‘Fragile Earth’ Glass Exhibition showcases @ The Gallery

Award-winning artist, Jeannette Unite showcases a unique collection of transmogrified glass artwork aptly called ‘Fragile Earth’ in ‘The Project Room’ at ‘The Gallery’ at Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek which runs from Sunday 10, October 2010 – Wednesday 1, December 2010.
 

Jeannette began experimenting with glassmaking in 1999 and since then her works in glass have become an important addition to her deep and insightful exploration of the legacy of industrial and especially mining, as well as activities on the South African landscape. Glass, with its fragility and strength and ability to reflect and refract colour in exquisite and unique ways, clearly makes for fascinating viewing.

A collection of soils, terra and terroir is incorporated into this exclusive art concept. Inspiration and visual exploration are derived from her journey to the Rift Valley, Kenya, Simon van der Stel’s copper mine in Namaqualand, among others. In the glass, she uses volcanic molten temperature to catalyse colour. www.artunite.com  

Also on exhibition in ‘The Gallery’ at Grande Provence, from Sunday 31, October 2010 until Wednesday 1, December 2010,  is the Painters Who Print – Art on Paper’ exhibition includes the following artists - Kim Berman and Karin Daymond, focussing on landscapes, Johann Louw and Robert Hodgins studies the human form and frailties in the work, Penny Siopis and Judith Mason examine social issues, Deborah Bell and Colbert Mashile wonders into the world of archetypes and occasionally mythical, with Pat Mautloa and Andre Naude analysing the female form. Renowned sculptors Lourens Joubert, Karin Lijnes and Wilma Cruise will also be exhibiting.

For further information on The Gallery at Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, contact gallery@grandeprovence.co.za. For a preview, please call The Gallery on +27 (0)21 876 8630 to make an appointment. The Gallery is open from Monday to Sunday, from 10h00 till 18h00.

Uitkyk Turns Heads

As elegant, graceful and understated as its historic 1788 manor house, thought to have been designed by renowned French architect Louis Michel Thibault, Uitkyk’s wines and potstill brandy have succeeded in impressing the 2010 Veritas judges, winning three golds and four silvers.

The trio of golds went to both the 2009 and 2010 vintages of the Simonsberg estate’s Sauvignon blanc, made in the tropical style, as well as to the venerable but still very vibrant 2001 Carlonet, a classic South African Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied with ripe berry characters, the wine is a long-standing favourite of local wine lovers, enjoyed for its refreshing fruit as much as for its fine-grained, sturdy structure.

The 2007 vintage, only just beginning to come into its own now that its fruit and wood characters have had sufficient time to meld into a harmonious whole, took silver in the competition.

The accolades for this august red are well-timed as the wine, named after Prussian nobleman Hans von Carlowitz, who bought Uitkyk in 1929, prepares to celebrate its 50^th anniversary next year.

Uitkyk’s other Veritas silver medalists this year were the 2007 vintage of the spicy, succulent and savoury limited-edition Special Reserve Shiraz; the 2009 Chardonnay with its citrus fruit and vanilla notes; and the 10 Year Grand Reserve Brandy, the specialty potstill that won gold at the International Wine & Spirit Challenge in London earlier this year.

Uitkyk’s winemaker is Estelle Lourens. The estate is represented by Cape Legends.

Some Clarity re Olive Oils

Carle, at Hidden Valley Wines, sent The Month this press release from SA Oliveupon reading our recent Olive Spoils article (below):

