Badenhorst Family Wines

Adi Badenhorst makes wine the traditional way on Kalmoesfontein.

Hats off to a new Côte

Posted on May 3, 2011 by quietriotgirl

The Yorkshire Post has published a lovely article on the Swartland. With focus on last year’s revolution – and particularly the tasting by Stephane Ogier of the Northern Rhone, Christine Austin tells the story of a wine region that is fast becoming world class.

“The reason for Stéphane’s presence in South Africa that day is because Swartland shares many of the characteristics that create some of the Rhône’s finest wines. The soil is complex with granite, clay, slate and river shale creating individual pockets for different varieties; the climate is hot during the day but a cooling breeze spreads over the region in the afternoon; and there is enough distance between the Swartland and the manicured vineyards of Stellenbosch to feel that this is the pioneering, Wild West of wine growing.”

She also focusses on Eben and Adi’s journeys to the Swartland and rates some of their wines, including our “fresh-tasting complex, pepper and aniseed Badenhorst Family Red 2007, which is on its way to becoming one of South Africa’s great wines.”

Read the full article here.

Revving up for another Revolution…

Posted on April 28, 2011 by quietriotgirl

We are once again in full swing planning the Swartland Revolution. After the overwhelming success of the inaugural Revolution, this year promises to be bigger and better.

With 250 tickets available there will not only be more guests, but more tastings and more goodies and fun entertainment awaits you, come 11/11/11.

This year’s tastings (three, compared to two last year) includes a Friday afternoon tasting by Olivier Clape presenting six of his world class French wines. On Saturday there will be a tasting of eight wines from the local Mullineux Cellar as well as a tasting with wine journalist Jamie Goode (all the way from London) and Michael Fridjhon, a revolution favourite. They will treat us to four of their favourite wines each.

As they say, dont fix it if it aint broken; so celeb chef Reuben Riffel will once again be in charge of the braai tongs on Friday night while local hero Mynardt Joubert and the team at Bar Bar Black Sheep will have to pull out all the stops to top their Festival Feast from 2010 for lunch on Saturday.

And finally, a new poster has arrived…

For the entire programme of events, click here!

Hope to see you in the Swartland in November!

The Adi, Eben and Luke Show @ The Test Kitchen this winter

Posted on April 26, 2011 by quietriotgirl

Winter just warmed up a little!

News has arrived that Adi, along with neighbour, friend and fellow wine rock star Eben Sadie will join exciting and much talked about, award-winning chef, Luke Dale Roberts at his restaurant The Test Kitchen for a winter pairing programme!

Yes, a definite reason to get excited.

Eben, Adi and Luke have had extensive tastings in order to try to find the perfect combination of dishes such as Luke’s seared tuna with sotf dashi jelly, soy milk yuba and caviar or foie gras tiramisu, or the newly developed sweetbread and truffle jagerbomb.

This collaboration will see these maverick winemakers joining Luke in the kitchen to experiment with ingredients and combinations to produce a menu that will be unlike anything else on offer: a food and wine lover’s dream!

Eben and Adi will be showcasing there top drawer wines and other “secret wines” that have not been available to the general public.

Luke explains: “I’m excited that we are going into winter. Eben and Adi are inspirational wine makers that push the limits of creativity, they are not afraid to take risks and I respect that very much. We have a good chemistry and I am inspired to be working with other exciting, creative individuals in addition to my team. That’s what its all about. Wood is also a great new component that I’m enjoying using, like the velouté I’m making with American oak and bourbon accompanying my new tongue dish. Its great to slow down just a little and get seriously creative for the cooler months”.

This gastronomic adventure will continue The Test Kitchen’s reputation of being at the forefront of exciting fine dining and will highlight the symbiotic relationship between good food and wine. Every 6 weeks, new menus will be created to showcase new wines and possibly even some of the best from the microbreweries, all aiming to thrill and inspire new creativity with respect to food and wine and how we enjoy it.

For bookings or further information on these special wine events
visit www.thetestkitchen.co.za,
call (27) (21) 447 2337.
You can also follow Luke on Twitter.

