Tag Archives: Neleen Strauss

Jordan Wines salutes Inspector Péringuey with its Chenin Blanc 2014!

Jordan Inspcector Bottale and glass Whale CottageInspector Louis Albert Péringuey was a powerful man in the 19th century, in his role as Inspector-General of Vineyards in the Cape. Yesterday Gary and Kathy Jordan of Jordan Wines paid tribute to the man who led the fight against phylloxera, and who supervised the importation of American rootstocks onto which vineyard varieties were grafted.  They have named their 2014 vintage Chenin Blanc Inspector Péringuey, ‘as Chenin was the first varietal we planted in 1983, that being the oldest block on the estate‘.

The Inspector collected museum artifacts in Africa, and moved to the Cape in 1879. He specialised in Coleoptera (the study of beetles) and prehistory.  He was a teacher, worked for the South African Museum, and also worked as the Inspector-General of Vineyards.   He has a leaf-toed gecko, an adder, and an ant named after him Continue reading →

Jordan Winery celebrates 21st anniversary, now rolling (in) the dough at The Bakery @ Jordan!

Jordan Winery tasting in cellar Whale Cottage PortfolioJordan Wine Estate celebrated its 21 st anniversary of winemaking in its cellar last week, a surprise addition to the event, which had invited us to the launch of their deli.

Tables had been set up in the cellar, a cool space on a hot Stellenbosch day, and Gary Jordan took us through the history of Jordan, the wine farm having been in the family’s ownership for 30 years.  Gary said that they are a hands-on family, his late mom having helped to pick grapes and driving the truck.  Over the 30 year period they rebuilt the worker cottages, planted the vineyards, built their own house, built the cellar, and the restaurant, which opened in 2009 with Chef George Jardine at the helm, the same year in which they opened High Timber in London with Neleen Strauss.  Both Gary and his wife KathyJordan Winery Gary Jordan Whale Cottage Portfolio completed a Masters in Winemaking in California. The late Tony Mossop and Allan Mullins were saluted for encouraging the Jordans to do the course and in their winemaking.

Over time they have added four pockets of neighbouring land, now with a total of 165 ha, of which 105ha  is planted with vines.  The pay-off line at the end of the slide show said: ‘Celebrating 21 years of synergy between soul and soil‘. Continue reading →

SA ‘wine dining’ launched in London

A marriage between Kathy and Gary Jordan of Jordan wine estate in Stellenbosch and Neleen Strauss, a South African restaurateur now based in London, and previously running Vivat Bacchus, has created High Timber in London, in High Timber Street close to St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Modern, and Shakespeare’s Globe, reports The South African.

High Timber has 40 000 wines in its cellar, many of them being from Jordan.   The menu has been designed to complement the wines stocked.   It has South African staples like steak, but with an international flair.