March 2013: Feast of Wines

Enjoy a fine wine time with us and enjoy an experience not to be forgotten.

• Discount on purchases of any 12 wines

• FREE wine tastings

• Open every day, 7 days a week

• Wine delivered world-wide

• Ample free parking

We are passionate about wine. Let us help you with your food and wine pairing, or selecting the perfect gift for that special person or occasion.

Join us in tasting many decadent wines including:

• Belfield
• Eenzaamheid
• KWV Mentor Range
• Blaauwklippen
• Jean Daneel
• Arendskloof
• Mount Rozier
• Keermont
• Jakob’s Vineyards

People also rave about our local Gin, Brandy, Grappa and Port tastings. Join us for a fine wine time!

Hemel en Aarde Garden Market

Every Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00 we have a lovely market at the Hemel en Aarde Village. Join us for a fun-filled morning in our beautiful garden with homemade jams and preserves, freshly baked cakes, breads, pies and rusks, the best coffee in Hermanus, sweets and savouries, crumpets, pancakes and freshly grown greens from the valley, yummy wraps and steak rolls with all the trimming, cheese platters with a glass of wine and beer on tap, to name but a few.

Hermanus wine route charity

Thanks to the Hermanus Wine Route, the R320 has become one of the most important roads on the South African tourist landscape. A magnificent limited blend, celebrating the generosity of the surrounding terroir, was created with the aim of social upliftment of the local community by providing educational assistance to learners in the area.

By buying this wine you are supporting a very worthwhile cause, the education of our children and grandchildren’s future.

Was R100 per bottle

NOW R50 per bottle

Generous and broadly structured, with the aromas repeated on the palate. A soft grip of fine tannins adds complexity and good length.

Hemel en aarde pre-school

Angelique Herbst and her team re-opened the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pre-School this year.  Sales from the Hermanus Wine Route R320 wine has enabled her to do so. With the very steep cost of the crèches in Hermanus,  the need was felt to assist the labour force in the Hemel-en-Aarde area with pre-school education for their children – a crucial step to assure the successful completion ultimately of their schooling. To assist with the funding of the school, Angelique has applied for a government grant, unfortunately, this process will take a number of months to complete.  Until the process is completed, the pre-school runs on donations and sales of the R320 wine.

The school is now home to 25 children from the Hemel-en-Aarde area and also some children from Hermanus.

Any assistance financially would be much appreciated, but also, any educational toys, puzzles, building blogs, outside toys, cots, clothing, eating utensils, etc would greatly help to enrich these children’s lives.

Wine Shipments

Wines delivered world-wide best to suit the requirements of the client.

For rates please contact us on winevillage@hermanus.co.za.

Feast of Wines

March 2013

Let us Serenade you with wines from here and there

Serenade by Edgar Allan Poe

So sweet the hour, so calm the time,
I feel it more than half a crime,
When Nature sleeps and stars are mute,
To mar the silence ev'n with lute.
At rest on ocean's brilliant dyes
An image of Elysium lies:
Seven Pleiades entranced in Heaven,
Form in the deep another seven:
Endymion nodding from above
Sees in the sea a second love.
Within the valleys dim and brown,
And on the spectral mountain's crown,
The wearied light is dying down,
And earth, and stars, and sea, and sky
Are redolent of sleep, as I
Am redolent of thee and thine
Enthralling love, my Adeline.
But list, O list,- so soft and low
Thy lover's voice tonight shall flow,
That, scarce awake, thy soul shall deem
My words the music of a dream.
Thus, while no single sound too rude
Upon thy slumber shall intrude,
Our thoughts, our souls- O God above!
In every deed shall mingle, love.
__________________________________

On a lovely sunny Friday afternoon we drove up to Southern Right Vineyards to taste the latest sea-aged Sauvignon Blanc.

At the tasting Anthony Hamilton Russell awarded Lee Burman a beautifully sculptured Southern Right whale as a thank you gesture for all her hard work on Fynbos conservation in the Overstrand. Congratulation to Lee and a well-deserved award. Lee is a walking encyclopaedia on Fynbos and very very knowledgeable on the subject.
We were offered a tasting of the 2010 and 2011. The bottles were freshly pulled from the sea that morning. And decidedly quite delicious.
You will remember that the 2004 Sauvignon Blanc was sealed with normal capsules but this time round the bottles were sealed with wax and me-oh-my, what a stunner.
The wines were put to sea in August 2011 and will either be fished out this year or next year in August.

