On Saturday we had our first “formal” sit down trade tasting on Kalmoesfontein.

When Adi proposed the event about 6 weeks ago he was adamant that we’d be going very formal – guests (all from the Western Cape trade, and that one journalist we always like to have around) would sit down to taste the latest vintages of our regular offering and new single vineyard releases as well some of those cards Adi always has up his sleeve (when he wears them).

Afterwards we would enjoy a casual Swartland lunch. I was going to send out postcards with Save the Dates – an idea that got me very excited, I even started writing the 70 cards only to realise that logistically there was no way we would establish a guest list, get postal addresses and trust the South African Postal Service to get the Save The Dates to people before it was actually too late for them to save the date… Alas, sales reps, family and wine agents started pulling together an invite list and eventually we go a lovely group of about 30 people together to share a relaxed day on the farm with us.

By the time the final reminder email went out Adi’s comms to me was that the day would be “very casual”… and I think what we achieved this weekend was the perfect Kalmoesfontein middleground.

Upon arrival we served an unlabelled and very unassuming “bubbly I’m making with my French friend Vincent Careme” and arguably the braaibroodjies of the year. Adi’s mother Judy was prepping lunch in the kitchen and the vinyl player filled the air with some folk reggae vibes.

Eventually everyone moved to the back stoep to sit down at a tasting sheet with a line up of 8 wines. Adi introduced each wine briefly talking terroir and cellar methods in his own unique way.

After the tasting a buffet harvest table style lunch of

braaied peri-peri // lemon and herb chickens (free range from a neighbour obviously)

more of those braaibroodjies (plaas brood with tomato, cheese and onion)

green salad (from the farm’s garden) and Judy’s famous Salsa Verde

hereboontjies salad

was served in the kitchen.

There was desert too. And some sample tasters of Adi’s latest ventures; ‘Century Spirit’ – 100% Graaff Reinet Agave and ‘Spirit of the Cape’ – distilled Caperitif.

By the time I left Adi and a few reps, agents and ‘last guests standing’ were sitting around with all the open bottles of wine… and I can only imagine that scene persisted late into the afternoon.

If you joined us, thank you for making the journey to the Partyberg. We hope you had a lovely day. If you couldn’t make it, let’s hope we can get our postcards out way early next time – send a pigeon with your postal address, please.

Credit:

Tasting sheet designed by Ronelle at YehBaby.

Pictures 3 and 5 by Johan from getwine.

Other pictures by ‘Marketing and Web Stuff Cousin’ Helena.