Matthew Jukes, considered by many to be the most influential wine writer in the UK, turns his attention to South African wine after confessing “Are you, like me, one of those people who doesn’t really get South African wine? … Well, it is time to think again because this mindset is completely and utterly outdated. “
He visited the Cape winelands, and the Swartland, in June and give a very insightful report on the current and future state of SA wine industry.
As he explains: “There is a very strong identity building in South Africa right now surrounding what other countries term ‘Young Guns’. Young Guns are, by way of explanation, not necessarily young people, but they have a fresh, international view, and often a wide skill-set, which is rare in the wine business. They also happen to be the people with their names or brands on the label. They usually operate out of smaller wineries, often having quit large corporate wine companies, and they almost always enjoy instant, mini-cult status on release of their own wines, assuming that they stack up. South Africa hasn’t had many YGs until recently.”
He then goes on to claim:
“Adi Badenhorst’s departure from Rustenberg signalled a spiritual downsizing for ambitious dudes to do their own thing. This is happening in droves and I would venture to say that this movement is very close to becoming the single most important defining factor when it comes to South Africa’s vinous image abroad.”
He mentions more of our Swartland neighbours and fellow Revolutionaries, you know, Sadie, the Mullineuxs, Lammershoek and more.
We would recommend you Read more here as the article is very well written and insightful.
“We few, we happy few.” – Shakespeare’s Henry V
Here are some pictures of the lucky guests who got tickets in time for our first ever open day on Kalmoesfontein. Lunch is served!
Some news from the United Kingdom and Europe.
One of our loyal customers in the UK, Mark Bedford, sent us a picture of him enjoying our Secateurs Red Blend in the forest after foraging for some mushrooms.
He writes:
“Here is the picture of me on a day’s wild forage – leaves, berries, wood pigeon, a few fungi – in a big forest in Oxfordshire, just last Saturday. Your wine went very well with seared wood pigeon breasts gently poached in a hawthorn, sloe and rosehip syrup, all from berries picked an hour earlier. Outstanding tucker and great wine match – though I had to share my bottle with other foragers who had not done the same detailed forward planning since ‘bottle of red wine’ was not in their kit list!”
In other parts of the Northern Hemisphere we are very proud to have our Family Wines and Secateurs on prominent display in Harrods in London and Berlin:
This week London based Fine + Rare, recognized and respected as one of the largest and most successful international fine wine traders, took their first step into recognising fine South African wines. We are honored to play a role in changing their perception and hope this is the beginning of a blossoming relationship.
I quote:
In the final (printed) issue of Wine Magazine (Sept/Oct 2011) they featured “South African Wine Legends” Past, Present and Future without whom they can not imagine the winelands.
Adi (a future legend) and his father-in-law Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee (a present legend) BOTH made it into the selected few, among greats like Tony Mossop, Charles Back, Günter Brözel, John Platter and neighbour / fellow Swartland Revolutionary Eben Sadie.
Although we believe Adi already has legend status, we are honored.
The One-Day-Only invasion on Saturday October 15th will include two events.
First, a FREE tasting with 3 classes:
one to introduce Swartland with Eben’s wines,
one with Chris & Stéphane Ogier (our imported guest at 2010 Revolution)
and one with Adi presenting our wines.
This will take place in a wine cellar in the Latin Quarter of Paris starting at 3pm.
Secondly there will be a wine dinner with a menu to pair with Mullinuex and Badenhorst Wines in a secret location.
Anyone interested in participating can contact Raffi Gabeyan via email at raffi.gabeyan@gmail.com.
The menu from our first open day, prepared by Adi’s mom Judy Badenhorst and a few hardworking friends and family members.
Recently we told you about the new (old) barrels we bought for the cellar and how Razvan at Nederburg gave us a few tips on how to clean them. We have started to move the smaller barrels out of the cellar and have washed out the new (old) barrels.
As you know, everything we do on Kalmoesfontein is a family affair, so it was no surprise that little Ana Kalander wanted to keep an eye on her dad while he performed this important task.
Quality control, Paardeberg style~
Anton Espost – owner of The Wine Kollective in Riebeek Kasteel’s Short Street Square is also a keen writer and has recently published “Swartland Grapeheart 2011′.
We love:
1. The tattoo inspired All Stars cover.
2. The clever quirky diagrams we found in there:
2.1 The Swartland Brain:
2.2 The Wine Regions of SA:
2.3 And the percentage of Landcruisers with designer dogs:
The Wine Kollective was started with the brilliant idea:
The Blue Building
Short Street
Riebeek Kasteel
t. 022 448-1008
e. espost@telkomsa.net
Free tastings on weekends!!
Badenhorst Family Wines 