Escape to the world of opera at Simonsig Estate for a memorable evening of fine food, wine and arias performed by the all-star South African cast of Madama Butterfly at Cuvée Restaurant on Thursday, 5 September 2013.

For this special evening in the heart of the Stellenbosch Winelands, Head Chef Lucas Carstens has designed a menu with flavours of the orient to reflect Puccini’s operatic masterpiece. The overture of seared tuna with daikon salad followed by a green tea refresher will set the scene for the more dramatic Springbok loin served with oriental mushroom duxelle. For his grand finale, Lucas has chosen Mitsumame, a delicious Japanese sundae.

Hailing from various parts of South Africa the young and upcoming Madama Butterfly singers who will be entertaining Cuvée guests, include the award winning tenor, Tshepo Moagi, portraying the role of Pinkerton, mezzo soprano Nonhlanhla Yende as Kate Pinkerton, soprano Arline Jaftha as Butterfly and baritone Mandisinde Mbuyazwe as Sharpless.

Cuvée’s Madama Butterfly dinner costs R 500 per person and includes a glass of Simonsig wine with each course. Booking is essential and for your safety, let Scooter Angels be your designated driver at special rates to Cuvée guests.

For reservations or more information contact Cuvée restaurant on Tel: (021) 888 4932 or send an email to cuvee@simonsig.co.za.

Opera meets Food & Wine at Simonsig’s Cuvée Restaurant first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

While we’re confident that in most European countries barmen will understand the word beer, it is a good idea to localise your bar orders and make friends with the barman.

To this end The Drey has published a map for beer drinkers travelling in Europe with the local terminology so you have no excuse for getting it wrong.

Most countries in Europe have a relatively close “beer” equivalent, mostly in the Latin & Germanic states from which English is primarily derived; “Bier”, Bierra or Birra.

It’s in the Balkans, Russian and Scandinavian countries where things start to change and of course Hungry whose language is not very European at all.

For a larger image, click here.

How to say “beer” in Europe first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

The House of J.C. Le Roux achieved top honours at the highly regarded 2013 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show with the trophy for best sparkling wine awarded to the prestige cuvée, Scintilla 2003.

Winning awards is nothing new for this elegant J.C. Le Roux flagship. Last year the 2003 vintage triumphed as overall winner of the 2012 Amorim Méthode Cap Classique Challenge and walked off with a gold medal at the 2012 Veritas Awards.

“Receiving the trophy for the best sparkling wine is testament to Scintilla’s outstanding quality and status as South Africa’s MCC champion. We only make Scintilla in exceptional vintages, and the end result is a Cap Classique that is luxuriously smooth and well-balanced with an elegant, dry palate and an explosion of scintillating bubbles that will uplift any occasion,” says Cellar Master Elunda Basson.

A classic blend of Chardonnay (75%) and Pinot noir (25%), Scintilla 2003 spent a remarkable seven years on the lees, resulting in rich layers of complexity and flavours with a superior, smooth character.

It is available at boutique wine shops and restaurants, selling for R160 at the cellar door.

J.C. Le Roux Scintilla best sparkling wine at Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Experience the latest Fleur du Cap Unfiltered wine and salt combinations by salt aficionado Chef Craig Cormack at Die Bergkelder, the famous ‘cellar in the mountain’ cut deep into the slopes of the Papegaaiberg in Stellenbosch on Friday, 7 June 2013.

Inspired by Fleur du Cap’s close affinity to nature as expressed in the Fleur du Cap Unfiltered range, this unusual wine and artisanal salt pairing dinner designed by Craig himself, starts off with scrumptious brined pork belly with Asian sauce and crispy pickled vegetables. A refreshing sorbet prepares the palate for succulent braised Irish corned beef with chou croute and beef broth. The evening will end on a high note with salted caramel mousse and traditional stewed quince.

The Fleur du Cap wine and Salt Dinner takes place on Friday, 7 June at 18h30 and costs R290 per person. All courses are seasoned with selected artisanal salts and paired with Fleur du Cap Unfiltered wines. Booking is essential, contact Nadia Ferreira on Tel: 021 809 8025.

For more information visit www.fleurducap.co.za, fleurducap.tumblr.com or join the Fleur du Cap Facebook community.

New Fleur du Cap Salt and Wine pairing dinners at Die Bergkelder first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

The Cape Winemakers Guild has expanded its Protégé Programme, an ongoing initiative to further young, aspirant winemakers, by incorporating the internationally-recognised Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications into its 3-year mentorship scheme.

