Breedekloof celebrates 350 years of wine and food

2009-09-14

Monday, September 14, 2009 by Splash PR

The Breedekloof celebrated 350 Years of Wine & Food with a glittering silver-service dinner at Opstal Estate in the Slanghoek Valley on Saturday August 29.

As part of the festivities, each of the wine cellars of the Breedekloof was invited to enter four wines to be judged by Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman, Elsie Pells, Christine Rudman and Duimpie Bayly. The panel spent the Friday tasting the 63 wines entered to determine which best paired with the chosen dishes on the celebratory dinner menu.

The sparkling event was an opportunity for the region's men and women winemakers to swop their work clothes for suits and cocktail dresses. On a balmy evening, guests enjoyed the sun setting on the Slanghoek Mountains and sipped on Cap Classique produced by Breedekloof wineries Du Preez Estate and Deetlefs Estate.

The candlelit dinner was a fitting way to celebrate South Africa's 350 Years of Wine and Bayly said it was a particularly moving occasion for him as he was the last surviving person to have assisted Jan van Riebeeck with his first vintage!

Opstal Restaurant chef Allouise le Roux produced a wonderful series of dishes to match the chosen wines. See pairings below with a summary of the judges' comments:

Starter: Butternut soup with Citrus

Botha Chenin Blanc 2009 "lovely fruitiness with a good acidity"
Merwida Chardonnay 2009 "lovely concentration of peach and lemon fruit"
Avondrood Blush Rosé 2009 "full of gorgeous berries"
Second course: Smoked Snoek Timbaal with Avocado and Camembert

Botha Sauvignon Blanc 2009 "lovely minerality"
Du Toitskloof Sauvignon Blanc 2009 "fruity style"
Third course: Pear and Blue Cheese salad

Bergsig Sauvignon Blanc 2009 "lovely lift of fruit with balancing spiciness"
Deetlefs Weisser Riesling 2008 "nutty, honeyed botrytis flavours"
Main course: Fillet served with Malay vegetables and potato wedges

Bergsig Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 "very fruity, juicy style"
Waboomsrivier Shiraz 2008 "a great match with the spiciness of the dish"
Seven Oaks 6 + 1 Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz 2005 "Christmas cake type flavours, vanilla, ripe plums and warm dark berries"
Deetlefs Oak Matured Pinotage 2008 "dark berries, very fresh, clean and juicy"
Dessert: Chocolate Brownie

Badsberg Noble Late Harvest 2005 "fruity richness and a long, zesty lingering finish"
Daschbosch Nectar de Provision (non-vintage) "offers nuts, preserved pineapple and quince"
Post-dinner coffee:

The Botha Vintage Port 2004 "oozes Christmas cake and creamy plum flavours"
Badsberg Red Muscadel 2008 "an excellent example with raisin and prune flavours"
Guests were also fortunate to taste Badsberg's Natural Sweet White Wine 2009 which has just been presented with the prestigious General Smuts Trophy for the South African Champion Wine at the annual South African Young Wine show. The wine had been decanted straight from the talks but Cellar master Willie Burger said the wine would be bottled by December - a great Christmas stocking filler!

For information on the Breedekloof region visit www.breedekloof.com or contact Breedekloof Wine and Tourism on email info@breedekloof.com or phone (023) 349-1791.