Badenhorst Family Wines

Adi Badenhorst makes wine the traditional way on Kalmoesfontein.

Learn from the best

Posted on October 14, 2013 by quietriotgirl

And then he was in France.

Adi visited Vouvray this weekend to observe the best in Chenin Blanc.

Below is Damien Delecheneau (Domaine de la Grange Tiphaine), who will be in the Swartland to present Expert Opinions at The Revolution next month. He spent the Sunday afternoon picking a vineyard with friends.

photo (3)

While Vincent Careme, (Domaine Vincent Careme) might be one of the world’s best Chenin winemakers, Adi showed him how to pack a braai grill, and kept a keen eye on his braai skills (which apparently he learned from his South African wife Tania).

Both these legends will bring their wines to The Swartland Revolution and present them at the Expert Opinion tasting on Saturday the 9th of November.

If you did not get a ticket to the event, come to Riebeek for the Swartland Independent Street Party that afternoon, taste wine from 18 SI members and mingle in the streets. See you there.

The Oak on tour

Posted on October 11, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Adi is on his annual tour of the US. I always think of him as a rock star as he travels from one wine shop / restaurant / airport / hotel and state to the next, pouring wine and talking kak. This year it even feels like there is a small paparazi following him around as I get updates on social media.

As every year, his schedule remains a mystery to most of us, Cornelia just knows when he will be back on the farm and I only know where he has been once I hear via our social media channels.

On October 3rd he was spotted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida pouring wines

tara_devon Oct 03, 9:27pm via HootSuite

This guy is as colorful as the painting he’s in front of! Adi is winemaker of @AABadenhorst -gorgeous wines from SA http://ow.ly/i/3k7JQ

and four days later he was hanging out in Denver…

And then on the 8th South African athlete Dan Hugo tweeted that he just

“Tapped @AABadenhorst on the shoulder, during TSA security at DIA. Told him I was a fan of his work. True travel story. Can’t wait for home.”

Meanwhile back home the crew is busy planting Adi’s “legacy oaks…”

The planting of 500 Cork and Mediterranean Oaks started yesterday.
“One day when I’m old and done, I’ll sit in the shade of these oaks and drink my son’s wine while I watch the grand kids play” says Adi.

While in the vineyards the new growing season has started. We feel summer in the air…

Even though 10 days ago there was still snow on the mountain peaks and it was too wet for tractors in the 1969 Chenin vineyards. Like Jasper says “a bit of skoffeling and motivation goes a long way…”

Four weeks till the Swartland Revolution. Get excited by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

Book today for the 2013 Cape Winemakers Guild tasting

Posted on August 15, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Here is a little something we thought our Western Cape friends would be interested in.

Next Thursday marks the rare opportunity to taste all the wines produced especially for the 2013 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, past Auction wines and flagship wines presented informally by the members of the Cape Winemakers Guild at the “tasting of the year”! Click here for a list of all the wines…

When: Thursday 22 August from 18h00-21h00

Where: Cape Town International Convention Center

Tickets: R170pp, to book visit webtickets.

For more information, click here.

While you are on the webtickets page, add a few tickets to the party of the year to your trolley – we have just started to sell tickets to the Swartland Independent Street Party (on November 9th in Riebeek Kasteel) and you should NOT miss that one.

Hope you go say hi to Adi and meet all of the other Cape Winemaker elite next week…

Moments from the Paardeberg

Posted on July 29, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Every bottle is a bomb – diving mask for protection. Methode Rural 2013 off to be diffused or disgorged!

Full moon rising over the Swartland.

Jan planning/sketching the new cellar with Adi & Jasper.

fancy crates.

Skoffeled bankie, nice cover crop, old Hermityk/Cinsault vines.

We donated a TV to the Grade R class at the Ann Pienaar school (on the corner as you turn into Kalmoesfontein) to keep the kids entertained on rainy winter days.

Sunrise from the stoep.

Winter Brunch

Posted on June 19, 2013 by quietriotgirl

I am currently in Spain (building Junk Rafts) but our lovely new Cape Sales lady Nicole sent me some pictures of the latest brunch on Kalmoesfontein.

The Swartland is stunning in winter!

The sky is the limit…

Posted on June 12, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Tickets for this year’s Swartland Revolution are already sold out and we only just announced the first confirmed formal tasting.

This year, the last of our Saturday tastings (the Expert Opinion slot in 2012) will feature:
Vincent Careme (Dom Vincent Careme)
Damien Delecheneau (Dom de la grange tiphaine)
and Benjamin Joliveau (Dom Huet)

Together they will show eight wines (which will be announced in due time).