The first participant in the WSET Level 3 course is Elmarie Botes, a 3rd year Protégé who begins her classes in June. Elmarie is currently completing her internship with Gary Jordan, one of 45 members of the Cape Winemakers Guild, an association of peers representing the pinnacle of South African winemaking. The WSET course affords Protégés the rare opportunity to learn from experienced masters the likes of Cathy van Zyl MW, Richard Kershaw MW, Master of Wine students, WSET Diploma graduates and other industry specialists.

The International Wine Education Centre is currently the only approved programme provider of WSET courses in South Africa. Owner and educator, Cathy Marston, is delighted that the CWG has chosen to invest in the Protégés by giving them such a truly global opportunity.

“Today’s winemakers cannot expect to just hide in the cellar and make wine – there’s far more to the job than that! They need to travel, to understand their customers wherever they are, to understand the competition and international markets and to use this knowledge to improve the wines they make themselves,” says Cathy. “WSET Level 3 offers a solid and thorough grounding in all international wines and wine styles and in addition, gives the protégées a real connection with other winemakers and marketers around the world, many of whom will have studied the exact same course as them.”

The UK-based WSET was established in 1969 and currently offers qualifications in 17 languages and in 60 countries, including South Africa. Last year, more than 43,000 people enrolled for a WSET qualification making them the largest wine and spirit education authority in the world.

“The WSET course augments the practical experience gained while working side by side in the cellar with our members. We want our Protégés to develop into highly skilled winemakers with the confidence and deep understanding of the world of wine, not just in the cellar or on our shores but in the global vineyard,” says Louis Strydom, Chairman of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust.

The Protégé Programme was launched in 2006 under the auspices of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust with the goal of bringing about transformation in the wine industry by cultivating, nurturing and empowering promising individuals to become winemakers of excellence.

The Guild currently has seven Protégés enrolled in the programme. Qualifications in either Cellar Technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College or Oenology and Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch are minimum requirements for admission to the programme.

For more information on the Guild, contact Tel: 021 852 0408 or send an email to info@capewinemakersguild.com. Students interested in applying for the Protégé Programme can visit the Guild’s website at www.capewinemakersguild.com

Cape Winemakers Guild Protégés study with WSET first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Hartenberg’s dedication to produce fine Shiraz spanning more than 40 years has been rewarded at the 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards in London with a Regional Gold medal.

The Decanter Gold medal for the Hartenberg Estate Shiraz 2009 is the latest in a long line of prestigious awards for the producer of the world’s No. 1 Shiraz after The Stork 2008 was declared overall winner by Syrah du Monde in 2012.

Carl Schultz, Cellarmaster at Hartenberg Estate says: “The 2009 vintage is considered by many to be one of the best, if not the best in memory. The award is just recognition for our Estate Shiraz which has been produced for over four decades. This wine underpins the two single vineyard Shiraz wines our Estate produces.”

Considered as one of the biggest global wine competitions, the results of the 30th Decanter World Wine Awards were announced at the London Trade Fair. This year’s competition saw a total of 14 362 wines from 52 countries judged by a panel of 75 Masters of Wine and 13 Master Sommeliers.

Hartenberg Wine Estate’s impressive underground maturation cellar allows Carl to age his wines for a minimum of four years, allowing them to reach their full potential prior to release. The Hartenberg Shiraz 2009, which will only be released later this year, features elegant aromas of spices, violets and berries, whilst the palate is rich and silky with soft, ripe tannins that lend the wine its structure.

Come and experience the Feast of Shiraz & Charcuterie at Hartenberg Wine Estate on Saturday, 1 June 2013 to. This celebration of food and wine commences from 12h00 noon until 17h00 and will included some of South Africa’s top Shiraz producers who will showcase their flagship wines. Tickets cost R180 per person, including a tasting glass and are available online at www.webtickets.co.za. For more information, call Tel: (+27)84 207 3820, Email: info@dnaevents.co.za.

Hartenberg Wine Estate is situated on the Bottelary Road (M23) off the R304 to Stellenbosch. Contact Tel: (+27)21-8652541, Email: info@hartenbergestate.com or visit www.hartenbergestate.com

Hartenberg Estate reaps Gold at Decanter World Wine Awards first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

OBiKWA, the adventurous, everyday range of affordable varietal wines, has stuck its neck out in London at the 2013 International Wine Challenge with a commendation for both the Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.

