December 2007 Newsletter

Durbanville Wine Valley Dominates
Sauvignon Blanc TOP 10 Awards


	From left to right: Thys Louw of Diemersdal, Elzette du Preez of De Grendel, Michelle van Staden on behalf of Bloemendal and Bernhard Veller of Nitida.

The Durbanville Wine Valley's Sauvignon Blancs raked in four places in the recently launched Wine magazine TOPS at SPAR Sauvignon Blanc Top 10.

Bloemendal, De Grendel, Diemersdal and Nitida were each awarded 4 stars. Another two of the winning wines on the list, Backsberg John Martin 2007 and Graham Beck Pheasant's Run 2007, also procure their grapes from farms in the Durbanville Wine Valley, affirming that it is the premier Sauvignon Blanc producing region.

The Durbanville Wine Valley's Sauvignon Blancs have enjoyed tremendous success and have scooped numerous awards over the past few months. "The largest concentration of Sauvignon Blanc grapes in the country grows in the Durbanville Wine Valley and thanks to the cooler coastal climate and long-established vineyards, winemakers from this region have become known for their outstanding Sauvignon Blancs," says Bennie Howard, chairman of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association.

The Wine magazine TOPS at SPAR Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 awards have been established to champion the best examples of this grape.

Cassia opens at Nitida Wine Farm
- Review by Eat Out Magazine

Food fundis around the country have been eagerly anticipating the opening of Cassia, the brainchild of culinary big-wigs Peter Goffe-Wood (original Kitchen Cowboy and Food Alchemist) and David Grier (chef and adventurer). At the recent press-lunch it was clear to all present that the buzz was definitely worth it.

At Cassia, simplicity reigns supreme - from the rustic fare with a contemporary twist, to the beautifully minimalist, relaxed setting with breathtaking views overlooking the Nitida wine farm.

Ex-London chef, Dan Evans oversees the kitchen, keeping his creations simple and unfussy by concentrating on seasonal ingredients - so the menu is constantly changing. Expect pairings such as wood-roasted hake with chorizo, chickpeas, cumin and saffron, and wood-roasted duck, Savoy cabbage, potatoes and cherries.

Curious patrons can even watch the chefs working their magic through the perspex-enclosed kitchen. Nitida's award-winning wines naturally take centre stage on the extensive wine list, but a good selection of other equally impressive wines also make their cameos.

Cassia
Nitida Wine Farm, Tygerbergvalley Road (M13), Durbanville
Call Trish on 082 578 5935 or email .

What is new in and around the valleY
- round up from the Cellars

De Grendel is now open on Sunday’s from 10h00 until 16h00. In addition - on every second Saturday, the canons from the De Grendel veranda are fired at noon. Next canon firing will take place on Saturday 22 December 2007 at 12h00. Don’t miss out!

Picnics are available daily from Durbanville Hills for the holiday season. Book nice and early to avoid disappointment.

Hillcrest Wine Farm is offering gift boxes packed with wine, olives and olive oil. They are a great (and affordable) luxury item, perfect for giving – and hopefully also receiving - this festive season.

All Sauvignon Blanc fanatics can pay Diemersdal a visit, here you can pick & choose from a selection of 5 examples of this variety to suit every pocket and palate.

Visit Meerendal’s award winning restaurant, Wheatfield’s in the Meerendal Manor house to feast on their new menu for the season. Make your reservations at 021 975 1655.

Nitida Farmers Market takes place on the 22nd of December 2007 from 07h30 until 12h00. Stock up for Christmas now!

Treat yourself to a visit at Bloemendal Wijnhuis & D’Aria’s Poplars Restaurant for food to die for and service that is of the very best in the winelands.

Head off to the historic Altydgedacht to taste some very unusual varieties like Barbera, a dry Rosé made from Cabernet Franc and an exquisite example of Gewürztraminer.

Durbanville Wine Valley's Cup Runneth Over
aT Veritas 2007


Liza Goodwin, winemaker from Meerendal celebrates their Veritas success

The wines from our beautiful valley scooped several medals at this year's Veritas Awards. A record 1904 wines were entered this year by 327 South African wine producers; the most participants in this competition's 17 - year history.

Veritas is the only wine competition in South Africa for the industry by the industry and gives recognition to wines of exceptional quality.

Results for Durbanville Wine Valley Producers:

Meerendal:
Meerendal Natural Sweet 2006 - Double Gold
Meerendal Pinotage 1995 - Gold
Meerendal Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Bin 242 2006 - Gold
Meerendal Shiraz Bin 159 2005 - Gold


	Elzette du Preez, winemaker at De Grendel raises a glass to the cellar recent awards

De Grendel:
De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Double Gold
De Grendel Shiraz 2006 - Double Gold

Nitida:
Woolworths Ltd Release Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - gold

A Total of 17 silver medals were also reaped in:
Altydgedacht Estate - 2 silvers
Bloemendal - 1 silver
Diemersdal Wine Estate - 4 silvers
Durbanville Hills - 3 silvers
Hillcrest Estate - 2 silvers
Meerendal - 3 silvers
Nitida - 4 silvers

Durbanville Wine & Art Charity Auction


	Members of the DWVA with their lots for Auction

The Durbanville community was out in force on the 9th of November 2007 at the Barn & Lawn, Meerendal Estate to support a gala Wine and Art evening hosted by Durbanville Wine Valley, Rotary of Durbanville and Tygertalk.