I am mighty curious to see how it will show then.
We will of course let you know as soon as it is released. The 2004 sea-aged vintage was sold out within hours. We loved that particular vintage and the barnacles and sea grass on the bottles was of course another draw card!

So as to not feel left out we have some delicious golden drops for you to smack your lips on this month with daily tastings on the following:

Belfield

Beautiful Aristata2009. Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend with incredible finesse.
Eenzaamheid
Boutique winery with a 1688 farmhouse that is the oldest registered building in South Africa.
KWV Mentor Range
Sterling performance at this year’s Michelangelo International Wine Awards
Blaauwklippen
Come and taste the sensuous Before & After fortified.
Jean Daneel
King of Chenin Blanc’s range of wines
Arendskloof
Intense and complex wine from Moddergat-Oos farm in the Worcester district.
Mount Rozier
Wines from the top of Schapenberg, located next to Vergelegen.
Keermont
Fantastic wines from the beautiful Blaauwklippen valley.
Jakob’s Vineyards
A dream farm of the de Lange family set against the Babylonstoren mountains.

          People also rave about our local Gin, Brandy, Grappa and Port tastings.

 

Yummy Specials for March

○ Bon Courage Chenin Blanc 2012

WAS R33.00 NOW R27.95

○ Robertson Sauvignon Blanc 2012

WAS R42.00  NOW R32.95

○ Hermanuspietersfontein Sonner Nommer 2011

WAS R69.50  NOW R59.00

○ Jean Daneel Initial White

WAS R59.50  NOW R52.00

○ Jean Daneel Initial Red

WAS R77.50  NOW R59.90

○ Jean Daneel Signature Red

WAS R169.900  NOW R115.00

           Prices valid till 30 March or while stocks last.

To purchase any of the above wines simply click here and complete your order, or email me directly. This offer is valid in-store as well. Phone us on 028-316-3988 if you’re in a hurry or afraid that you will miss out!

Wine Shipments
Wines delivered world-wide best to suit the requirements of the client.
For rates please contact us on winevillage@hermanus.co.za

February Valentine's Issue

February, the month of love

When the going gets tough, the tough get chocolate!

I cannot think of anybody who does not love chocolate. Serving chocolate with wine can seem a big problem as they can overpower many wines.

So you thought you should only pair it with sweet or fortified wine? Often it is the safer route, but a full bodied Cabernet with a dark, bitter chocolate is heavenly.

A guideline for serving chocolate with wine is to pair lighter chocolates with lighter wines and darker chocolates with full-bodied or fortified wines. Milk chocolate is great with Merlot or Riesling. If it disturbs you to serve wine with chocolate, give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised!

We have a fantastic selection of Belgium chocolates made by Chocolatier Gaspard of Betty’s Bay. One of my absolute favourites in his selection is a date stuffed with a salted roasted Almond and covered with dark, bitter chocolate.  Who cannot agree more with his motto of “save the earth, it’s the only planet with chocolate”.

My all time divine chocolate cake recipe! [click here]

My favourite wines for Valentines

♥Ambeloui Miranda MCC WAS R160  NOW R140

Platter rated 4½ stars

♥Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2012  WAS R42 NOW R36.60

Platter rated 4½ stars

♥Cabriere Chardonnay/Pinot Noir 2012 WAS R79  NOW R70

Platter rated 3½ stars

♥Boekenhoutskloof Chocolate Block 2011 WAS R195  NOW R175

Platter rated 4½ stars

♥Henry Shiraz 2009 WAS R85  NOW R59.00

Platter rated 3 stars.

♥Rupert & Rothschild Classique 2010 WAS R117  NOW R105

Platter rated 4 stars.

Prices valid till 20 February or while stocks last.

To purchase any of the above wines simply click here and complete your order, or email me directly. This offer is valid in-store as well. Phone us on 028-316-3988 if you’re in a hurry or afraid that you will miss out!

Wine Shipments

Wines delivered world-wide best to suit the requirements of the client.

February 2013

Be My Valentine

Nothing in the world is single;

All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine? -

See the mountains kiss high Heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth

And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?

by Percy Bysshe Shelley
(1803-1822)

Our Valentine Wine

►Arendskloof Sauvignon Blanc 2012 WAS R82  NOW R49.90

Platter rated 3½ stars.