These two commended 2012 Obikwa wines will slot right into your weekly dinner plans. Try the Shiraz with a quick and easy prego roll or the crisp Sauvignon Blanc with comforting, creamy pasta.

In this meticulously judged competition currently in its 30th year, every wine is assessed ‘blind’ and judged for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage.
OBiKWA is a down-to-earth range of easy drinking, quality cultivar wines expressing their true varietal character and rich, ethnic charm at an affordable price. Available at leading outlets countrywide, OBiKWA wines sells at around R28 per bottle. Watch out for special offers by the case of six.

For more information on the wide range of OBiKWA wines, visit www.obikwa.com and join the OBiKWA tribe on Facebook for plenty of online ostrich fun.

International Wine Challenge gives OBiKWA the stamp of approval first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Check out this one for the future, bar-tending robots.

While I am not one for the complete automation of life and still resent the pay points in parking garages which put thousands of people out of work this does have some novelty appeal.

The major benefit would be if they could use their computer brains to serve people in the correct order at which they arrived at the bar and not leave you jumping up and down, squeezing your arm through the clump in front of you to get your drinks order in.

Despite this distinct benefit the Makr Shakr’s inventors say they’re not trying to replace flesh-and-blood bartenders.

Instead of trying to replace a bartender with a robot, Makr Shakr aims to be a social experiment that looks at how people might embrace the new possibilities offered by digital manufacturing.

The Makr Shakr, invented by M.I.T.’s Senseable City Lab is controlled by an app that can be used to design a template for a user’s desired drink. Thanks to a partnership with Bacardi and Coca-Cola, drinks by Makr Shakr can be made with about two dozen spirits and liqueurs, more than a hundred non-alcoholic mixers and add-on ingredients like mint, lemon slices and a salt and pepper mix.

Via Huffington Post

The Bartending Robots! May you never get overlooked at the bar again. [VIDEO] first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Take a look at almost 200 wine varieties in this easy to read info-graphic.

There are five main types of wine, red, white, rose, sparkling and fortified.

Within those basic types wine can be further divided into dry, semi sweet and sweet.

But what happens after that? Take a look at this “Different Types of Wine Poster” to give you an idea as to how many different types of wine there are and where they fit in the grand scheme of things.

Click to enlarge and zoom.

Original Source: Different Types of Wine

The Different Types of Wine Info-graphic first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

If you are ever in the market for an efficient beer bottle opening machine then this gizmo is the gadget for you.

While not 100% efficient, a few appear to keep their caps in place, it does go along way to ensuring that everybody at your braai or party is served a cold beer at the same time.

How to open 24 beers all at once. first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Kick winter to the curb with a glass of OBIKWA Pinotage 2012. This adventurous fruity red is perfect for tossing into your back pack amongst the winter woollies when you take on the great outdoors or just to chase away the chill when you unwind after work.

Brimming with blackberries, plums and strawberries, this medium bodied quaffer is the ideal partner for thrill seekers or for a relaxed evening at home. Always great value for money, OBIKWA Pinotage is a pocket friendly, medium bodied wine for an easy going, yet delicious match with comfort foods like lasagne or a meaty pizza.

OBiKWA is a down-to-earth range of easy drinking, quality cultivar wines expressing their true varietal character and rich, ethnic charm at an affordable price. Available at leading outlets countrywide, the OBiKWA Pinotage 2012 sells at around R28 per bottle – just be on the lookout for the bright yellow ostrich on the wine rack!

For more information on the wide range of OBiKWA wines, visit www.obikwa.com and join the OBiKWA tribe on Facebook for plenty of online ostrich fun.

OBIKWA Pinotage sticks its neck out in the cold first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Come and enjoy the best of the Stellenbosch Winelands right on your doorstep when salt aficionado Chef Craig Cormack hosts a unique salt and Fleur du Cap wine pairing dinner in Pretoria on Wednesday, 15 May 2013.

Known for his exceptional winelands food and wine dinners with salts from around the world held in Die Bergkelder, the famous “cellar in the mountain” and home to Fleur du Cap wines in Stellenbosch, Craig is flying up specially to create an inspirational three course menu for this singular salt and wine pairing experience in association with the Department of Consumer Science at the University of Pretoria.

Currently chef patron at Sofia’s restaurant in Somerset West, Craig is passionate about sourcing and experimenting with different types of salt and boasts an impressive collection of rare salts from around the globe. He has been pairing wine and salt for more than five years.