SR2013 takes place on 8 and 9 November this year. There will be another epic Swartland Independent Street Party so follow @swartlandrev for more details.

Eat, drink, cook and be merry…

Posted on June 2, 2013 by quietriotgirl

This week chef Matt Manning is hosting the first in a series of cookery classes at Eleven Kitchen Venue in Woodstock, Cape Town.

Matt will be demonstrating different ways to use one main ingredient. The first ingredient will be Mushrooms!

This hands on experience will give you the chance to get your hands dirty in the kitchen, cook with great seasonal produce, learn new skills and enjoy a fun evening with food and wine lovers alike!

Each course will be paired with wine from our Secateurs range and you will have the opportunity to buy the wines after the class.

When: Wednesday 5 June from 18h00-22h00

Where: Eleven Kitchen Venue, Boulevard Office Park, Searle Street, Woodstock.

Cost: R300 pp including food and wine.

What: The menu this month is as follows:

Amuse bouche
Mushroom veloute

First course
The ultimate wild mushrooms on toast, soft poached hen egg, roasted garlic and truffle aioli.
Second course
The perfect wild mushroom risotto
To finish
Lemon posset and raspberries

Contact Matt directly to arrange a booking

e. manningmatt24@gmail.com

c. 0762568654

t. @pommes_manner

The booking system works on a first come first serve basis so book early to avoid disappointment.

Thursday tasting

Posted on May 29, 2013 by quietriotgirl

We’ll be back at the City Bowl Market on Hope Street (Cape Town) tomorrow (Thu 30 May) pouring Secateurs and pairing it with some wild mushroom canapes by chef Matt Manning.

The market is a great place to buy some fresh organic veggies, taste some wine, buy some gourmet dinner and just meet up with friends.

Our wines sell at cellar door prices

Secateurs Chenin Blanc R55

Secateurs Red Blend R70

and you woun’t find a better deal anywhere else (besides the cellar door, obviously, but that is an hour from Cape Town and by appointment only, see how we spoil you?)

AWE-some

Posted on January 21, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Featured in the new issue of AWE Inspiring News – the “Winter 2012/2013” issue – is some interesting takes on South African Wine and the rise of Chenin Blanc (something that is close to our hearts.)

This is the cover (certainly NOT how things are looking in the Swartland at the moment!)

A look at chenin, especially in the Swartland:

And some interesting facts on SA wine:

#WineGems

Posted on January 16, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Last night was the first Adi and Jasper show (as Justin called it) of 2013 – the WineGems tasting at &union.

A full house (Gemma says she takes 18 bookings, but there were at least 30 people squeezed into the bar) tasted both the Secateurs, the Family Red and White blend, the funky white and were also treated to (another) sneak peak of Jasper’s first offering – a red blend and a chenin blanc.

From what I see on twitter the crowd really enjoyed it. With Adi on top form – full of jokes and stories – and Jasper taking his time to tell the Muskeljaatkat story in detail – there were lots of laughs.

Some feedback on twitter:

Batonage: Awesome evening of wine tasting. @AABadenhorst wines and some Muskeljaatkat white and red @andUnionwine. Adi most amusing winemaker in SA.

Blackdelilah: Did I mention we had an AWESOME wine tasting @andUnionwine last night? Wines by @AABadenhorst & his able-bodied assistant, Jasper #goodstuff

JustLisa_Love: @AABadenhorst @andUnionwine – awesome left field tasting for our first#WineGems of 2013 – loved it!

darrynvdwalt: Best @andUnionwine #winegems in ages – haven’t laughed so much at a wine tasting. Legends! @AABadenhorst

LiLi1866: @AABadenhorst Best #winegems so far last night!! A stand-up comedy show & wine tasting rolled into one – amazing 🙂

I tried to tweet some of the Adinisms and quotes from the ‘comedy show’ – check out our twitter stream if you want to see more.

My favourites:

AABadenhorst: We work on psychological ripeness. You don’t wanna pick on a Friday for instance. – Adi, duh.

AABadenhorst: “This is not a pretty wine but it’s made to drink. We drink LOTS of this” – Adi. #secateurs Red

AABadenhorst: When is harvest over? Well the #oesAf party is on 22 March, so before then…

YES. We put some dates in diaries over dinner (at the ping pong table)

I also have dates for two tasting brunches, but I have a long waiting list to inform of that first. But watch this space for more details soon.

Thanks Gemma and everyone who showed up, tasted, laughed, bough wine and and and. Love you guys…