this installationatthe hotel’s library and the staff directsme toareferencedocument fromwhichan interesting tale unfolds.

“This stone rubble wall is one of four such struc­tures in thegrounds thatenclosesanctumscontain­ing elements that institutionalise the Spirit of theLand and the Spirit of the Sea legend, and whichserve as reminders of the truce that wasmade be­tween them.The sanctums are a contemporary interpreta­

tion of stone piles found in the sugar cane fieldsof the Poste de Flaq region. The Spirit of the Landasked that thesemonumentsof lavastonebeerect­ed to serve as a reminder to the Spirit of the Seathat should it try to once again wash the islandwith its waves that it will once again erupt to pushback the sea.”Religious tolerance amongMauritian people is

another laudable characteristic of this island na­tion. The island’s Hindu, Tamil, Christian, Muslimand Buddhist faiths, and even those still practisingblack magic (a largely Creole custom) allow eachother the freedom to exercise their beliefs; theirplaces of worship often sitting peacefully side byside each other.Oneof thebestplaces togeta feel forMauritius’s

multi­cultural appeal and its egalitarian spirit

(“Mauritian people are like a fruit salad,”a resident explained, “rather than a fruitjam, as the fruits sit comfortably in a bowltogether and respect each other’s individu­ality”) is to visit one of the established mar­kets. The hotel quickly organises us an ex­cursion to the large Sundaymarket at Cen­tre de Flaq and I’m soon in my element,rubbing shoulders with everyday Mauri­tians, all of us looking for a bargain on anythingranging from fresh produce to spices, clothing,take­away food, material and all sorts of othertrinkets and merchandise.Most of the shoppers are smartly­dressed and

theMauritianwomen, inparticular,arebeautifullyturned out—wearing a range of bright colouredsaris and flowing cotton dresses. I end up buyingsome silk pashminas for my life­partner; a gor­geous, silk table runner;a talkingmechanicalpar­rot for our nine­year old daughter and a “Diesel”T­shirt of doubtful pedigree.While the ladies inourpartyheadoff fora facial

at the Shiseido Treatment Centre, I opt for somesnorkelling in the lagoon. After a 15­minute boatridewe tieup toamooringbuoyabout200metresfrom the main reef. On cue, the clouds part andthesunpenetrates thecrystalclearwatersallowingexcellent visibility of around 30metres. It’s a won­derlanddownhere,and Idiscover clustersof coralthat look like shitake mushrooms on steroids.Thinking back to the pirates that used to sail thesewaters, I look for a tell­tale trail of gold doubloonsthat may leadme to my own buried treasure, but,alas, there is none.Looking to visit the Hindu temple, Sagar Shiv

Mandir near Post de Flaq the next day, I enquireat the hotel’s boathouse if it’s possible to get thereby sea.

They tell me it’s quite a ride, but if we take theglass­bottomedboatwemay see some interestingfish en route. What none of us bargains on,though, is that the squall on the horizonwill reachus so soon.After taking in the stark beauty of this magnifi­

cent temple from the boat, we make for the hotelas fast as the glass­bottomed hull will allow us;the storm starting to unleash torrential rains at ourbacks.En route we pass two traditional whaler­type

fishing boats, both brimming with crew holdinglong wooden poles — preparing to pick up thenets they’d laid earlier as fast as they can.Heading back to the airport the next day, notic­

ing a number of small Tamil temples in the sugarcane fields and many colourful Hindu temples inthe towns alongside the more austere mosquesand churches, I reflect again on the interestingmelting pot of cultures and religions that make upthis country. And although I realise that I’ve onlyjust scratched the surface on my short visit, theMauritian peoples’ acceptance of one and allseems in accord with the ancient truce struck be­tween the Spirit of the Sea and the Spirit of theLand. After all, harmony must always start witha levelling of egos.Yell was a guest of the ConstanceGroup of Ho­

tels and Air Mauritius

“Le Prince Maurice Hotel’s beach asviewed from the sea.”.