Full body, crisp texture and prefect balance mark it as a serious wine. Worth buying and keeping a few bottles of this superb wine!

►Belfield Aristata 2009 WAS R117  NOW R95.00

Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Incredible balance and finesse. Dark fruit, chocolate and spice flavours abound. Top selling wine of all newsletter specials in 2012.

To purchase any of the above wines simply click here and complete your order, or email me directly. This offer is valid in-store as well. Phone us on 028-316-3988 if you’re in a hurry or afraid that you will miss out!

Wine Appreciation Classes

1. Introduction to South African Wines

Four wine tasting sessions of 2 hours with 6 wines on tasting each night.

R400.00 per person

May 8, 15, 22 & 29 (arrive at 18:00, class starts strictly at 18:30)

2. Essential Partners – South African Food & Wine Pairing

Four wine and food pairing classes with 6 wine pairings each night.

R600.00 per person

June 5, 12, 19 & 26 (arrive at 18:00, class starts strictly at 18:30)

1 - Introduction to South African Wines

We will take you on a wine experience of South African wines. From the cradle to the table, from the vine to the bottle.

·         Short history background of the extraordinary journey of Vitis Vinifera.

·         Wine Appreciation: How we get around enjoying the fruits of the vine.

·         Why we asses wine.

·         How do you score wine and keep track of the experience.

·         Wine tasting criteria.

·         How does South Africa feature in the world of wine?

·         Wine growing regions of South Africa and the impact of the climate on grape growing.

·         Good wine starts with good vines and growing conditions.

·         Four seasons of loving care of the vine.

·         The basic grape anatomy.

·         How wine is made.

·         Why we mature wine in oak barrels. (and other ways of oak flavour integration.)

·         Grape cultivars and their flavour profiles.

·         Basic principles of wine and food pairing.

·         How to buy and store wine.

·         Glassware and serving of wine.

           

           

2 – Essential Partners – South African Wine Pairing with Food.
(Four wine and food pairing classes with 6 wine with food pairings each night) R600.00

·         Wine as an essential food partner

·         How do we taste?

·         The no no’s of wine and food pairing

·         Wine with each course

·         Wine as an aperitif

·         Wine with starters and salads

·         Wine with main courses

·         Wine with desserts and cheese

·         Wine as a between course partner

·         Create a food dish around a wine.

Wine Shipments

Wines delivered world-wide best to suit the requirements of the client.

For rates please contact us on winevillage@hermanus.co.za.

January 2013 - Harvest Update

Harvest 2013

The beautiful sunshine weather is perfect for the final ripening of the grapes here in Hermanus. The little sprinkling of rain we’ve had has been a blessing in killing off the last of the smoking embers of a few veld fires we’ve had, but has also resulted in spurted growth in the vines. In order for the grapes to get enough sunshine, these branches are trimmed. Any late bunches are removed to make sure that there is even ripeness. The grapes are protected by nets to keep away most of the baboons and birds, who are looking for food, as a result of the veld fires we’ve had.

Harvesting of the Pinot Noir should be at the beginning of February and Chardonnay will probably be at the end of February or during March.

My prediction is that this will be a champion crop. We’ve had a fabulous wet and cold winter and summer has started slowly with no scorching winds.

Bargain Offer

Saxenburg Guinea Fowl Red now only R45 per bottle, excluding delivery fees.

Offer valid while stocks last.

To purchase the above wine simply click here and complete your order, or email me directly.

Wine Forum Conference Venue

Full Day Package at R220 per person

Includes

Tea/Coffee and muffins on arrival

Mid morning and afternoon tea/coffee and biscuits

Set lunch (two course)

Bottled water

Standard conference equipment

Board Room – up to 30

U-shape – up to 30

Cinema – up to 80

Class Room – up to 60

To book or for more information email conference@hermanus.co.za

Competition

Send us your favourite summer recipe. The best recipe will win 4 tickets to the Paul Cluver Amphitheatre with a bottle of Paul Cluver wine.

Click here to view the winning recipe of our previous newsletter.

Easy Living Food

Natalie Reid, co-author of the marvellous, Eat In, award winning book, will conduct a four hour raw food preparation class in Hermanus, covering the following topics

*Why raw? Some of the benefits of eating a high raw diet.

*Getting started. How, where, what.

*Myth busting. Eating well is expensive? Preparing raw food is timely?

*Q and A. An opportunity to ask Natalie about useful tricks and tips.

