Tag Archives: Tasting Room

Creation wine and food pairing now even more heavenly!

February 26, 2014

I last visited Creation more than two years ago, when I wrote a story about the Hermanus Wine Route, which had been launched in 2011. Since then a number of changes have taken place, new chef Warwick Taylor offering even more heavenly food to match the heavenly Creation wines, living up to promise made in the Tasting Menu heading: ‘Original, distinctive flavours. Exceptional, harmonious matches’!

The road to travel to Creation was never in great condition, having been a gravel road 7 km before the entrance to the wine estate. They were very excited when the Western Cape province announced the tarring of the road to Caledon, and 3 km of the untarred section had been tarred when the construction contractor went bankrupt, a huge frustration for Creation. A number of months have gone by while the province appointed a new contractor, and work has finally commenced again, it taking ten months for the road to be completed, owner JC Martin estimated. The road currently is in a worse condition than it was on our last visit, in terms of its surface, with more accidents on the road, and having a stop/go system in place. Co-owner Carolyn Martin said she is placing pressure on the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works Robin Carlisle to get things moving. Creation will have to possibly change its entrance once the tarring is complete. Despite the poor condition of the road, it was a surprise to see the car park at Creation completely full, Carolyn’s marketing of their wines and the Tasting Room being so excellent that tourists as well as Johannesburg and Pretoria locals come anyway.

I thought I had arrived without being recognised, but Carolyn had seen me (I was sitting with my back to the desk) and she called JC to come and say hello. JC was busy in the cellar with the preparation for the start of the harvest the following day, but made time to chat, reflecting how good they are in connecting with their customers (we stock their Whale Pod range) and visitors. JC said that the harvest is only 3 – 4 days later than last year after the wet winter, and that they have some botrytis, which his staff is picking out. He expected the harvest to take a little longer this year, being 3 – 4 weeks, depending on the weather. He shook his head, almost in disbelief, Continue reading →

Restaurant Review: No horse play at Equus at Cavalli Estate, hungry for success!

December 12, 2013

I had eagerly awaited the opening of the Cavalli Estate on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, its majestic entrance having been completed about two years ago, and having heard a number of times that Chef Henrico Grobbelaar would be heading up the kitchen in the Equus restaurant. Its Equus Tasting Room, Gallery, Boutique, and Restaurant opened a month ago, its 54 thoroughbred saddlebred horses, and olive and vine plantation make up the Cavalli Estate. It must be the largest Winelands tourism offering in terms of size and facilities offered.

Horses dominate everything at Cavalli, the Italian name for the animal, and the racehorse stud was developed while the Equus centre was being built. The stud is the main reason for the estate’s existence, and one passes the large stable building as one drives to Equus, with fynbos evident in the gardens landscaped by Keith Kirsten, who also did the Delaire Graff gardens. I had been invited to be shown around by mother and daughter Gundel and Annette Sogor from Gordon’s Bay, who had been to the tasting room before, but had not yet eaten at Equus. Arriving separately, we each shared how unprofessional the welcome at the security entrance as well as at the parking had been, and Lauren Smith, owner’s daughter, architect, and Operations Manager of the estate, made quick work in having the problem addressed and the outsourced security men replaced.

The Equus building is vast, and consists of a massive art gallery, a boutique, Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 11 December

December 11, 2013

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* The number one World 50 Best Restaurants, El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, is taking its ground-breaking cuisine on a world ‘Roca and Roll World Tour 2014‘ , with pop-up events in different countries, starting with Mexico, Columbia, and Peru. It is not known whether Cape Town is on their world tour itinerary.

* Former Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois will take her dismissal to the CCMA or Department of Labour.

* Constantia Glen has created a new Tasting Room, using the services of top decorator Graham Viney, who has created a ‘fusion of European and Cape design‘. The wine bar previously was the stables and cow byre. ‘The Arts and Crafts, Victorian and Cape Dutch idioms employed all combine to make a wonderfully stylish, contemporary venue, with ravishing vineyard and mountain views falling away to the north towards Kirstenbosch and rising steeply to the south to the Constantiaberg’, said Mr Viney. The Waibel family, owners of the wine estate, have displayed their collection of pottery by Hymie Rabinowitz, who used to create his works of art on the estate. A dining room for private functions has also been created. (received via media release from GC Communications)

* To follow in the footsteps of the late Nelson Mandela, a number of sites are recommended to be visited on an informal Nelson Mandela Route in Johannesburg.

* The organisation of the late Nelson Mandela’s memorial service at the FNB Stadium yesterday, and attended by world leaders as well as music, film, Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 9/10 November

November 10, 2013

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Distell has handed over a whale disentanglement kit to the NSRI in Hermanus, funded by monies raised at the Whale Festival.

* Fewer flights leaving the UK are delayed.

* Cape Town has a new ambassador in Katie Holmes, Tweeting from Table Mountain with a photograph yesterday: ‘Beautiful day in Cape Town’.

* The SA Brandy Foundation has recognised the contribution of a number of its product drinkers, and has inducted them into the Brandy Guild of SA: Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, Warren Haefele, Schalk Burger, Wini Bowman, Peter Pitsiladi, Mike Meyers, and Amaro Fernandes. (received via Manley Communications)

* Carlos Santana will be performing at the Grand Arena in Cape Town on 25, 26 and 27 February, his first Cape Town appearance ever.

* About 41000 visitors from around the world attended the World Travel Market (WTM) in London earlier this week.

* World Travel Market (WTM) is massive, offers poor quality Continue reading →