Warwick Wine Blog

Valentines is going to Rock at Warwick

2012-01-24T06:15:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Picnic bookings open today - Dont miss out!

2012-01-24T05:26:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day bookings

Sunset in the Warwick vineyards with the family

2012-01-23T22:36:00.001-08:00

Some new Panoramic photography at Warwick

2012-01-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

Warwick's Forest Courtyard

The Warwick 'Gourmet Picnic at the Penthouse'

The Warwick 'Picnic Pods'

Gill Smith got married in the UK with a rather nice bottle of Warwick Trilogy

2012-01-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

Trilogy in the middle of a Threesome!

2012-01-15T23:31:00.000-08:00

Pounding Grape - Tuesday, 10 January 2012

I'v got soul, but I'm not a singer...

So, the holidays are done and dusted, and it’s back to reality. Hopefully I can cheer you up a bit by bringing you the good news that all you need to relax is a bottle of wine and some friends. And what better estates to do that than Warwick and Lievland!! I was there on Thursday to taste some wines and to get a feeling of how they do it.

For those of you who do not know anything about Lievland, it is a very small estate out on the R44 on your way to Paarl from Stellenbosch. When I say small, I mean really small. There are cows and sheep grazing not too far from the tasting area, and a few ducks splash around in the pond nearby. This makes for a very relaxing time indeed. The tasting itself is also very informal, with the assistant giving you the bottles and you helping yourself. All this almost made up for the fact that she didn’t really know anything about wine…

Sauvignon Blanc 2011: The Sauvignon Blanc was not amazing. It had hints of tropical fruit, and a bit of Golden Delicious apple on the palate, but at the end of the day there was no depth or follow through on either the nose or the palate. It isn’t a horrible wine at all, but for R50 there are a number of other Sauvignon Blancs that I would rather buy. It gets 2.5.

Lievlander 2008: The Lievlander is a delightful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Shiraz. There are loads of ripe berries on the nose, complimented by hints of cherries and some nice peppery spices. On the palate you find more of the same, with the Shiraz coming through a bit more to give a nice peppery, savoury, aftertaste. The price makes it taste even better! At R50 a bottle this wine can do no wrong. It gets a solid 3.

Shiraz 2005: The Shiraz was the pick of the wines at Lievland. There are quite a bit of spice on the nose and the palate, with the soft cherry flavours just to even out the spices slightly. There is still a little bit of tannins, but most of them have softened by now. It costs R100 per bottle, which is not bad for a flagship wine, but I do not think it is twice as good as the Lievlander. After tasting the Lievlander I was expecting a great booming Shiraz to end off on a good note, but it was a bit of an anticlimax. I rate it at 3.5.

The second stop was Warwick (http://www.warwickwine.com/). I have always been a big fan of their wines, and in the last year and a half, they have really put in an effort to renovate the whole tasting area. The outcome is that there is now a small deli to go with the beautifully rebuilt tasting room. For those of you who do know the estate, do not worry, the great deck is still outside overlooking the pond. In addition to this you can now order gourmet picnics to enjoy as well. I have to say, the service was a bit slow at times. I know that it is the peak of the season for the wine estates, but if you know this is the case, rather have too many people on staff than to have a few running around the whole time. Having said this, they are very friendly, know their wines, and luckily I was not in any rush. So I had a great time - it has to be said!

Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2011: It is a great summer wine. It’s a full wine with tropical flavours, green apples, and gooseberries on the nose. This follows through on the palate. It has really good acidity, which I always enjoy. At R95 per bottle it is not cheap by any means, but it is a quality wine! I’ll give it 3.5.

Chardonnay 2010: The Chardonnay is oaked for 10 months in French oak barrels, and the oak is very prominent on the nose and the palate, but thankfully it is not overpowering. You’ll find some peaches complimented by the vanilla and almond flavours given by the oak. This is a big wine, and I would say one to pair with food. It costs R135 per bottle, and gets a rating of 3.5.

The First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2010: The First Lady is made in honour of Norma Radcliff, the owner and first wine maker of the estate. She was also the first female wine maker in South Africa. This is another one of my favourites. When you don’t know what to buy, this never disappoints! There are a lot of currants and oak on the nose. The currants continue in abundance on the palate, and the tannins are very present. At R60 per bottle, I believe that it is really good value for money, and you still get a well rounded, full bodied wine. 3.