Happy Easter, news and updates!

Posted on April 21, 2011 by quietriotgirl

A few bits of news from our side as we get ready to relax on Easter Weekend.

Adi extended his visit to the US by a few days when he was made an “offer-you-cant-refuse”. He spent the last few days in billionaire Sean Parker‘s mansion in Palm Spring, serving our wines to some of Hollywood’s biggest names. (we will keep the details to ourselves, this is not People magazine, and we value our clients’ privacy…)

The rest of us had a (slightly) less exciting week, but non the less, here are some details:

Wine Master Tim Atkin has once again honoured us with the title of Wine of the Week on his website. This time for our Family White Blend.

Also, while Adi is “entertaining” in the USA Jasper conducted an early morning tasting in the cellar (coffee first!) with www.wine.co.za‘s Dusan Jelic. This was part of Dusan’s Swartland Revolution Roadtrip and the stories will be published on wine.coza this weekend.

And last, but most definitely not least, we got some mention by James Molesworth in the May issue of Wine Spectator. James spoke to Adi about importing to the USA, quite apt when you consider this week’s activities…

And that is all the news from us.

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and blessed Easter Weekend.
Drive safely and enjoy the time off!

News and updates

Posted on April 11, 2011 by quietriotgirl

While Adi is in the USA life continues on Kalmoesfontein.

I finally received (two!) images from the Swartland Oesaf Party (harvest festival) that was held on Kalmoesfontein on April 1st. The venue and the Rosé at the venue… Hopefully someone will send more pics soon!

Other news is that we bottled some Secateurs Red blend 2010 last week (more info and notes on this wine soon) and this week it is time to bottle some Rosé…

And Adi gets mentioned in a post about South Africa’s wine of origin on the Montreal Gazette…

“Swartland:
This is the new frontier in South African wines. Winemakers like Eben Sadie (Sadie Family Wines), Craig Hawkins (Lammershoek) and Adi Badenhorst (Badenhorst Family Wines), all love their chenin blanc, and for the most part eschew technological winemaking and concentrate on grape growing. As Sadie preached, “We are on the 33rd parallel. Why are we trying to grow grapes that are best on the 44th (Bordeaux)?”

So this the place for the syrah, mourvèdre and other heat-loving vines.”

Take note of Swartland. he says… well IN-DEED…

Born in the RSA, flying to the USA…

Posted on April 6, 2011 by quietriotgirl

Right now Adi is somewhere over the Karoo on a flight to Johannesburg. There he will spend five lovely hours at OR Tambo (recently voted best airport in Africa btw) before departing for the US of A.

He will spend a few days in Jackson / Gulfport Mississippi and a few more in Chicago, using his charm to sell wine to the Americans! He will return home on April 16th (remember Adi, it’s my birthday on the 17th so feel free to bring lots of presents… wink wink)

We wish you safe and happy flights, with no annoying passengers next to you, no lost baggage and lots of happy wine sales.

Gourmet Wine Evening at Bosman’s at the Grande Roche

Posted on March 29, 2011 by quietriotgirl

Join Adi at Bosman’s Restuarant at the Grande Roche for a gourmet food and wine experience not to be missed.

Canapés on arrival, a five-course dinner carefully paired with our wines, coffee and petit fours all in the charming company of Mr Badenhorst himself.

Date: Friday May 27th 2011
Time: 19h00
Cost: R690 per person
Dress: Smart/Casual
Bookings or more info: christine@granderoche.co.za or 021- 863 5100

The Grande Roche also overs a special one night package inclusive of the Gourmet Dinner, luxuary accomodation and full English Breakfast at R1500 per person sharing.

Tim Atkin’s Wine-of-the-Week

Posted on March 24, 2011 by quietriotgirl

OK, so I know it is almost Friday and a little late to get to a Wine-of-the-Week post, but we have been very busy with Swartland Revolution planning, setting up our ‘Inspiration Table’ at Toffie Pop Culture Festival (and public holidays…) and the weekend is the best time for wine anyway, so I think it is fine.

