{"id":22893,"date":"2011-07-25T08:05:57","date_gmt":"2011-07-25T06:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=22893"},"modified":"2012-02-07T16:06:33","modified_gmt":"2012-02-07T14:06:33","slug":"stellenbosch-wine-route-turns-40-celebrates-with-most-excellent-restaurants-in-sa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wine-news\/stellenbosch-wine-route-turns-40-celebrates-with-most-excellent-restaurants-in-sa\/","title":{"rendered":"Stellenbosch Wine Route turns 40, celebrates with most excellent restaurants in SA on Stellenbosch Restaurant Route!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The pioneering Stellenbosch Wine Route, founded in 1971 by winemakers Frans Malan of Simonsig,\u00a0Neil Joubert of Spier, and Spatz Sperling of Delheim, celebrates its 40th anniversary with an extensive wine and food feast and fest from 28 – 31 July.\u00a0 The Route has established itself not only as one with the largest number of outstanding wine farms of the 18 wine routes in the country, representing 18% of all vines planted in South Africa, but also with the largest collection of outstanding restaurants in South Africa, Stellenbosch now wearing the Gourmet Capital crown.<\/p>\n

The trio which\u00a0established the Stellenbosch Wine Route was inspired\u00a0by the wine route Routes de Vins at Morey St Denis in Burgundy, the late Frans Malan and Neil Joubert returning from their 1969 trip and connecting with Spatz Sperling\u00a0to establish the Stellenbosch Wine Route, the first wine tourism activity in our country.\u00a0 I was delighted to meet Spatz Sperling<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span>(who celebrated his 81st birthday last week) and his wife Vera, as well as daughter Nora and son Victor on their Delheim wine farm recently.\u00a0 To create the Stellenbosch Wine Route, the\u00a0founding wine farmers had to overcome red tape and bureaucracy, and even had to have wine legislation rewritten to accommodate the new Stellenbosch Wine Route.\u00a0 Meals were not allowed to be served at wine estates, and bottled wine could not be sold from a winery in those days.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The renamed Stellenbosch American Express Wine Routes has\u00a0147 wine\u00a0farms, making it the largest wine route in our country, but also is the only one to celebrate its assets with the Stellenbosch\u00a0Wine Festival\u00a0for the 10th year running.\u00a0\u00a0 Not focusing exclusively on wines, food has been added to the Festival.\u00a0 Celebrity chefs from Towerbosch Earth Kitchen, The Restaurant @ Clos Malverne, The Restaurant at Waterkloof, and De Volkskombuis (the oldest restaurant in Stellenbosch)\u00a0will be cooking in the Gourmet Lane at the\u00a0Stellenbosch Wine Festival\u00a0venue of Paul Roos Centre in Stellenbosch.\u00a0\u00a0Presentations at the\u00a0Clover Demo Kitchen\u00a0will be done by outstanding photographer Russell Wasserfall with his wife Camilla on ‘Home Entertaining at its Best’ in conjunction with De Meye wines;\u00a0by @KitchenVixen Bianca du Plessis, who reviews restaurants on the Expresso Show;\u00a0by wine PRO Emile Joubert\u00a0with wine writer Neil Pendock; by chef George Jardine of Jordan Restaurant with George Jardine on ‘Cheese if you Please’; and by Chef Greg Czarnecki of The Restaurant at Waterkloof, who\u00a0celebrates the ‘French Connection’.<\/p>\n

The Stellenbosch Wine Festival has been stretched out\u00a0into the Stellenbosch Wine Week, which commenced on Friday, and continues until\u00a0Sunday.\u00a0 During the Stellenbosch Wine Week one can enjoy dinner\u00a0with the\u00a0Warwick family, <\/a><\/strong>a fundraising concert at Delheim, vertical tastings of Simonsig’s Kaapse Vonkel, vintage tastings of Scintilla Cap Classiques at the House of JC le Roux, a salt pairing with Fleur du Cap wines by Sofia chef Craig Cormack, a food and wine pairing dinner at Neethlingshof with Katinka van Niekerk,\u00a0paired venison carpaccio with Vergenoegd wines, blend and bottle one’s own Cape Blend at Clos Malverene, enjoy free winetastings in the Waterkloof Tasting Room, vertical tasting of Kanonkop wines\u00a0followed by\u00a0a snoek braai, vintage and barrel tastings of Jan Boland Coetzee’s Vriesenhof wines, tasting with David Trafford of his De Trafford wines, taste rare Cabernet Sauvignon vintages at Le Riche, wine and venison pairing at Middelvlei, picnics at Chabivin with Champagnes and Cap Classique tastings, art-house films screened at Le Bonheur, ‘Dine and 30 Seconds’ dinners at Uitkyk, and participate in a chipping competition at Ernie Els Wines,<\/p>\n

