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.
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!
Ana helps prepare Cape Winemakers Guild Auction wines for their new owners. 
Jasper and Adi working hard at fixing the old water tank:
Adi, Samuel and Ana nesting at Babylonstoren where we had our final Swartland Revolution meeting:
winning Five Stars for our Family White Blend at the launch of 2013 The Platter Guide:
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next week this time the Revolution will be almost over. Crazy how this year is flying by.
Happy weekend everyone!
Last night at the launch of the 2013 Platter Wine Guide our Family White Blend (2010 vintage) took home FIVE STARS.
This makes us proud, and happy, and keen to open another bottle of the stuff.
Jasper really emerges himself in his work…
Did you know, the Badenhorst family grows more than just grapes and wins awards for things other than wines!
Hein (Adi’s “dynamic, good looking” cousin) and his father Fred continue the tradition of a long line of farmers in a family who have lived off the soil and its bounty for generations.
They saw the unique micro climate of the Prince Albert district producing beautiful figs, grapes, pomegranates and citrus – and realised that olives would be a natural fit. Today they produce olives and make award winning Olive oil, oil we use to cook everything at home (and on tasting brunch Saturdays.)
Our blogger (that’s me!) has now extended the family client base and has started a blog for the Olive farm, keep an eye on it for interesting information and fun facts.
Our official corespondent at this year’s Cape Winemaker’s Guild reports that we sold 26 x 6 packs of 750ml (at around R230 per bottle) and 30 magnums of the 2011 Chateaux Ramnasgras from Kalmoesfontein.
We believe most of it went to private collections.
Says Adi: “a small step for mankind but a giant leap for cinsault!”
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.
In her column this week for San Fransico Examiner, Pamela S. Busch asks friends and experts in the food and wine industry to recommend wines for their unique autumn weather.
The first person she consulted was Barbara Haimes, “an instructor of culinary arts and hospitality studies for City College of San Francisco, as well as the longtime wine buyer for Café Rouge in Berkeley and truly one of the most gifted people I know.”
Barbara (bless her) “picked the 2010 Badenhorst Chenin Blanc Secateurs ($15) from Swartland, South Africa, saying it’s “perfect as we move from tomatoes to winter squash and richer, fattier foods.” OK, I’ll buy that.”
Maybe you should go buy it too… Just a thought!
Read the rest of the article here. Happy weekend!
Swedish-American wine connoisseur Erica of http://twosisterswinetripping.com recently visited SA for Cape Wine (and more.) She lists Swartland as one of her favourite finds and even snapped a pic of Adi looking formal(ish).
She starts with: “The trip to South Africa was a real eye-opener for me. I had written off the country as a producer of mainly overripe, overextracted, “created” bulk wines. How unprofessional of me to cast such a judgement before visiting! The South African wine industry is moving by leaps and bounds, and there are bottled wines in the somewhat higher price categories (between 10-30 USD is the most interesting range in my opinion) that converted me completely.
Wines from the grouping called The Swartland Independents were my favorite new finds.”
An interesting look at how to move the South African wine industry forward, I would recommend you read the article, by clicking here!
In her previous post she had actually visited us on the farm and gives some nice feedback on the Swartland Independents.
Badenhorst Family Wines 