Tim Atkin, Master of Wine, presenter, wine judge, critic and photojournalist.” (I quote his Twitter profile) who writes for Intelligent Life, OLN, Woman and Home and WOFW made our 2008 Badenhorst White Blend his Wine of the Week this week.

And – as if that wasn’t enough to make our day (no, week) – then the well respected Jancis Robinson replied this to him on Twitter.

Good week indeed! Hope you are having an equally awesome week, if you are in Cape Town, come pop in at City Hall for the Toffie Festival and see our Inspiration Table…

Here is a sneak peak:

Books and other items collected from Adi’s office and the Kalmoesfontein cellar, styled by Helena Sheridan.

11.11.11 Save The Date!

Posted on March 14, 2011 by quietriotgirl

AA Badenhorst Family Wines, Mullineux Family Wines, Porcelain Mountain Wines, Sequillo Cellars and The Sadie Family Wines would like to invite you to the second annual Swartland Revolution Weekend.

When: 11 – 12 November 2011

Where: Riebeek Kasteel

After the overwhelming success of the inaugural Swartland Revolution weekend in 2010 we will bring you a bigger, better Revolution in 2011.

The action kicks off with registration at the Royal Hotel on Friday 11 November 2011.

This year’s programme will include three tastings of top international and Swartland wines; another delicious BBQ by celeb chef Reuben Riffel; lunch at the ever popular Bar Bar Black Sheep and another open tasting for all members of the new Swartland Independent to showcase their best natural wines.

This year there will be 250 weekend packages available (at R1750 pp) as well as a limited number of Dinner (R500 pp) / Lunch (R325 pp) and Breakfast (R75) only tickets.

The Swartland Independent Street Party on Saturday afternoon is also once again open to the public at R50 pp.

Tickets are available now from Webtickets.co.za.

More info at www.theswartlandrevolution.com

Feedback from 2010:

“…the best wine event that I have ever attended. A perfect mix of serious tasting of seriously good wines, with a good measure of fun and festivity. The food was simply superb, the venues and layout spot on, the speech from Michael in particular absolutely brilliant. Honestly I feel sorry for those who thought they should miss this one. Bring on 2011 – and count me in!”

Erica Meles-Liebenberg – MelesPR

“It was fantastic and a HUGE privilege for me to be part of something so special. You’ve done a
fantastic job, something that’s organised, but still driven by 100% soul.”

Pieter Walser – BLANKbottle

“My wife asked me how it was this morning when I got back, and I said that it was like ‘Woodstock… but without the sex’.”

Raffi Gabeyan – French Importer

“Thank you all so much for a wonderful feast of fine wine, delicious food, knowledge, opinions and passion. I thought you guys pulled off a world class performance from the very start right through until the end.”

Alex & Caryn Starey – Keermont Vineyards

“I can confidently say that the Swartland Revolution was by far the most enjoyable wine event I have been to. It was run with Germanic efficiency but full of South African gees. There was a balance between formal tastings and lounging on the grass sipping Bollinger. We ate till we were fit to burst, and drank till we were dancing (read: falling off) hay bales, we chatted & laughed, sipped and smiled; this was a revolution against boring wines, against boring events; this was a revolt against the plain and the sad, the straight and the narrow; it was simply a benchmarking of joie de vivre.”

Harry Reginald Haddon – http://wineandi.wordpress.com

Bokkoms-on-toast with a glass of Chenin

Posted on March 11, 2011 by quietriotgirl

Kobus van der Merwe cooks up an unconventional Bokkoms-on-toast in his restaurant in Paternoster.

“Apple and gooseberries are the perfect slightly acidic counterpoints to the maasbanker, with seekoraal providing crunch, and orange beurre blanc and soft egg adding richness. The lettuce adds a bite of sea freshness. And in my opinion, Adi Badenhorst’s easy-drinking Secateur Chenin Blanc is its perfect wine partner.”

Read more about his Wild West Coast cooking on his blog on Food24. or follow him on Twitter @SardineToast.