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Franschhoek Cellar
As a tribute to our national grape, Pinotage, Franschhoek Cellar has introduced a brand new heritage-themed Pinotage tasting. Featuring their five Pinotages paired with complimentary snack portions of delicious biltong and nuts.
Not only does September bring with it a new season, but we also celebrate in the news that most of our wineries have reopened to the public after an extremely long hibernation. September is also Tourism Month, and this couldn’t have been timed better as it coincides perfectly with the joint collaboration between the Western Cape government and Wesgro, who have launched the “We Are Open” domestic tourism campaign. This innovative campaign encourages South Africans to take advantage and explore the beauty and diversity of the many affordable and world-class attractions that Cape Town and the Western Cape has to offer. The Franschhoek Wine Valley being one of them.
Not only do we celebrate the start of a new season today, but we also raise a glass to it being International Cap Classique Day, which was initiated in 2019 by the Cap Classique Association. Not only is Cap Classique the largest wine growing category in South Africa, but the Franschhoek Wine Valley is home to the country’s only Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) Route. A route which you can tailor make to suit your MCC needs. With the weather warming up why not plan your Franschhoek MCC experience for your next outing to the winelands. Cheers to MCC and a new season!
TUK TUK Franschhoek offer half day or full day wine tours through selected wine farms in the Franschhoek Valley. Come and enjoy a fun and unique experience of the Cape Winelands.
The Huguenot Memorial Museum is one of the first museums in the Western Cape Province to receive permission to re-open its doors for public visitors. This also include the Monument and the First SA Perfume Museum.
The Western Cape minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Minister Anroux Marais, welcomed the announcement to re-opening of the Cultural Affairs and Sport sector. This follows the President’s address and the Alert Level 2 Regulations gazetted by the Department of Co-Operative Governance, provided that all the mandatory health protocols are in place.
Franschhoek Vignerons Included In Pinotage Report
The results of the inaugural 2020 Prescient Pinotage Report have been released, which saw Môreson’s Widow Maker 2018 secure a spot on the Top 10 list. This wine made a big impression with the judging panel, which they described as a wine with a heady and exotic nose and notes of dark berries, lilies, incense and oak spice. The palate is rich and full – there’s plenty of dense, sweet fruit to go with smooth tannins and the finish is long and dry.
This maiden report was convened by Winemag.co.za, and this year there were 57 entries received from 33 producers. The entries were tasted blind by a three-person panel, and the scoring was done according to the 100-point quality scale. The panel was chaired by well-known industry influencer Christian Eedes, who was joined in the judging process by Roland Peens and James Pietersen, both of Wine Cellar.
Joining Môreson, although not listed in the Top 10, but receiving excellent results were the Chamonix Greywacke Pinotage 2017 (91 points) and the Allée Bleu Black Series Old Vine 2018 (91 points).
The following producers scored 80+ for their wines:
Allée Bleu Single 2018 (89)
Bellingham 2018 (89)
To read the report and view the full results click on this link https://winemag.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Prescient-Pinotage-Report-2020.pdf.
We’re so proud of these producers. Well deserved!
Allée Bleue Excels In Prescient Shiraz Report
The results of the 2020 Prescient Shiraz Report have been released, and Franschhoek producer Allée Bleue has been listed as one of the Top 10 for its Shiraz 2018 (wine of origin Franschhoek). The judges described this Top 10 winner as having a pretty nose with notes of flowers, fresh herbs and musk to go with red berries while the palate is light-bodied with pure fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins. Lovely definition and energy.
This annual report is convened by Winemag.co.za, and this year there were 70 entries received from 56 producers. The entries are tasted blind by a three-person panel, and the scoring is done according to the 100-point quality scale. The panel is chaired by well-known industry influencer Christian Eedes, who is joined in the judging process by Roland Peens and James Pietersen, both of Wine Cellar.
Sharing the spotlight with Allée Bleue, although not listed in the Top 10, but receiving excellent results were the Babylonstoren 2018 (91 points) and Boschendal 1685 2018 (91 points) for their respective Shiraz wines.
The following producers scored 80+ for their wines:
Allée Bleu Single Vineyard Syrah 2015 (88)
GlenWood Grand Duc Syrah 2017 (84)
La Bri Syrah 2017 (88)
Old Road Wine Co Pepper Wind Limited Release Syrah 2017 (89)
Wildeberg 2019 (89)
To read the report and view the full results click on this link https://winemag.co.za/wine/best/shiraz/.
Well done to all!
Tuesday, 18 August marks a special day on the wine calendar as we celebrate International Pinot Noir Day. According to Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon, Pinot Noir is regarded as the most romantic of wines, with so appealing a perfume, so sweet an edge, and so powerful a punch that, like falling in love, they make the blood run hot and the soul wax embarrassingly poetic.
A fantastic wine, but a temperamental grape. Typically rich in colour with complex flavours, this varietal is largely considered one of the most self-indulgent wines ever made. Elegant and berry-like, its velvet colour is the perfection addition to any occasion. International Pinot Day celebrates this wine and the regions throughout the world in which it is cultivated, the Franschhoek Wine Valley being one of them. The Franschhoek Vignerons with Pinot Noir in the ranges tick all of the boxes when it comes to a wine with these characteristics.