Throughout the session Natalie will prepare easy and delicious raw food.

To book contact kruger@kruger-associates.com

Date: Saturday 26 January

Time: 14:00

Venue: Anja’s Mum Café at 5 High Street

Cost: R395 per person

Wine Shipments

Wines delivered world-wide best to suit the requirements of the client. We also consolidate shipments - ask us for a quote. We send from 1 bottle to full containers world wide. Shipments sent by AIRFREIGHT or SEA FREIGHT. For rates please contact us on winevillage@hermanus.co.za.

January 2013

Happy New Year

Do you still remember ABBA’s hit “Happy New Year” on their album Super Trouper? First sung in Swedish, later in English. Since then sung by numerous singers all over the world in their native tongue be it Dutch, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Russian, Irish and maybe one day in Afrikaans, too! Now there’s an opportunity!

Our best wishes to you, your family and friends. May it be that every neighbour does become a friend.  

The weather this festive season has been fantastic! Perfect dry and sunny weather has made Hermanus the best holiday destination in South Africa. The beaches were packed with sunbathers and many holiday makers enjoyed walks in Fernkloof with great bird watching a highlight.

One of the most visited activities was the wine tasting at the Wine Village, where we tasted more than 20 wines every day.

New Year was celebrated with tasting bubblies at the Wine Village of Kanu Giselle, Longridge Brut, Waverly Hills Organic, Ambeloui Nicholas, Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel, Bon Courage’s Jacques Bruere Blanc de Blanc, Saxenburg Private Collection, Lategan Blanc de Blanc, Guinevere and Charles Fox!

Bargain Offers

Less 10% on any of the wines below - until 15 January 2013!

Wine	Platter Rated	Was	Now
Trizanne Sauvignon Blanc 2011	4 stars	R74	R66.60
Arendskloof Pinot Grigio 2012	4 stars	R95	R85.50
Longridge Chardonnay 2009	4 stars	R94	R84.60
Strandveld Navigator 2010	4½ stars	R156	R140.40
Waterford Rosemary 2012	3½ stars	R65	R58.50
Anura Malbec 2006	4 stars	R99.90	R89.90
Spencer Bay The Blend 2009	4 stars	R88	R79.20
Simonsig Merindol Syrah 2010	5 stars	R269.90	R242.90
Are We Having Fun Yet? Merlot 2005	4 stars	R49	R44.10

To purchase any of the above wines simply click here and complete your order, or email me directly.

Competition

Send us your favourite summer recipe. The best recipe will win a case of wine delivered to any address in South Africa. We’ll make up a case of our favourite wines of Hermanus and surrounds for the winner to enjoy.

Whales of Hermanus

In a heart warming Christmas tale that has drawn international interest, a southern right whale in Walker Bay appears to have adopted a lonely orphaned calf.

“One of those incredible moments with undisturbed wildlife,” is how Evan Austin of African Wings describes it. His tour company uses airplanes to watch and count whales during the months when they are in the Walker Bay area. He has been documenting this unique story on his Facebook page since 10 December, when he first noticed the orphan near Pearly Beach.

Austin was hopeful that the calf’s mother was in the vicinity, but during a fly-over the next day the group in the plane spotted only one cow-and-calf pair, with the lone calf lingering nearby. And with the whales departing for Antarctic feeding grounds in the next few weeks, this orphan faced an uncertain future if left alone.

Mother whales already caring for a calf generally do not accept orphaned calves because rearing and protecting a single calf is a monumental task. Twin births are exceedingly rare and an almost unheard-of phenomenon, Austin said.

He added that when the orphan first approached the mother and tried to nurse, the mother started thrashing the water and tried to get away from the calf, but it would not give up. While the mother was not in the vicinity the following day, the two calves seemed to bond and were seen swimming close together.

The following Sunday, African Wings watched from the skies as the mother nursed both calves.

“Both calves look healthy and the mother does not look too thin so there is a chance that all may end well,” Austin stated.

This story has gone viral, with people from the USA, Europe and Australia taking an interest, Austin said. Researchers from the USA have also contacted Austin to interview him.

Wine Shipments

Wines delivered world-wide best to suit the requirements of the client. We also consolidate shipments - ask us for a quote. We send from 1 bottle to full containers world wide. Shipments sent by AIRFREIGHT or SEA FREIGHT. For rates please contact us on winevillage@hermanus.co.za.