“One of the challenges when pairing salt and wine is to create food that will enhance the wine without dominating it. The natural process of making Fleur du Cap Unfiltered wines works particularly well with unrefined, artisanal salts, reverting back to nature in both the food and the wine,” says Craig.

Inspired by nature, Fleur du Cap wines lend themselves ideally to Craig’s pairings. Salt, considered by alchemists as nature’s 5^th element, is an ancient natural product and an essential ingredient in food.

Shaped by the generosity of the Cape Floral Kingdom where all the grapes for these wines are grown, Fleur du Cap are superbly balanced wines expressing their true varietal character.

The 3-course Fleur du Cap Wine and Salt pairing dinner costs R200 per person including the salt tasting, food and wines and begins at 18h30 for 19h00 at Eat @ UP in the Old Agriculture Building at the University of Pretoria. For bookings, contact Anastasiya Meyer on 072 786 3018 or email her at anasmeyer@gmail.com. Alternatively, contact Jessica McKenzie on 076 720 2500 or e-mail her at jessicamck03@yahoo.com.

3-Course Menu:

Salted pork belly, pickled cucumber and pickled vegetables paired with Fleur du Cap Merlot

Roasted chicken baked in Khoisan salt – paired with Fleur du Cap Chardonnay

Pot ash cake, spicy syrup and vanilla ice cream paired with Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest

Salts from around the world meet Fleur du Cap wines in Pretoria first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, crowned best South African red Bordeaux Varietal over £10 and Regional Trophy winner at the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards in London has just been released.

This fruit driven Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon, crafted by winemaker Justin Corrans and cellarmaster Andrea Freeborough is made in the classic, full-bodied Bordeaux style from three prized Stellenbosch vineyard blocks nurtured by viticulturist Bennie Liebenberg.

“The Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon remains one of my favourite wines due to its complexity, drinkability and versatility,” says Andrea.

With eloquent hints of fruit cake, subtle nuances of mocha and spicy oak aromas tempting the nose, concentrated plum and blackberry fruit follow through onto the palate complemented by balanced, integrated oak flavours. Firm, grippy tannins add a velvety texture that lingers on the finish.  Ideal to enjoy with beef fillet and roast lamb or strong-flavoured cheeses, the Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon is the ultimate winter table accessory.

Alternatively, serve this Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon with focacia seasoned with fine grained, mineral rich Flaked Khoisan sea salt as an appetiser. The texture of the salted bread and herbs meld seamlessly with this superbly balanced wine and would set the perfect tone for a casual get together in the comfort of your own home.

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 is available at select fine dining restaurants, boutique wine stores or the Fleur du Cap cellar door at Die Bergkelder in Stellenbosch from around R120 per bottle.

For more information and everything inspired by nature, visit www.fleurducap.co.za, fleurducap.tumblr.com or join the Fleur du Cap Facebook community.

Fleur du Cap releases Decanter’s SA Best Red Bordeaux Varietal first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Bang for your buck is what you can expect from Hartenberg’s latest 2009 Estate Merlot just released, if the 91 point rating from the Wine Advocate’s eRobertParker.com in the USA is anything to go by.

Impressed by the ability of Hartenberg winemaker Carl Shultz to work with what he describes as a notoriously difficult varietal, wine commentator Neal Martin says in his report on South African wines: “Kudos for getting a deceptively tricky variety bang on the money”.

Carl who celebrates his 20th harvest at Hartenberg Estate this year, knows just how to harness the very best from Hartenberg’s terroir and micro climates. By ageing his wines in the estate’s impressive underground maturation cellar, the wines are able to reach their full potential prior to release.

Silky and elegant, the Hartenberg Estate Merlot 2009 wows with rich black and red fruit aromas complemented by lasting flavours of vanilla and orchards of plum on the palate. As the ideal accompaniment to chilly winter evenings, this wine is best enjoyed with succulent game, lamb and beef dishes.

The Hartenberg Merlot 2009 sells at the cellar door for R125 a bottle and is available at selected boutique wine stores and fine dining restaurants.

Hartenberg Estate is situated on the Bottelary Road off the R304 to Stellenbosch. For more information, call Tel: (+27)21-8652541, Email: info@hartenbergestate.com or visit www.hartenbergestate.com.

Latest Hartenberg Merlot already topping the charts in the USA first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Holden Manz, the magnificent boutique wine estate in the Franschhoek valley, has launched its first white wine – a vibrant, palate pleasing 2012 Chardonnay.