The event at which top wines from the Durbanville wine farms were matched and served to fine dining dishes by three of Durbanville's top chefs culminated in the auction at which brisk bidding on the lots donated by the DWVA members resulted in the total of R46 100 raised on the night.

Durbanville Rotary will administer the funds raised on behalf of the Durbanville farm schools. The decision regarding what equipment to buy will be taken with input from the Durbanville Farm Schools Trust.

Michelle van Staden, from the Durbanville Wine Valley Association, hands a giant cheque to the Rotary Club of Durbanville president, Robert Consani.


Michelle van Staden, from the Durbanville Wine Valley Association, hands a giant cheque to the Rotary Club of Durbanville president, Robert Consani.

Among the treats this year, with funds raised from years' event was a bus trip and art lessons, with a mid morning snack, as well as book prizes at the end of the year for the top academic student and runner up in the top three grades at each school. In the top two grades, the top learners in Maths, English also received a book. All the prize winners also went home with a smart backpack and some Lindt chocolates. Food for the mind and for the tummy.

The Durbanville Wine Valley, Rotary Durbanville and Tygertalk are proud to be partners in reaching out to bring the joy of art to our community's farm school children.

Season's Greetings to each and every one of you. Wishing you a joyous holiday season & a very prosperous New Year.

Click here for English

Desember 2007 Nuusbrief

Durbanville Wynvallei Oorheers
Sauvignon Blanc Top 10


	Van links na regs: Thys Louw van Diemersdal, Elzette du Preez van De Grendel, Michelle van Staden namens Bloemendal and Bernhard Veller van Nitida.

Durbanville Wynvallei Sauvignon Blancs het vier plekke onder die eerste tien opgeraap in die tydskrif Wine se TOPS at Spar Sauvignon Blanc Top 10- kompetisie wat pas geloods is.

Bloemendal, De Grendel, Diemersdal en Nitida spog elk met ‘n vierster-toekenning. Boonop is twee van die ander wenwyne ook gemaak van druiwe wat van plase in die Durbanville Wynvallei af kom, naamlik Backsberg se John Martin 2007 en die Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run 2007, wat weer eens Durbanville se potensiaal as prima Sauvignon Blanc-terrein na vore gebring het.

Wyne van dié kultivar het die Durbanville Wynvallei die laaste paar maande uitmuntende resultate en verskeie toekennings laat toeval. “Die Durbanville Wynvallei beskik oor die grootste konsentrasie Sauvignon Blanc-aanplantings in die land en geniet die voordeel van ‘n koel kusklimaat en gevestigde wingerde, wat wynmakers al jare lank help om spogwyne op die mark te bring,” verduidelik Durbanville Wynvallei se voorsitter, Bennie Howard.

Die Wine Tops at Spar Sauvignon Blanc Top 10- toekennings is ingestel om die beste wyne uit dié kultivar aan te wys en te bevorder.

Cassia open op Nitida Wynplaas

Kosfundi’s regoor die land kon skaars wag vir die opening van Cassia, breinkind van die uitgelese kulinêre span van Peter Goffe-Wood (oorspronklike Kombuis Cowboy en voedsel-alchemis) en David Grier (sjef en avonturier). Die ligte opskudding op hul onlangse mediabekendstelling was voldoende bewys dat die wag die moeite werd was.

By Cassia heers eenvoud – van die ongekunstelde disse met ‘n sweempie hedendaagsheid tot die ontspanne, minimalistiese omgewing en die verruklike uitsig oor die Nitida-wynplaas.

Dan Evans, voorheen van Londen, is sjef in beheer van die kombuis en hou sy skeppings fieterjasievry deur op bestanddele in seisoen te konsentreer en die spyskaart voortdurend hierby aan te pas. Verwag dus metgeselle soos hout-geroosterde stokvis met chorizo, keker-ertjies, koemyn en saffraan, of hout-geroosterde eend, Savoy-blomkool, aartappels en kersies.

Nuuskierige gaste kan selfs die sjefs deur ‘n glas-afskorting dophou terwyl hulle met hul toorwerk in die kombuis besig is. Soos verwag kan word, neem Nitida se bekroonde wyne ‘n belangrike deel van die wynlys op, maar is daar ook ‘n keuse van ander ewe indrukwekkende wyne.

Cassia
Nitida Wynplaas, Tygerbergvallei-weg (M13), Durbanville.
Bel Trish by 082 578 5935
of e-pos .

Nuwighede in en om Kelders in ons vallei

De Grendel is nou ook op Sondae oop van 10h00 tot 16h00. En dan word die kanonne op die De Grendel stoep elke tweede Saterdag om presies 12h00 afgevuur. Moenie dié opwinding misloop nie!

