Yesterday our neighbours at Babylonspeak (fellow members of the Swartland Independents) washed all their harvest crates in the dam on the farm.
A pleasing sign that the hard harvest is drawing to a close.
Swartland Moments
Reply
Category Archives: swartland
Happy Feet…
The Grade R’s from Samuel’s school in Malmesbury (where he is in the “big school” Grade 1 this year) came to help stomp some grapes on Kalmoesfontein yesterday.
AWE-some
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
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…
fine idea
In the Guardian this weekend Fiona Beckett recommended the Tesco’s “Finest Swartland Shiraz” made by Adi, as a wine that has “financial advantage to stocking up. If you can nab something at a good price you can buy some to drink and some to keep.”
Read the article on What’s worth keeping? And what’s best drunk without delay? by clicking here.
Southern Guild 2012
We recently sponsored some wine for Southern Guild’s 2012 exhibition Opening Gala and Design Foundation Awards. Southern Guild 2012 was a resounding success, broke all records of attendance at the Everard Read.
They have a very exciting line up of exhibitions in 2013 kicking off with Heavy Metal at the Woodstock Foundry CT, Design Days Dubai in March and Design Miami Basel in June.
Here are some photos.
Revolution already on the way
Yes, this weekend past was the third annual Swartland Revolution. A weekend of great wines (from France, Germany, Portugal and naturally, the Swartland), fabulous food and lots of Swartland gees. Like one happy revolutionary observed: the right level of geeky/nerd/fun!!
Maree Louw, revolutionary wife, once again took some amazing pictures, and we gladly share them with you here.
Hiiii Eben
The first tasting, Quality First was presented by father and son team, Alain and Maxime Graillot who each showed three of their wines from France.
Adi showing Samuel some tricks of the trade.
Friday night BBQ at Bazaar, by Moerby Kultuur.
Die Baardskeerdersbos Orkes had everyone dancing. “Klein bietjie wyn, klein bietjie wyn” (lies, all lies!)
Adi and Callie in good spirits (especially considering it is 9am on THE Saturday)
Beer and worsrol break between Saturday morning tastings.
Lunch, by “the revolutionary moms” led by Adi’s mom Judy, was a huge success.
The Moms! (take a bow!)
And then there was the Swartland Independent Street Party, with 18 members pouring their wines in Short Street Square.
Including Jasper’s new venture, made on Kalmoesfontein – Muskeljaatkat!
And then it was over. Another great success, with attendees already asking “can I book for next year…”
Um, no, give us a chance to recover, celebrate summer, harvest and then once we’ve started planning, we can talk about another revolution.
Thanks for sharing in the experience!
Those thirsty Irish
In wine.co.za’s latest newsletter Graham Howe goes SA Wine-spotting in Ireland.
We’ll give it to those big drinking Irish, they have some good taste as Graham found our Secateurs Chenin twice while out and about.
1. “When travelling abroad, I always enjoy wine-spotting South Africa. The extensive wine-list by the glass and bottle at Nick’s Warehouse in the bohemian cathedral quarter of Belfast highlighted new listings of Kaapzicht’s Cape Diversity Chardonnay 2010 (at R60 a glass) as “a great example of un-oaked Chardonnay” – as well as Adi Badenhorst’s Secateurs Chenin Blanc and Cape Classics Chenin.”
2. “At Deanes – under Michael Deane, one of Ireland’s top Michelin chefs – I spotted Adi Badenhorst’s Secateurs Chenin Blanc (R350) on the blackboard as the preferred partner for seafood – and Boekenhoutskloof Wolftrap Red (R350) for meatier fare.
A long way from Kalmoesfontein in the Paardeberg, we were tempted by the pure citrus fruits and leesy texture of Adi’s bushvine Chenin – the perfect match for the local smoked salmon and the best lemon sole served with cockles, capers and new potatoes.”
It seems our Chenin is all the rage this month, with attention from Ireland to San Francisco and top 50 accolades from Decanter… Just in time for South African summer!
black land
Many foreiners (and Saffas alike) ask us what Swartland means.
This is a nice little explanation.
Swartland, from the Dutch “Het Zwarte Land” (the Black Land). The first explorers to the area called it so because of the endemic Renosterbos (Elytropappus rhinocerotis). After the rains, mainly in winter, the Renoster Bos takes on a dark appearance when viewed from the distance in large numbers. This is due to the fine leaf-hairs adhering to the leaves when wetted.
Now you know…
Blending in to stand out
Wine writer Tim James and Wine Cellar recently had a blind tasting of French vs Swartland Shiraz-based blends.
James reports: “Shiraz-based blends, not too complicated ones but fresh and delicious, are my own “house red”. If they were eatable, then something between comfort food and an infallible quick-and easy dish; for when a challenge to tired tastebuds or tired spirits is not wanted. Modest wines – in the best sense of a word that is too seldom appropriate in a world of wannabes, of over-oaked, over-ripe, over-everythinged wines. And not too expensive.
So it was not only with the aim of learning something to pass on to others that I asked Roland Peens of the invaluable Wine Cellar in Cape Town to arrange a small comparative tasting of such wines. Half imported by him from the south of France, others from the Swartland – the region which has most assiduously promoted the style locally (including some grand versions but they were not what this tasting was about).”
He concludes that “Coming second by arithmetic, but first for me, was Badenhorst Secateurs 2011 – beautifully just what I wanted: plenty of flavour, but not sweetly fruity, harmoniously balanced with structure – a firm but gentle “grip” so the wine doesn’t flop around in your mouth!”
Read more on Tim’s blog by clicking here. The article also appeared in Mail & Guardian, 28 September-4 October 2012
Badenhorst Family Wines 