The Holden Manz Chardonnay 2012 is a welcome newcomer to this relatively young wine estate which has already made its mark as a formidable red wine producer.

Teeming with pronounced citrus fruit on the nose, this Chardonnay with its naturally fresh mineral and crisp palate, rewards with a lingering after taste.

Winemaker Schalk Opperman, who joined Holden Manz in 2011, achieved exactly what he set out to do with Holden Manz’s first white wine, by crafting a Chardonnay in a more accessible, mineral and less wooded style than the Chardonnays South Africans have become accustomed to.

He selected grapes from cool Elgin vineyards for his Chardonnay and used both new and old French Oak barrels in equal parts for fermentation. The wine was left to mature in the same barrels for a further 10 months with a small portion undergoing malolactic fermentation. This measured approach to oak contact coupled with careful stirring of the lees ensured optimal mid palate development. The result is a Chardonnay in a crisper style with just enough buttery fullness without being too rich or portly on the palate.

“Our 2012 Chardonnay is an excellent choice with salmon, seafood and poultry. I would definitely recommend enjoying it with friends on sunny afternoons,” says Schalk.

Holden Manz Chardonnay 2012 sells for R160 at the cellar door but stocks are limited as only 3 000 bottles have been produced of the maiden vintage. So don’t wait too long to pop in for a tasting at this Franschhoek boutique estate.

Holden Manz launches first white wine with vibrant Chardonnay first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

The bond between a man and is dog is generally quite strong and having the ability to fetch ones masters beer only makes that bond even stronger and highly viewable on the internet.

Introducing a new breed of super good dogs, the Labeerdor Retrievers.

What does your dog fetch for you other than dead rats and birds?

Every man should have one, the Labeerdor Retriever! first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Fluff up your tail feathers with OBiKWA, the adventurous, everyday range of affordable varietal wines at The Wine Show Joburg taking place in the heart of the concrete jungle’s Sandton Convention Centre from 3 – 5 May 2013.

Unleash your inner ostrich at this vibrant, wine-filled event and remember to swing by OBiKWA for tastings of this easy-drinking, down-to-earth range. With a variety of unpretentious, quality wines OBiKWA is the perfect choice for the everyday wine adventurer.

Life is a journey worth celebrating; so go on stick your neck out and give your taste buds a proper workout!

Be sure to purchase your early bird tickets for The Wine Show Joburg via Computicket at R120 per person, alternatively tickets will be avaiable at the door at R 140. For more information about The Wine Show visit www.wineshow.co.za.

To follow the OBiKWA tribe, visit www.obikwa.com or join on Facebook.

OBiKWA sticks its neck out at The Wine Show Joburg first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Every now and then I organise a tasting for fellow wine representatives in the Johannesburg trade. We are always crossing paths but never have the opportunity to do what we like most…..talk and drink wine! All in good measure of course.

There is only one rule, each person needs to bring a bottle, but being the sort of bunch we are, one quickly becomes two and the whole exercise becomes a lot more fun. The theme this time round is Syrah/Shiraz. All the wines are tasted blind and then a discussion follows when we chat through each wine, concluding by selecting our top 3 individually, then comparing to see which wines overall showed better on that evening.  A fun exercise and a great opportunity for us to catch up.

Cote Rotie

So, staying with the winter theme it seems fitting to chat about Syrah or Shiraz as it’s known in the new world, in its many guises.

This dark skinned grape has its origins firmly planted in the Northern Rhone. Its fame most definitely coming from the wines of Hermitage situated in and around the small town of Tain l’Hermitage. The wines of this town are the most profound, powerful, balanced examples found and takes long ageing to tame these beasts. Another famous appellation for Syrah is Côte-Rôtie and like Hermitage, its origin is Roman.  Côte-Rôtie or directly translated, ‘the Roasted slope’, refers to the steep granite (schist further North) south-east facing slope of more than 60% gradient in places. With this sort of geography, vineyard work is hard graft and labour intensive. This small appellation defined by nature and thus hands-on approach to grape growing, pushes the price up considerably. Wines produced mostly from ‘Serine’ (an old Syrah clone) deliver a punch; dark in colour, full bodied, structured  and with time, will develop wonderful perfumed aromas of roses, liquorish, smoky bacon, pepper and a wee dose of graphite for good measure.

