Badenhorst Family Wines

Adi Badenhorst makes wine the traditional way on Kalmoesfontein.

Happy Grenache Day

Posted on September 21, 2012 by quietriotgirl

The Paardeberg locals aka Partyberg regulars convened at Adi’s 40th and made an executive decision to have more parties. “People need to get together for more than just christenings, birthdays and funerals” – says Eben (Sadie).

And so we got together on Kalmoesfontein for the 1st of these “any-reason-to-party” parties- celebrating International Grenache Day (a day early).

Adi, telling us we need to have more parties. No one objected to the motion.

Breyani!

Adi giving us a tour of the ~~gallery~~, winery.

This is how you open a Paardeberg Perle. Yes that is a hammer.

Most of us had a slow start to the actual Grenache day, but it was well worth it. Hope you celebrate this special grape tonight and have a great (long) weekend (for the South Africans, enjoy “braai day” and make sure there are some good wines to celebrate our great wine heritage.)

spring

Posted on September 6, 2012 by quietriotgirl

A few words from a man of many words. Adi gives some feedback on our spring day brunch / “Secateurs launch”

“Was a moerse lekker kuier on Saturday, I think we had more fun than the guests!
There was enough wine and food to go around. Some people left their cars in Malmesbury with broken gear boxes and still made it to the farm in time and then pitched in to make delicious salads to go with the late afternoon chicken and rabbit pies!

Harry helped plant tomatoes and beans – he will be back in 90 days to collect the harvest – much like he did with the Secateurs (Harry spent a few days on the farm harvesting in February and then came to drink as much as he could of the new release on Saturday!)
Roland from wine cellar even bought a bottle of wine in case ours was not up to scratch! Thanks for the Drouhin Roland!
Melissas staff brought lovely flowers and we now have a very cool collection of Melissas hand-me-down cafe chairs in and around the old house.

In general it was a fantastic bunch of people gathered together on a beautiful Swartland day.”

So there you have it, thanks for all the support and look forward to seeing you all at the next one!

Some photos with love and thanks to Maree Louw, I am sure she snapped pictures while husband Callie braaiied the chickens?

See more photos on Maree’s naturallight photography Facebook album.

NLR Wines Trade Show

Posted on August 2, 2012 by quietriotgirl

If you are in the George / Knysna / Plettenberg Bay / Mosselbay area – don’t miss the NLR Wines Trade show on the weekend of 16-18 August.

Nelmarie is our distributor for the Garden Route and will be pouring not only our wines, but wines from all of her wonderful clients.

Wosa, wooooosa…

Posted on June 26, 2012 by quietriotgirl

Jenny Bahn from WOSA (Wines of SA) in the USA recently did an interview with Adi and made some great comments on our business, including this site (which makes me super happy!).

“Hein and Adi Badenhorst are as dynamic as their wines, having created a real lifestyle around their brand, as evident on their uncommonly lively website. There, they share news about their wines, photographs from parties and events on the property, as well as menu selections from their enviable weekend brunches.”

“The farm’s collective enthusiasm for both the art of living and the art of wine is infectious, its passion unparalleled.”

Read the entire interview here.

Tasting Brunch Saturdays – the pilot

Posted on May 28, 2012 by quietriotgirl

On Saturday 26 May we hosted our first ever “Tasting Brunch Saturday”.

Adi’s cousin (always keeping it in the family) and her wine club from Cape Town came through with all their husbands, kids and questions. The morning was a great success and soon we will be hosting these on a regular basis.

Glass in hand we will guide you through the property.

After the rains there are plenty of Shaggy Ink Caps have sprouted up on the grass.

Kids will keep themselves entertained…

while adults enjoy a “cellar tour” Kalmoesfontein style.

Adi: “We don’t make a cap classic, that’s too wanky” – this is the Paardeberg Perle.

the menu:

farm breads and jam
eggs benedict on herb rosti with crispy bacon and hollandaise sauce
roasted ripe tomatoes and fesh herbs
waterblommetjie quiches
boerewors on the braai

tea and coffee

The Swartland will be sad to see you go (and vice versa)

To be informed of the next Tasting Brunch Saturday, make sure you are on our mailing list by emailing Helena at aabadenhorstwine@gmail.com

see you soon!

for the love of South African wine

Posted on May 8, 2012 by quietriotgirl

Adi wrote the (wine) introduction for Reuben Riffel’s new cookbook Reuben Cooks Local.

hou verby, USA

Posted on April 12, 2012 by quietriotgirl

Adi figured out how to use his iPhone and took a few pictures while “on tour” in the USA earlier this month.

Bartholomew Broadbents house in Virginia, he owns Broadbent Selections who import our wines to the US.

Mike Ratcliffe from Warwick Wines with Lisa Norris of Broadbent Selections who tries her best with out wines from DC downwards.

Steven Barnard was at school with Adi at Wynberg Boys High, these days he is making wine at Keswick in Virginia.

Richard Pogue aka The Silver Fox of Country Vintner who are our distributors and Gregg Perkins from Broadbent who Adi says “still looks a bit tired after our yoga session!”

The famous Pike Market in Seattle is a self producer / organic enthusiast’s dream come true.

in the summer time when the harvest is fine!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by quietriotgirl

Just look at these, Chenin Blanc grapes from the 1957 planting – one of the oldest vineyards in the Paardeberg!

This cask (above) is for Cornelia’s own consumption. Every year Adi makes a wine especially for his wife. This year, Chardonnay! (it must be love)

Above and below, other casks furiously fermenting…

Jasper and Meike (our German intern) loading the (in)famous Klappomp – unique to Kalmoesfontein and says Adi, “it makes other winemakers nervous”…

for the love of meat and wine

Posted on February 16, 2012 by quietriotgirl

When you think about celebrating Valentine’s Day you probably conjure up pictures of pretty couples eating dinner by candlelight. Maybe you envision tacky window displays of hearts and bouquets of red roses or cuddly toys and boxes of chocolates…

We head over to Melissa’s Food Shop on Kloof Street and did it a little different this year. Keeping in mind that 2012 is a leap year, we catered for the men and took care of South Africans’ biggest love affairs: braai, wine and humour.

Infamous Afrikaans Rap artist Jack Parow tanned a few lamb chops on the braai, deliciously marinated in his own Parow Braai Sauce. Food from the Karoo meats, available at all Melissa’s Food Shops, is the real deal – no preservatives, no additives, in fact no human interference at all. Just lamb, as nature intended it to be.

Together Adi and Jack were the Hairy Beasts, a theme inspired by the quirky gingerbread person range Melissa’s got into store for the month of love. Adi poured guests some of our fine wines, also on sale at Melissa’s (Kloof Street and Stellenbosch stores only) from the entry level ‘value for money’ Secateurs to the ‘spoil your wife’ premium range – the Badenhorst Family Wines.

Parow Sauce and Secateurs – the love affair of the day!

Kids at Jan v Riebeek High School across the road, screaming for Jack’s attention!

working weekends

Posted on February 6, 2012 by quietriotgirl

On Saturday our financial manager Gerrie got out of his office chair, put on some shorts and left the aircon behind to come help harvest on Kalmoesfontein. He brought his cute kids to lend another two pairs of hands (we are all for child labour here in the Swartland).