Get away, escape!

Posted on March 17, 2014 by quietriotgirl

Our Winemaker’s Cottage featured in an article by Nikki Werner in the March 2014 edition of Getaway Magazine.

To book, go here.

Summer stunner

Posted on March 12, 2014 by quietriotgirl

Pictures popped up this week of Lauren and Gene’s wedding on the farm in December. Just stunning!

thanks to the ladies (above) for the help.

check out more pictures on the photographers’ blog.

The end is near…

Posted on March 1, 2014 by quietriotgirl

As the end of the 2014 harvest starts to come into our sights, here are some pictures from the last few weeks.

late night pasta.

Cellar innovation!

A Swartland style siesta…

Pressing Koffieklip Shiraz!

pressing 1985 Steen (Chenin Blanc) after a two year sabbatical. Small berries big taste hey…

a cellar of steel!

Samuel’s tank, 2014 Vintage.

spectacular days and nights

Posted on February 17, 2014 by quietriotgirl

Sunset Sunday 16 February…

Sunrise Monday 17 February…

Spier Secret

Posted on October 28, 2013 by quietriotgirl

This weekend it was time for the 2nd annual Spier Secret Festival (at Spier, obviously).

They celebrate Chenin Blanc (as we all should)

and Nicole was there to pour our latest Secateurs.

While at the food market Yoliswa sold her (world famous, if you consider the guests who have enjoyed them at our cottage on Kalmoesfontein) rusks under the trees.

Yoliswa was very happy with her sales and is already thinking of expanding her business. We would like to thank everyone who helped her make this a success, especially Varenka who designed the packaging.

Chenin photos with thanks to The Chenin Blanc Association of SA. View more here.

ditjies en datjies

Posted on October 25, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Pictures from Adi’s travels and random things on the farm (walking the fine line of becoming one of those blogs full of kids…) as well as some nice media attention received.

This is an update kind of blog, hello, here we are…

Above, Benjamin from Domaine Huet shows Adi some old casks.

Off loading and brief sorting of Chenin destined for some great Methode Ancestrale at Domaine Vincent Careme.

Louis, the son of Vincent and Tania Careme, holding on tight.

Wines from Sebastian David, from the Bourgueil region, exciting wines, no sulfur and organic!

Tasting in Bourguiel, above stellar wines by Catherine and Pierre Breton – organic since 1983.

Below Domaine de la Chevalerie – an underground cave of 1.5ha! Organic producers of wonderful Cabernet franc wines.

Back in the Swartland, Ana is baking cookies

while Samuel and his friends enjoy the first hot days of Summer 2013/4 by swimming with the tadpoles.

And Adi and Jasper have breakfast braais as the sun rises.

It is almost November, Swartland Revolution time, and even Time Magazine is getting in on the action.

We hope to see many of you at the Swartland Independent Street Party on November 9th, it really is the place to be…

Swart is the new black…

Posted on October 15, 2013 by quietriotgirl

Love the title to Richard Holmes’ article in this month’s issue of Food and Home Magazine. Nice feature on the Swartland and the Revolution.

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…”