Liquid gold, as olive oil enthusiasts call their favourite gastronomic ingredient, has once again caught the limelight – this time due to dubious practices of certain restaurants parading seed oils as Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Well known TV programme Carte Blanche recently reported on these fraudulent practices where consumers are being mislead regarding the quality and origin of the supposed olive oil they are served with.
  SA Olive, the voluntary association representing the interests of the SA olive industry, has made their outrage known. “When something like this happens in another country the South African Olive Industry frowns upon it, but when it happens in South Africa we are truly horrified,” says SA Olive chairman, Andries Rabie. “Our industry cannot afford consumers to doubt the quality of South African olive oils and the trustworthiness of our labelling.” SA Olive pulls together olive growers, olive oil producers, table olive producers and olive tree nurseries in order to promote the industry but also to protect the interests of the consumers of this healthy product.
  “Similar deceptive practices have reared their ugly heads in South Africa before,” says Rabie, “and for this reason SA Olive instituted the Member of SA Olive Commitment to Compliance Scheme (CTC) back in 2005 as the first step in establishing control over the labelling procedures of local products.”
  Participation of SA Olive members to the CTC scheme is voluntary and self-regulating. Their commitment to the initiative is shown with the “Member of SA Olive” seal on their bottles. Producers whose products bear this seal of authenticity confirm that the content is 100% locally produced and made in accordance with the SA Olive Code of Conduct and Practice based on international standards. Furthermore, those who subscribe to the CTC scheme label their products in an honest and comprehensible manner and indicate the freshness of the oil by clearly displaying the year of harvest on the label.
  “A knowledgeable consumer is a satisfied one,” says Rabie. “It is vital that consumers are able to discern between the various kinds of olive oils available.” He explains that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a natural, unrefined olive oil with a free acidity of below 0.8%, no defects and a fruity characteristic. For a local olive oil to be classified as Extra Virgin it has to undergo strict testing, which includes a chemical and organoleptic analysis, handled by a tasting panel convened by SA Olive in Paarl every consecutive week.
  In comparison, Virgin Olive Oil is also a natural unrefined olive oil but with a free acidity between 0,8% and 2% and with minimal defects. Olive oils which are flawed and unfit for consumption need to undergo a refining process during which they are deodorised and bleached. The result is a tasteless, almost colourless product called refined olive oil. In turn, Olive Pomace Oil is a solvent extracted from the solid press cake residue. It cannot be classified as or called Olive Oil, specifically not as Pomace Olive Oil which one often sees on labels. It should in fact read „Olive Pomace Oil‟. *
  “Consumers are right to demand that the olive oil they are served are pure,” says Rabie. “The natural antioxidants in Extra Virgin Olive Oil make it so much healthier than olive oil that has been refined. The refining process which other vegetable oils, such as canola oil, have to be subjected to in order to be fit for human consumption destroys the valuable antioxidants as well as the gorgeous flavour components, minerals and vitamins.
  Consumers, as well as reputable eateries should by no means compromise their right to high quality olive oil in lieu of inferior products. South African olive oils regularly bring home armfuls of accolades and present the consumer with extreme value for money and a secure high quality product.
  For further information regarding the SA Olive Commitment to Compliance scheme or a list of participating members, contact SA Olive at tel (021) 870 2900, fax (021) 870 2915, e-mail info@saolive.co.za or visit www.saolive.co.za.

Distell Brandies Make a Golden Debut at 2010 Veritas Awards

Distell brandies continued with their impressive run in world-class competitions by taking no fewer than four double gold and seven gold medals at the 2010 Veritas Awards.

 
Leading the pack was Van Ryn’s with two double gold awards and two golds in the potstill brandy category, with its 12 Year Old Distillers Reserve and 20 Year Old Collectors Reserve winning double gold and the 10 Year Old Vintage and 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve taking gold. Earlier this year, the 10 Year Old Vintage also won a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge, while the 12 Year Old Distillers Reserve and the 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve were both awarded gold medals (best in class) at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). The 15 Year Old also took gold in the International Spirits Challenge (ISC).

“With both local and international gold awards under its belt, it is once again a confirmation that Van Ryn's brandy is certainly of the best in the world,” says Adele Ankiewicz, spokesperson for Distell’s brandy portfolio.

Oude Meester Reserve 12 Year Old and Klipdrift Gold also received double gold awards in the potstill brandy category at Veritas, while Oude Meester Demant walked off with a gold medal. Gold medals in the potstill brandy category were also awarded to Collison’s White Gold and Nederburg Solera Brandy.

In the standard brandy category, Klipdrift Export and Oude Meester VSOB took gold to complete a near whitewash for the Distell brandy portfolio. Klipdrift Export was also awarded gold earlier this year at the IWSC, while Oude Meester VSOB took gold (best in class) at the same competition.

The panel of local and international judges at Veritas follows strict international guidelines and all tastings are done “blind”. Individual judges allocate points on a 20-point scale whereafter the marks are discussed and consensus reached.

A double gold medal is awarded to a wine or brandy that scores 18 or more out of 20, while a score of 17 points ensures a wine or brandy a gold medal. Silver implies a score of 16 points and bronze a score of 15 points.

Veritas, the “Oscars” of wine competitions, celebrates two decades as South Africa’s leading and most respected competition for quality market-ready wines this year. This year brandy was invited to join the proud Veritas tradition along with the almost 1 700 wines entered by about 300 producers for the 2010 tastings.

The Veritas Awards give recognition to wines and brandies of exceptional quality and the distinctive Veritas symbol of excellence serves as an authoritative quality guideline for wine lovers and connoisseurs.