A new feature of the Stellenbosch Wine Festival will be a MCC Lounge, in which Simonsig Estate, which created South Africa’s first M\u00e9thode Cap Classique Kaapse Vonkel, Villiera, Mooiplaas, Longridge, Spier, and Pongr\u00e1cz will be presenting their MCC’s, paired with oysters and other delicacies.<\/p>\n

We wrote last year that the Stellenbosch Wine Route should create the Stellenbosch Restaurant Route<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, and while they have not yet done so, we have created it on this Blog nevertheless, and in honour of the cuisine\u00a0excellence in Stellenbosch, list from it the restaurants on wine farms in Stellenbosch:<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 Rust en Vrede <\/strong>– named the best restaurant in the\u00a0country in 2010\u00a0by Eat Out, <\/strong>a slick operation, previously with talented chef David Higgs, on the Rust en Vrede wine estate.\u00a0 Featured on the Eat Out<\/strong> Top 10 list 2009, and 2010,\u00a0number 74 on 50 Best Restaurants in the World 2010 list, and Top vineyard restaurant of 2010 Great Wine Capitals in the World\u00a0– read the review<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> here.\u00a0 Tel (021) 881-3881<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Overture<\/strong> – Chef Bertus\u00a0Basson is a hard-working re-inventor of his menu and operation, always looking to improve.\u00a0\u00a0 On the Eat Out<\/strong> Top 10 restaurant list for 2009 and 2010.\u00a0 Fantastic views from the location on the Hidden Valley wine estate – read the review <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong>here.\u00a0 Tel (021) 880-2721<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Terroir <\/strong>is a perennial on the Eat Out<\/strong> Top 10 list, with Chef Michael Broughton.\u00a0\u00a0The outside seating on the De Kleine Zalze wine and golf estate\u00a0is great for a warm day.\u00a0 Tel (021) 880-8167<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"<\/a>Delaire <\/strong>at Delaire Graff –\u00a0 no money was spared in building and decorating this restaurant and winery building, and it houses a most impressive art collection.\u00a0\u00a0 Chef Christian Campbell is doing outstanding work and good service.\u00a0Read our\u00a0review <\/a><\/span><\/strong>here.\u00a0 Tel (021) 885-8160<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Indochine <\/strong>at Delaire Graff- is relatively less opulent in its\u00a0interior design compared to its sister restaurant.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Young chef Jonathan Heath is a star to watch, and his Asian fusion menu is sure to\u00a0attract the attention of the Eat Out<\/strong> Top 10 judges.\u00a0 \u00a0He explains the menu, and the dishes when he serves them personally.\u00a0\u00a0R<\/span><\/strong>ead our review.<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span> Tel (021) 885-8160<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Jordan Restaurant with George Jardine<\/strong> –\u00a0 a mouthful of a brand name but also a mouthful in value and excellent quality. Set at the end of a long road, on the Jordan wine estate, it overlooks a big pond and the beautiful Stellenbosch mountains in the far distance, teeming with birdlife.\u00a0 Interior functional.\u00a0 Most beautiful and\u00a0unique\u00a0\u201dbread\u201d plate ever seen.\u00a0\u00a0 Read the review<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 Tel (021) 881-3612<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 The Long Table Restaurant and Cafe <\/strong>– set at the end of a long road up a hill, above Rust en Vrede, on the Haskell Vineyards (marketers of Haskell and Dombeya wines), the food of Chef Corli Els is a wonderful surprise.\u00a0 The restaurant interior and\u00a0waiter service do not match the excellence of her food or the quality of the Haskell wines. The Papaya and Avo salad stands out as one of the special treats.\u00a0\u00a0 Read the Review<\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/a> Tel (021) 881-3746<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Warwick <\/strong>wine estate – owner Mike Ratcliffe is a good marketer, and his gourmet picnics\u00a0are a great hit in summer.\u00a0 Winter Tapas menu – read the picnic review<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong> here.\u00a0 Tel (021) 884-3144<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Tokara DeliCATessen<\/strong> – has a buffet lunch too, very large restaurant space combined with a deli, but service poor and food quality average – read the review<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> here.\u00a0\u00a0 Tel (021) 808-5950<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Eight <\/strong>at Spier – the menu was designed by Judy Badenhorst, ex-River Cafe, now running the Casa Labia Cafe in Muizenberg. Tel (021) 809-1188<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 Wild Peacock\u00a0Food Emporium<\/strong> on Piet Retief Street –\u00a0belongs to Sue Baker and is managed by ex-Rust en Vrede front of house manager and daughter Sarah, selling deli items, a range of cold meats, imported French and local cheese, fresh breads, and has a sit-down menu as well.\u00a0Wine shop to come. Tel 082 697 0870<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 Pane E Vino <\/strong>– this food and wine bar is hidden to those who\u00a0do not\u00a0come to Bosman\u2019s Crossing.\u00a0 Owned by Elena Dalla Cia, husband George and father-in-law Giorgio do wine and grappa tastings in the restaurant too.\u00a0 Good Italian fare.\u00a0Tel (021) 883-8312<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Bodega @Dornier <\/strong>–\u00a0Tel (021) 880-0557<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Cuvee Restaurant<\/a><\/strong>, Simonsig – interesting modernist Cape Dutch interior curation by Neil Stemmet.\u00a0Impressive quality food, tableware, stemware, napery, and service.\u00a0\u00a0Tel (021) 888-4932<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Tokara <\/strong>– Etienne Bonthuys\u00a0has left Tokara to open Casparus<\/a> on Dorp Street, and Richard Carstens\u00a0has stepped into the kitchen, cooking up a storm as South Africa’s Ferran Adria of El Bulli fame.\u00a0Read the review<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span> Tel (021) 808-5959.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Towerbosch Earth Kitchen <\/strong>on the Knorhoek wine estate, designed by Neil Stemmet. Lovely fairy-like setting, fantastic Boerekos feast served in bowls rather than dishing up per plate.\u00a0 Read the review<\/span><\/a>.<\/strong><\/span> Tel (021) 865-2114.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Johan\u2019s at Longridge <\/strong>is a refreshing new restaurant on LongridgeWinery, with a focus on fresh vegetables from its large vegetable\u00a0garden alongside the restaurant.\u00a0 Co-owner Chef\u00a0Johan comes from a Michelin two-star restaurant in Holland, as does Chef Marissa.\u00a0 Attentive service led by Chris Olivier, excellent food, great wines.\u00a0 Read the review<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Tel (021) 855-2004<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Delheim restaurant<\/strong> – read about the visit during the Delheim Nouvelle Mushroom Week<\/a><\/strong><\/span> earlier this month.\u00a0 Tel (021) 888-4600<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Table at De Meye<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>opened in September, and won the Eat Out <\/strong>Best Country-Style Award in November. \u00a0It is only open for Friday. Saturday and Sunday lunches.<\/p>\n

