Noble Hill is a boutique vineyard and winery tucked between Kanonkop and Paarl Mountain, just off the R45 Klapmuts Road close to Franschhoek. The winery has made a name for itself under the strong leadership of the Tillery family, son Kristopher Austin in particular. A tech-savvy professional, Kris recently launched the first ever Twitter-enabled stand at WineX in Cape Town and is already reaping the rewards of Nobel Hill’s social networking activities. The Month visited the winery for a different kind of social recently, as lunch-time visitors to cosecha, their Spanish- themed restaurant.
According to the menu, cosecha is a Spanish word for ‘harvest’ and reflects the restaurant’s location next to the harvest area where grapes are sorted and crushed. The Spanish theme exists to express the family’s desire to "bring the farm-fresh, Latin flavours of [their] South Western roots to Cape Town." The décor, while too new to display patina, is unpretentious and authentically Spanish. Time, rust and a little moss will no doubt whisk visitors into a different world in the not-too-distant future.
We enjoyed Beef Enchiladas (R75) and Tiger Prawn Taquitos (R48) with a glass of Shiraz Mourvèdre and a ’09 Sauvignon Blanc respectively. The shredded beef fillet, served in corn tortillas with enchilada sauce, rice and beans was delicious. The portion was substantial. The prawn dish looked particularly appetising, served in flour tortillas with a fresh salsa and guacamole. The chilli, lime and coriander in the dish add zing but should be mild enough for delicate palates. Both wines are good. The Sauvignon is herbaceous (and was highly rated in the August edition of The Month) and the Mourvèdre is smooth and gets better as it stands in the glass.
The Month will return to try a cosecha picnic in the summer (they’re already available). The Vineyard Basket includes meat, cheese, salmon, a chicken and Peppadew salad, pasta and seasonal salads, olives, bread and dessert! For a Mediterranean twist, try the Garden Basket which sacrifices the meat and fish for a mezze platter with hummus, couscous, pesto dip, spanakopitas and seasonal veg. Order a bottle of wine from the farm and the meal is complete. Surprisingly everything is served on proper dinnerware and includes the cutlery you’d find on the cosecha table. No plastic. Baskets for two are R218 and for four expect to pay R392. Kids’ meals are R45. The fabulous surroundings, with the lovely view and a dam that allows fishing, make this is a picnic spot with few rivals.
Contact cosecha on 021 874 3844
From the November edition:
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