Asked why Veritas has finally introduced a South African brandy category to this prestigious competition, veteran distiller, wine and spirits writer, national and international judge, consultant and Brandy Guild member Dave Hughes replied: “I think it was an excellent opportunity for our brandies that do so exceptionally well in major international competitions to compete in a top local arena and showcase their greatness to local consumers through the resultant marketing and media attention.

“The two, wine and brandy, rest side by side and often, to me, are so entwined that it’s difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins.

“Modern South African brandies have a pureness that others are still striving to achieve. Yet, despite this high level of purity or ‘cleanness’, they still have loads of flavour and character. We are also special in that we make brandies of different types and styles to cater for both the mixer and sipping markets. We do not try to make one brandy to please all.”

He added that contemporary South Africans should be exploring South African brandies as the modern spirit of the nation.

Peninsula School Feeding Association Dinner Pics

What a great night at Reuben's with Darren (Grande Provence), Neil (Bread and Wine), Margot (LQF) and Reuben. Meals all centred around the staples of close to 300000 Western Cape school kids fed by the PSFA - Pilchards, Samp, Beans, Bread, Rice, Cabbage, Carrots and Oranges.

Pilchards: Puree in a Tomato Tuile with Carrot chutney.

Pilchards: Finished!

Reuben's Samp and Beans - not what I was expecting...

Neil's (Soya) Sausage, Lentil and Cabbage Mash

Dessert by Darren: Orange sorbet, Jam on Bread and Rice with Orange Marmalade.

Please sir, may I have some more!

Peninsula School Feeding Association Dinner Tonight!

Chefs Margot Janse and Reuben Riffel serve a dinner with a difference tonight, October the 9th, at Reuben's Restaurant in Franschhoek with dishes made from soya relish, pilchards and breyani lentils. The menu items form the staple fare of more than 233 000 children in 633 schools in the Western Cape who are given a hearty daily meal by the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA).

The fundraising dinner marks the start of the Department of Health’s National Nutrition Week from 9 – 13 October. To RSVP, contact Linet at Hippo Communications at 021 557 0246 or email linet@hippocommunications.com

Family Picnic and Live Entertainment at Nederburg

Nederburg is celebrating summer with a delicious picnic and live music event on Saturday, October 16 from 11:00 until 15:00.

Bring along the family and friends and as you sip on refreshing Nederburg wines and nibble tasty gourmet goodies from Nederburg’s kitchen, listen to Sound Image, Gary Deacon’s five-piece band. Guitarist Gary will be joined by Andrew Ford on keyboard, Ivan Bell on drums, Willie van Zyl on saxophone, clarinet and penny whistle and vocalist Haydn Gardner. From swing to Latino, from traditional to rock & roll and contemporary popular songs from the 1960s to now, their repertoire caters to everyone. Entertainment for the children will also be on offer.

Pack picnic blankets and chairs and when you arrive, let the surrounding mountains, verdant vineyards and magnificent gardens relax and revive you, while you enjoy Nederburg’s award-winning wines and feast on the splendid Flavours of the Cape picnic selection brimming with freshly-baked bread, locally-produced cheeses, an assortment of crackers, preserves, cold meats, kebabs, smoked Franchhoek salmon trout, homemade salmon pâté, dips, salad, an olive and spinach tartlet, a sweet treat and mineral water. Vegetarian and kiddies’ picnic baskets are also available.

The Flavours of the Cape and vegetarian picnic baskets are offered at a cost of R145 a head and those for children under 12, at R60 a head. The cost in both instances includes the live and children’s entertainment. You may bring along your own picnic basket, in which case the cost of the live entertainment will be R80 per person, while children under 12 will be admitted free of charge. Guests are however requested not to bring their own wine as Nederburg wines will be for sale along with mineral water, juice, coffee, tea and ice cream.

Complementary cellar tours will be offered to the first 30 guests attending the family day who arrive at the Visitors’ Centre (from where the tour starts) at 10:30 and 12:00 respectively.

Please book your picnic basket and/or live entertainment by contacting Sunette Rust on 021 862 3104 or on nedwines@distell.co.za.

The actual picnic season at Nederburg runs seven days a week from the beginning of November until the end of March. Picnic baskets are to be booked two days in advance by contacting Nederburg and can be collected between 12:00 and 15:00.

Nederburg offers visitors a range of experiences all year round, from cellar tours, wine tastings and food- and-wine pairings to seasonal events including the picnics and harvesting breakfasts. Go to www.nederburg.co.za or the winery’s Facebook page or call 021 862 3104 for details of concerts, celebrations and other special events.