‘Old Bush Vine’ Pinotage 2010: If you do not know this by now, I am a big fan of Pinotage. Thus I am always hoping to find a good one to enjoy, or just look at… The ‘Old Bush Vine’ did not disappoint. It has a variety of flavours on the nose ranging from berries to some dark chocolate, and just a hint of vanilla. The vanilla comes through a bit better on the palate, and these flavours are joined by a lot of tannins. The wine is still very young, so you expect that to be the case. It is a very good wine, but I also believe that it will develop even more over the next few years, getting better and better. R95 is not a bad price for what you get, and it deserves (at this point) a rating of 3.5.

Three Cape Ladies 2009: The Three Cape Ladies is a Cape Blend with almost a third of the blend made up of Pinotage. Currants and berries are pleasing on the nose, with mulberries popping up on the palate. The wine has a very good oak structure which combines well with the fruit to ensure that it will age beautifully. R115 per bottle is once again a fair price in my opinion, especially if you plan on aging it for a while. If you are going to let it mature for a couple of years, you will not be disappointed! It gets 3.5.

Trilogy 2008: The Trilogy is the flagship of the estate, and sells for R240 per bottle. I know that it is a lot of money for a bottle of wine, but oh my goodness it is a great wine!! It is a Bordeaux Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and it is a classic. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides an abundance of currants, softer berries are brought to the table by the Merlot, and the Cabernet Franc adds some greener flavours to ensure that this wine is as full bodied as it can possibly be! The Trilogy is not some pop singer whose voice disappears into the masses; no, it has volume, body, and a lot of soul!! It is the Tom Jones of wines. By far the best wine that I’ve tasted between the two estates and it gets a rating of 4.5.

That’s it for this addition. If you have any suggestions or requests for which estates to visit, please leave a comment. I will try to post another entry this week, but until then, follow the action on Twitter: @Pounding_Grape. I am following some interesting people and wine estates as well, so go and check it out!

Till next time, enjoy pounding grape!!!

The Grape Escape

2012-01-13T02:29:00.000-08:00

Financial Mail - Cape picnics-The grape escape

2012-01-12T03:24:00.000-08:00

Picnics aren’t what they used to be. They’re better. Chefs have moved into the territory and given the old hard-boiled- eggs-and-drumsticks fare a gourmet tweak.

No-one is more passionate about picnics than Judy Badenhorst. She and Spier executive chef Lorianne Heyns won’t put anything into a picnic basket they don’t believe belongs there. And what they believe belongs in each of their four Spier picnic options is ingredients in irresistible combinations.

Smoked trout with red onion salsa and fennel baby potatoes (gourmet picnic). Caramelised onion tarts with dried olives (vegetarian). Salads in which they combine mango and basil with chilli and coconut (raw). Or marinated mushrooms and gorgonzola with lentils and tomato, drizzled with walnut and tahini yoghurt (also vegetarian). These are just some of the treats you can tuck into on your blanket on the grass, and they’re as deliciously lavish as they sound. We tried them all, lounging against a rock on the edge of the dam and tossing bits of home-made bread roll to the ducks. They range in price from the Relaxed Picnic at R125/person to Raw at R170, wine excluded.

There are equally compelling reasons to try the picnics at Warwick, also in the Stellenbosch area. The lake setting is lovely, and former Showroom chef Bruce Robertson set the gourmet standard initially before vanishing north.

His brandy and biltong paté is as compulsively edible as the deep-orange smoked Norwegian salmon with pickled cucumber and dill dressing of current chef Mark Springhorn. So is the pairing with smoked cheddar and camembert of the fruit chutney made by Warwick’s Norma Ratcliffe, the brains behind this generous outdoor feast.

Some serious pampering goes with your R299 basket for two. Again, the price excludes a lightly wooded Warwick chardonnay. Discreet elegance reigns, even to a coiled wine glass holder you spike into the lawn.

Everything is brought to you, whether you’re sprawled under an umbrella on the lawns by the water — with your back against a long, fat, comfy bolster-like cushion on a Warwick blanket — or at a table in the forest courtyard, or inside one of the eight bamboo pod structures around the lake. Total indulgence.

At Solms-Delta outside Franschhoek, a shallow, gurgling stream runs through the wooded picnic spots and there’s a lake with a tiny island. You don’t get more idyllically sylvan than this. No wonder wedding couples are inspired to hold picnic celebrations under the massive plane trees. An ideal setting for families, it’s excellent value at R135/basket including a blanket and (with two baskets) a bottle of Solms-Delta Lekkerwijn rosé and one of mineral water.