Pieknieks word gedurende die vakansieseisoen op Durbanville Hills bedien. Bespreek lekker vroeg om deel van dié gewilde geleentheid te wees.

Op Hillcrest wynplaas is geskenkpakke met wyn, olywe en olyfolie te koop. Hierdie luukse (dog bekostigbare) item maak die perfekte kersgeskenk vir sowel gewer as ontvanger.

Sauvignon Blanc-geesdriftiges kan gerus op Diemersdal ‘n draai maak, waar ‘n keuse van vyf wyne uit dié variëteit vir elke smaak en sak beskikbaar is.

Besoek Meerendal se bekroonde restaurant Wheatfields, in die Meerendal-herehuis, en maak ‘n fees van hul splinternuwe spyskaart vir dié seisoen. Bespreek by 021- 9751655.

Die Nitida Boeremark word op 22 Desember van 07h30 tot 12h00 gehou. Watter kans om die spens vir Kersfees reg te kry!

Bederf jouself met ‘n besoek aan die Bloemendal Wijnhuis & D’Aria’s Poplars Restaurtant vir kos om oor te droom en tip-top diens uit die wynland.

Of sit af na die geskiedkundige Altydgedacht vir ‘n teugie aan buitengewone kultivars soos Barbera, ‘n droë rosé uit Cabernet Franc en ‘n betowerende Gewürztraminer.

Durbanville Wynvallei se beker loop oor
op Veritas 2007


Liza Goodwin, wynmaker van Meerendal klink 'n glas op hulle Veritas sukses

Wyne uit ons vallei het vanjaar verskeie Veritas-medaljes ingeoes. Daar was altesame 1 904 inskrywings van 327 Suid-Afrikaanse wynprodusente, die meeste ooit in die kompetisie se 17-jarige bestaan.

Veritas is die enigste Suid-Afrikaanse wynkompetisie wat deur die bedryf vir die bedryf aangebied word om wyne van uitsonderlike gehalte na vore te bring.

Uitslae vir die Durbanville Wynvallei is soos volg:

Meerendal:
Meerendal Natural Sweet 2006 – Dubbel Goud
Meerendal Pinotage 1995 – Goud
Meerendal Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Bin 242 2006 – Goud
Meerendal Shiraz Bin 159 2005 – Goud


	Elzette du Preez, wynmaker by De Grendel in die kelder

De Grendel:
De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2007 – Dubbel Goud
De Grendel Shiraz 2006 – Dubbel Goud

Nitida:
Woolworths Ltd Release Sauvignon Blanc 2007 – Goud

'n Totaal van 17 Silwer is gewen:
Altydgedacht Estate – 2 silwer
Bloemendal – 1 silwer
Diemersdal Wine Estate – 4 silwer
Durbanville Hills – 3 silwer
Hillcrest Estate – 2 silwer
Meerendal – 3 silwer
Nitida – 4 silwer

Durbanville Wyn- en Kuns Liefdadigheidsveiling


	Lede van die DWVA met hul wyne vir die Veiling.

Die Durbanvillese gemeenskap het op 9 November in groot getalle na die Barn & Lawn op Meerendal-landgoed gestroom om the gala Wyn en Kuns-aand te steun wat deur Durbanville Wynvallei, die Durbanvillese Rotariërs en Tygertalk aangebied is.

By die geleentheid is topwyne van Durbanvillese wynplase met keurdisse deur drie van die streek se beste sjefs bedien en is die aand met ‘n liefdadigheidsveiling afgesluit van wyne wat deur lede van die DWV geskenk is en ná flink bieëry vir die mooi bedrag van R46 100 gesorg het.

Durbanville se Rotariërs sal die inkomste ten bate van plaasskole in die omgewing administreer. Besluite oor toerusting wat aangekoop moet word, sal in samewerking met die Durbanville Plaasskole Trust geneem word.

Michelle van Staden, from the Durbanville Wine Valley Association, hands a giant cheque to the Rotary Club of Durbanville president, Robert Consani.


Michelle van Staden, van die Durbanville Wyn Vallei, oorhandig 'n reuse tjek aan die Rotary Klub van Durbanville president, Robert Consani.

Geld van verlede jaar (2006) se veiling is onder meer vir ‘n bustoer, kunslesse, met ‘n versnappering gedurende die oggend, sowel as vir boekpryse aan die einde van die jaar vir topleerlinge en dié wat tweede gestaan het in drie grade by elke skool aangewend. Die beste presteerders in Engels en wiskunde in die twee hoër grade is ook met boekpryse beloon. Boonop is die trotse wenners elk ook met ‘n handige rugsak en Lindt-sjokolade huistoe: verversing vir beide die brein en maag.

Die Durbanville Wynvallei, plaaslike Rotariërs en Tygertalk is trots op hul verbintenis om uit te reik en die bevrediging van kuns na die gemeenskap se plaasskole te bring.

Seisoensgroete word 'n ieder en 'n elk van u toegewens. Mag u 'n vreugdevolle Kersfees en baie voorspoedige nuwe jaar tegemoet gaan.

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