PHOTO: NICK YELL

TravelAdvisorAccommodation: La Belle Mare Plageoffers great variety of entertainmentandgood valueand Le PrinceMaurice— flagship luxury and elegance. Al­though it’s hard to choose between thetwo, the Prince Maurice has recentlybeen refurbished and probably hasthe edge in finishes, décor and exclu­sivity. But visit their respectivewebsitesand make up your own mind:www.bellemareplagehotel.com andwww.princemaurice.comReasons togo there:Bothhotelsoffer

an ideal environment for couples andfamilies to enjoy that special tropicalisland holiday. For the active there’san exclusive­use championship golfcourse; sailing, water­skiing; diving,snorkelling, swimming (safe sea swim­ming plus a variety of freshwaterpools), tennis and state­of­the­artgymnasiums. And if you like beingpampered, the Spas de Constance of­fer an excellent range of treatments.The food and wine experience at bothConstance hotels is varied and exem­plary.Rates and Packages:6 Months of madness at Constance

Mauritius — parents pay half price,kids stay for free!Contact Thompsons Holidays on

011 770 7745 or email info@thomp­sons.co.za for details and conditionsthat apply.

tians, all of us looking for a bargain on anything

The Sagar Shiv Mandir Hindu temple nearPoste de Flaq, the writer got close to byboat. PHOTO: NICK YELL

YoungHagan is taking thewine industry by stormLISE BEYERS

Some people may have called him the new kidon the block when Hagen Viljoen joined Fran­schhoek winery, Solms Delta, but this youngman has travelled an impressive road.Having studied at Stellenbosch, Hagan set off

abroad and gained valuable wine making ex­perience in France, California (USA), Australiaand New Zealand. He then worked as wine­maker at the illustrious Zevenwacht before join­ing Solms­Delta.Solms­Delta, 15 km outside Franschhoek, is

renowned for its classical wines with a differ­ence, as well as its pioneering leadership in so­cial reform,empowermentand innovationwith­in the South African wine industry.Hagan tells a bit more about himself.What enticed you about wine-

making: The combination of science, out­doors and getting my hands dirty!What are your favourite wines:

I enjoy all good wines, but I have a passionfor reds from the Rhone region in France.When not in the vineyards, what do

you enjoy doing and what is your fa-vourite getaway:

I love the outdoors, so mountain biking, div­ing, hiking and hunting are at the top of my

list. The West Coastwith good friendsand good wine is al­ways a favouritegetaway to unwindand relax after thelong hours of theharvest season. I en­joy the feeling of ex­ploration and themore remote theplace, the better.When dining

out, what doyou like to eat:I normally try to eatsomething unusualwhen fine dining and enjoy fusion cooking andexotic flavours,butmostof the timeagoodpizzaand a craft beer does the job.What is your favourite pastime

when it comes to cooking and then afavourite recipe:

I love to braai, so anything that can be doneover the coals is good. One of my favourite reci­pes in summer is lightly steamed crayfish tails,de­shelled, halved and then flash fried in butterwith garlic, ginger and chilli…pairs very wellwith grilled pear and a good white blend.

Solms Delta winemak­er, Hagan Viljoenloves his job because,he says, it is he com­bination of science,the outdoors and get­ting his hands dirty

A lucky Enjoy Wined­erous reader can wina two night stay atWildekrans UitspanCottages worthR2 000. Simply an­swer this easy ques­tion. Where is the Uit­span Cottages situat­ed? SMS your answerto 33679. SMS costR1,50. The competition closes on 10 March. The prize is valid fromMarch until the end of July. To book your Wildekrans escape call Ja­nine Gericke on 084 228 2824.

Anthony and OliveHamilton Russellfrequently entertainguests at theirprestigious estate.

Wanting to showcase thebest local produce, Olive (below) has developed

and adapted recipes to incorporate seasonal and indigenous ingre­dients from the surrounding fields, orchards, vineyards and seas. AYear on a Cape Wine Estate – Entertaining at Hamilton Russell Vine­yards is a cookbook that follows the seasons, beginning withspring, the time of bud­break and the start of a new cycle of grow­ing and making wine. Each month contains a complete menu with astarter, main course, side dishes, and dessert. Olive believes insustainability and using what nature provides so her recipes includeproduce such as black mussels fromWalker Bay, fresh figs from her garden,fynbos honey made on the estate andedible indigenous plants, like ‘kooigoed’and wild sorrel. Naturally, winefeatures, not only in some recipes, butin recommendations to accompany eachdish. The very first Pinot Noir was madeby Hamilton Russell Vineyards, in 1981.One lucky reader can win a copy of thisscintillating cookbook. Simply answerthis easy question: Which winery madethe first Pinot Noir in the Hemel­en­Aarde Valley, and when? SMS your an­swer to 33679. SMS cost R1,50. Thewinner will be phoned.