Stellenbosch Wine Festival, <\/strong>28 – 31 July.\u00a0 Paul Roos Centre, Stellenbosch. Tel (021) 886-4310.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 www.stellenboschwinefestival.co.za<\/a>. Book www.webtickets.co.za<\/a>.\u00a0 Entry R120 on-line, R140 at door.\u00a0 R350 for a pass for entry over the\u00a0whole period of the Stellenbosch Wine Festival.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a> Twitter:@WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The pioneering Stellenbosch Wine Route, founded in 1971 by winemakers Frans Malan of Simonsig,\u00a0Neil Joubert of Spier, and Spatz Sperling of Delheim, celebrates its 40th anniversary with an extensive wine and food feast and fest from 28 – 31 July.\u00a0 The Route has established itself not only as one with the largest number of outstanding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[124,20,31,21,19,293],"tags":[64,12473,1591,8792,10735,12486,12490,12040,32378,1690,2656,12472,3986,6120,139,12483,6093,12475,12484,12469,1736,2489,12494,6102,8793,14761,6301,3080,975,4569,2083,976,412,11513,2185,233,12470,12476,8654,215,5246,11511,2827,12037,6098,4898,12478,391,12481,12474,7345,12487,8653,12489,12491,12488,1066,12485,3602,3213,148,4001,497,7421,33,2023,12471,229,13,62,12467,9841,34,12493,12479,230,12480,11504,52,32376,12468,6086,7164,3966,12477,12492,447,10842,7242,14696,59,3283,7344,12482,2837,5046,3598,32373,6155,12466],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t