Chef Shaun Schoeman is a man who embraces comfort food. His chicken tandoori is tender and tasty, his kraakbrood a pleasantly chewy change of pace from baguettes, his potato mayo salad cunningly spiked with bacon and onion, and his lamb kofta with minted cream cheese a refreshing option for those who like frikkadelle on a stick. You won’t go hungry.

Anglo’s Boschendal, not far from Solms-Delta, was one of the first to do prepacked picnics in wickerwork baskets. This vast and beautiful 400-year-old estate has endless shady lawns but most people prefer what Boschendal calls its Pique Nique at tables under the trees.

Just about all of them are tourists. They pour in, many with small children, adding a cheery holiday flavour to the proceedings. I suspect they’re the reason Boschendal’s R150 menu (without the Boschendal Lanoy we had) plays it safe with conventional food, lots of it, which even children can eat .

Isn’t it time a historic gem like this, with its exquisite manor house and glorious old rose garden, had a gourmet picnic option in the same class?

Picnics are Picnics aren’t what they used to be. They’re better. Chefs have moved into the territory and given the old hard-boiled- eggs-and-drumsticks fare a gourmet tweak. No-one is more passionate about picnics than Judy Badenhorst. She and Spier executive chef Lorianne Heyns won’t put anything into a picnic basket they don’t believe belongs there. And what they believe belongs in each of their four Spier picnic options is ingredients in irresistible combinations.

These are just some of the treats you can tuck into on your blanket on the grass, and they’re as deliciously lavish as they sound. We tried them all, lounging against a rock on the edge of the dam and tossing bits of home-made bread roll to the ducks. They range in price from the Relaxed Picnic at R125/person to Raw at R170, wine excluded.

Isn’t it time a historic gem like this, with its exquisite manor house and glorious old rose garden, had a gourmet picnic option in the same class? Picnics are silver service at Anglo’s other celebrated piece of history, Vergelegen in Somerset West . They take place in a unique setting — an ancient camphor forest of giant trees, where tables are laid in fairytale glades, so far away from each other it feels as if you have the place all to yourself.

The fare falls a little short of the gourmet standards set by the less majestic winelands venues, but at R170 (without wine), this inimitable picnic in the forest is something to be experienced at least once in a lifetime. silver service at Anglo’s other celebrated piece of history, Vergelegen in Somerset West . They take place in a unique setting — an ancient camphor forest of giant trees, where tables are laid in fairytale glades, so far away from each other it feels as if you have the place all to yourself.

Six super wineland picnics

2011-12-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

Six super wineland picnics

Sindi Nene - IDOLS finalist loves Warwick & Vilafonte - thanks for the punt Sindi...

2011-12-14T02:41:00.000-08:00

The perfect wedding gift? A Warwick Wedding Cup

2011-12-07T23:45:00.001-08:00


			The perfect wedding gift? A Warwick Wedding Cup

Warwick's Norma Ratcliffe presenting Warwick wines in Lyon on a 5 day French road show

2011-11-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

Warwicks Norma Ratcliffe presenting Warwick wines in Lyon on a 5 day French road show

Relax - we've got you covered...

2011-10-31T04:21:00.000-07:00

Grapes, Gourmet and Gallery Evening with Warwick Wine Estate

2011-10-24T02:49:00.000-07:00

Warwick Grapes, Gourmet & Gallery Evening

Grapes, Gourmet & Gallery

Our next Grapes, Gourmet and Gallery Evening
with Warwick Wine Estate, will be
taking place in our newly refurbished restaurant
on Wednesday, 2^ndof November 2011,
make sure you book your seat.

Our Executive Chef Jochen Riedel and his team,
have outdone themselves and have created an amazing
5 course menu, paired with 6 of Warwick's finest wines.

Join us for artwork by Dr. Michael Durst,
who will be exhibiting his solo exhibition
"THE WONDERS OF FRACTAL ART"
See below for a sneak preview of Dr. Michael Durst's artwork

Guests are invited for pre-drinks from 7pm and are seated at 7:30pm.

Price: R345.00 per person

Gift Vouchers can be purchased.

See our menu below:

MENU

Tartar of Scallop
with asparagus and vegetable vinaigrette

Sauvignon Blanc 2010

***

Smoked Ostrich Salad
served with raspberry dressing

Pinotage 2010

***

Sous Vide Leg of Lamb
presented on roasted tomato puntalette
with garlic foam

Three Cape Ladies Cape Blend 2009

***

Coq Au Vin
complemented by potato purée and bean-bacon bundle

Trilogy 2009

***

Cheese Platter
with pears poached in red wine

The First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

***

For enquiries & bookings contact our banqueting department on
021 434 2351 or e-mail us atbanqueting@winchester.co.za

American Express Platinum Fine Dining Restaurant Awards

2011-10-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

Platter 5 Stars for Warwick Cabernet Franc

2011-10-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

We have again had our Cabernet Franc recognised amongst the greatest icon wines in South Africa. This time it is five stars from the influential Platter guide. The John Platter Wine guide, now in it's 2012 edition continues to be the most influential and globally relevant wine guide of South African wines.