Chardonnay hetvele dimensies

Daarwas ’n tyd in die Suid­Afrikaansewynbedryf toe die woord “Chardon­nay”omtrentsogewild indieKaapwassoos skeerbuik, Naas Botha en papsnoek. Plaaslike Chardonnays het indie laat 1980’s hul opwagtinggemaaken aangesien die druif toe nog ’n nu­wigheid was, het wynmakers gesukkelomdie trosse inelegantedrinkbarewy­ne teverander.Diebyboendervanoor­matige hout tot die Chardonnay­saphet tot dik, lomp en bitter wyne geleiwat wyndrinkers na die heuwels laathol het op soek na mondspoel en ’nmakliker drinkbare witwyn soos Sau­vignon of Chenin Blanc.Tye het verander, gelukkig. Vandag

maak Suid­Afrika van die voorsteChardonnays in die wêreld aangesienhierdie rojale wit druif lief is vir die sui­delike wynlande se son en grondsoor­te. En die publiek is deesdae ook min­der skrikkerig vir hom, trouens Char­donnay­verkope skiet deur die daksoos mense die vele dimensies vanSuid­Afrikaanse Chardonnay ontdek,asook die feit dat daar geen tekort aangoeie weergawes van die wyn is nie.Hoewel die hoog aangeskrewe, be­

kroonde Chardonnays nogal ’n halweplaas se prys kan kos, bly ek verstomoor die aantal goeie wynewat uitmun­tende waarde vir geld bied. En dit hetmyweer eens laat besef dat daar geenander plek op die aardbol is om wynvan sulke gehalte teen sulke handigepryse te koop nie.Dis veral aan die anderkant van die

DuToitskoof­tonnel waar hierdie wynetevinde is.Diewingerdedrameerdrui­wedanksydiebeskikbaarheidvanwa­ter en die vrugbare grond. En diewyn­makers van groot kelders weet hoe omgroot volumes druiwe te benader omskoon en smaaklike wyn te maak.Ongelukkig word hierdie areas se

erkenning as top­wynstreke belemmerdeurwynwysneuse en die Platter WineGuide, wat weier om te glo dat dieBreedekloofenandermeerverlate stre­ke goeie wyn kan maak. Twee Char­donnays van tussenR30enR40hetmyonlangs skoongeboul, naamlik diesvan Du Toitskloof­ en Bonnievale­kel­ders.Du Toitskloof, net buite Rawsonville,

is al vir jare een van die veelsydigstewaarde­vir­geld­kelders in die landdanksy die gehalte­eerste­benaderingwat nougeset gevolg word deur diewynmaakspan asook die boere wie sedruiwe aan die kelder gelewer word.Hy mag veral bekend wees vir sy Sau­vignon Blanc, maar diegene wat dieietwat voller en meer komplekse batesvanChardonnaywaardeer, saloortuigwees dat dié druif by Du Toitskloof ko­ning kraai.Die Chardonnay van Du Toitskloof

tans in die mark is die 2013 model enkos net oor die R30. Daar is ’n bietjiehout by die wyn vir struktuur en mond­gevoel, maar die geure en varsheidword geensins ingeboet nie. Daardiekenmerkende trekkie botter, wat Char­donnayuitstraal, is teenwoordigopdie

palet, asook ’n vars handvol peer enwinter­spanspek. Die wyn is skoon ensuiwer, endradie leksels vandie sonni­ge geure wat ons land se wyne so ken­merkend maak.Bonnievaleis ’n anderstorie.Sydrui­

westaanopkalkgronde.Disookwaar­omdaarsobaieresiesperdeopRobert­son en Bonnievale is, want die kalk indie gras versterk die diere se bene omteversekerhullekan’n jokkievan25 kgmet gemak omdie renbaan dra.Maarkalkgronde sorg ook dat wyndruiwebesonderse ontwikkelde geure en ge­balanseerde strukture kry. Met anderwoorde, suiker en suur speel saam ’nnootvaste deuntjie wat die wyn suiwernote laat sing.Bewys hiervan is teenwoordig in

Bonnievale­kelder se Chardonnay2013.Diewyn is fris en varsmet sappi­ge sitrusgeure van lemmetjie en pome­lo, tipiese kenmerke voortspruitend uitdruiwe van kalkgronde. Teen omenbyR40 is dit nog ’n voorbeeld van waar­om die Suid­Afrikaanse wyndrinker sogeseën is. En dis iets waaropmens ge­rus ’n dop kan drink.

Emile Joubert is’n genieter vanwyn; iets waar-mee hy heeldagwerk aswynbe-markingskon-sultant en -skry-wer.

TjeersTjeers

Anthony and Olive

Wanting to showcase thebest local produce, Olive (below) has developed