Syrah screams colour, flavour and tannin structure. When grown in cooler climates like the Northern Rhone the flavour profiles lean toward notes of black pepper, olive and savoury spice in addition to the trademark dark fruits, smoky bacon and leather usually present. In warmer, new world climates, a sweeter, riper style emerges with cherry and raspberry being dominant. There are of course exceptions. The tannin structures vary too, with wines from Hermitage and Côte Rôtie possessing  tighter, leaner tannins resulting in ‘grippy’ wines guaranteed to stain your palate…..right up my street at least! In warmer regions, the tannins are riper and supple, making the wines approachable in their youth and alcohols too edge higher.

We are a nation that love to braai, so these wines work exceptionally well with grilled meats as the smoky flavours mirror the smoky, meaty notes present in the wine. The tannins present in this varietal can match the charry, barbecue nuances from the flame grill. Bold dark fruit aromas and herby, tobacco notes marry with the likes of venison stews…..dishes with generous black pepper and pungent herbs benefit from this union.

Back to the tasting……In total twelve wines were sampled by ten of us, an exciting line-up from most of SA’s wine regions encompassing a diverse range of flavour profiles, plus a couple from the Rhone Valley in France, which Great Domaines contributed. Below are the wines tasted by ten of us, in no particular order:

2009 Syrah ‘Three Pines’, Stark Condé, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch @ R 200

2009 Syrah, Strandveld Vineyards, Elim @ R 150

2010 Shiraz, Vergelegen, Stellenbosch @ R 85

2007 Shiraz ‘Reserve’, Vergelegen, Stellenbosch @ R 180

2010 Syrah, Lammershoek, Swartland @ R 105

2011 Shiraz, Oak Valley, Elgin @ R 130

2011 Shiraz, Babylonstoren, Simonsberg, Paarl @ R 120

2009 Shiraz, Thelema, Helshoogte pass, Stellenbosch @ R 130

2011 Côtes du Rhone, Chateau Saint Cosme, Rhone Valley, France @ R 170

2010 Côte Rôtie, Chateau Saint Cosme, Rhone Valley, France @ R 490

1994 Shiraz, Rust en Vrede, Stellenbosch

2010 Syrah, Almenkerk, Elgin @ R 190

And our top 3 were:

FIRST PLACE

2010 Côte Rôtie, Chateau Saint Cosme, Rhone Valley, France

SECOND PLACE (joint)

2011 Shiraz, Babylonstoren, Simonsberg, Paarl

2011 Côtes du Rhone, Chateau Saint Cosme, Rhone Valley, France

THIRD PLACE (joint)

2007 Shiraz ‘Reserve’, Vergelegen, Stellenbosch

2009 Syrah, Strandveld Vineyards, Elim

Syrah or Shiraz? I’ll have a glass thank you very much first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

The OppiKoppi Music Festival is gearing up with US Military style innovation as it tests a Beer Drone that will airlift beer to the thirsty ones at this years festival.

OppiKoppi made the announcement on its twitter account on Wednesday saying that festival goers will be able to order beers from their phones in 2013.

The prototype is currently hand guided but the developers hope to have it flying on a GPS grid by the time the festival is under way.

The annual festival takes place at Northam, in Limpopo, South Africa from the 8th -19th August so they have 5 months to get the drone fully operational and ready for active duty.

OppiKoppi Beer Drone to airlift beer to festival goers first appeared first on Gourmet Guys

Simonsig Estate has been ranked amongst South Africa’s top wine producers with three wines listed in the 2013 Top 100 SA Wines.

Simonsig Cuvée Royale 2007 is one of only three Méthode Cap Classique wines to make the cut this year with two Simonsig red wines, the acclaimed Simonsig Red Hill Pinotage 2009 and Merindol Syrah 2010 also taking centre stage.

Cuvée Royale, the Prestige Cuvée of this family owned estate, South Africa’s first Méthode Cap Classique producer, also triumphed as the best Blanc de Blancs at the 2012 Amorim Méthode Cap Classique Challenge with the 2007 vintage making it the ultimate must-have for bubbly enthusiasts.

The 2013 Top 100 Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2009 comes from a long lineage of Top 10 Pinotages and is a Veritas Double Gold medalist. The regal Merindol Syrah 2010, a top tier single vineyard Shiraz, is named after the French origins of the Malan family coat of arms.

Established in 2011, the 2013 Top 100 Wines, had a record entry of 440 of wines competing for a place amongst South Africa’s finest.

For more information or wine orders contact Simonsig Estate at Tel: (+27)21 888 4915 or visit www.simonsig.co.za.

Simonsig scores a hat trick at the 2013 Top 100 SA Wines first appeared first on Gourmet Guys