Wine News
Harvest 2004 Edition
In this Edition: Our bin is full! Harvest 2004
Touring with Cath...
Touring with Cath...
At times I feel as though I am repeating myself, especially when it comes to this beautiful country of ours! Since mid-January I have managed to clock up a distance of over 8000km’s travelling through seven of our nine provinces.
What a pleasure it was to experience great wines and excellent food in different corners of our rainbow nation. I could spend a fortnight describing my experiences, but instead let me treat you to some of the food & wine combinations encountered on my travels:
Fugitives Drift, KwaZulu Natal
  • Vichyssoise soup served with a chilli sherry
  • Rack of Lamb accompanied by vegetables and Roast potatoes
  • Crème Brulee
  • Wine: Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Rourke's Drift: described as one of the most glorious exploits in British Colonial history in the Anglo Zulu War

Estuary Hotel, Port Edward
  • Butternut soup
  • Kingklip, grilled. Creamed spinach, carrots, potatoes
  • Sorbet ice-cream
  • Wine: Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2003 (BYO)

 
Gracia's Restuarant, East London
  • No starter
  • Steenbras, grilled. Fresh vegetables and creamed potato
  • Dom Pedro
  • Wine: Haute Cabriere Brut
    De Wetshof Finesse Cardonnay
 
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Grahamstown
  • Green salad starter
  • Warthog, Roast lamb, Moroccan chicken, Kudu ,vegetable platters
  • Chocolate mousse
  • Wine: Zandvliet Shiraz 2000
  • Fresh green salad
  • Thai-style Prawns
  • Sorbet
  • Wine: Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2003
Bushmanskloof, Cedarberg
  • Fragrant Thai soup
  • Springbok OR Grilled chicken breast
  • Cheese Platter
  • Wine:
    Groote Poste Sauvignon Blanc 2003

2 500 year old paintings

Sands Restaurant, Plettenberg Hotel
  • Tempura prawn and Avocado salad
  • Sole served with potato bake and vegetables
  • Trio of sorbet ice-cream
  • Wine: Graham Beck Brut

Naries Guesthouse, Springbok
  • Cream of Mushroom soup
  • Grilled chicken breast served with vegetables, potato
  • Malva pudding
  • Wine: Nederberg Sauvignon Blanc
BAIA, V&A Waterfront
  • Salmon salad
  • Grilled Tiger Prawns served on a bed of rice
  • Cheesecake
  • Wine:
    Buitenverwachting Buiten Blanc 2002

Jonkershuis Restaurant, Spier Estate
  • Cape Malay Buffet
  • Wine: Jordan Blanc Fume 2003

Catharina's, Steenberg Estate
  • Salad Nicoise
  • West coast mussels done in a Thai-coconut sauce
  • Cheese platter
  • Wine: Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2003

Food and wine combinations are fascinating and fun. Often we face a dilemma when having to match the food with wine. The basic rule to remember is balance. Important that the food does not dominate the wine and visa versa. A suggestion is to invite friends to dinner; get each couple or friend to prepare either a starter, main or dessert. A huge learning curve in terms of which combinations work and which clash!

For any information regarding the places visited above contact us at:
wines@wanderer.co.za
Touring with Cath....
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