Warwick was one of the first handful of wineries to plant Cabernet Franc in South Africa and was the first ever winery to release single varietal Cabernet Franc in 1986. "Cabernet Franc is my baby - it has always just worked at Warwick" says winemaker and family matriarch Norma Ratcliffe.

Warwick Cabernet Franc is available in limited quantities on the best wine lists in the world. It is also available exclusively through the Warwick 'Wine Family' wine club - Join now

Click here to purchase a case today.
Click here for more information on this wine
Click here to find a stockist in your country.

Durban Newspaper article - Welcome to Warwick Estate

2011-10-06T01:35:00.000-07:00

first sneak peek at Warwick 'The First Lady' Unwooded Chardonnay - coming in March 2012

2011-09-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

A first look at Warwick's Gourmet Picnic summer advertising campaign

2011-09-28T04:49:00.000-07:00

Book the ultimate Winelands experience today, time is running out!

2011-09-21T07:08:00.001-07:00

The ultimate Winelands experience. Pay R199 for a gourmet picnic, wine tasting and Big 5 wine Safari for two at the idyllic Warwick Wine Estate worth R449

Book Now

We are invited to the Mayoral Wine Tourism Awards as a finalist for best South African wine tourism destination.

2011-09-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

German agents promoting James Bond & Warwick Three Cape Ladies

2011-08-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Big music event at Warwick this weekend the 20th August

2011-08-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

Warwick Estate’s Big Five Vineyard Safari

2011-08-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

By: Lucy Corne

August 5th, 2011

There are two main advantages that Warwick Estate’s Big Five Safari has over other Big Five game drives. The first, of course, is wine. The second is that you’ll never leave disappointed – you’re guaranteed sightings of each one of the Big Five in question, for we are not talking wildlife here. Warwick’s Big Five is comprised of the quintet of South African wine giants – Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Authentic safari vehicles take you deep into the vineyards, en route they liken each of the five grapes to one of the real Big Five. If, like me, you like to play guessing games and fancy trying to work out which grape reflects which animal, you might like to place you bets before you read on – consider this a spoiler alert.

We climbed into the truck feeling a little sad that we weren’t actually going game spotting, but any disappointment was washed away at our first stop with a post-breakfast glass of the sublime Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoying the signature winelands view of endless mountains and unrivalled beauty, we sipped and learned why this is the rhino of the wine Big Five. This was the most tenuous comparison – there being more to both than meets the eye – but others are really rather clever.

Cab Sauv, the king of the wine industry, can only be the lion; Pinotage, like the buffalo, stands its ground (when blended with a Cab Sauv. N.B. blending a buffalo and a lion is not recommended); Cab Franc is the elephant of grapes, with its thick skin and resilience to pests, while Merlot, like the leopard, presents a challenge. Just as you don’t always get a glimpse of the latter on a game drive, you don’t always get a good glass of the former in South Africa.

Warwick’s tour is quirky and fun, but more than that it offers real insight into the grape growing process, something often overlooking on winery tours. If you’ve ever wanted to learn to identify a grape from its leaves, know which variety craves cooler weather or why French oak is favoured over South African oak then this is your tour. And even if those things aren’t near the top of your must-learn list, the Big Five Wine Safari is a great way to spend an hour – sipping Sauvignon Blanc alongside the vines that produced it and following up with a tasting of Warwick’s excellent vintages back at the winery. I might have failed to rise to the challenge of identifying the grape from looking at the vine; I might have failed to match the grapes to their animal counterparts but I fared well at working my way through their tasting menu and succeeded at sipping from the famous wedding cup without spilling a drop. It seems I know where my strengths truly lie.

Warwick’s Big Five Wine Safari costs R50 per person, leaving every hour from 11am to 4pm. Bookings recommended. Tastings cost R25 per person and gourmet picnics are available to enjoy in the grounds.

Contact Warwick Estate

Tel 021-884 -144
Email visit@warwickwine.com

Press release from the Jan Kriel Wine Auction in London - Mike Ratcliffe was the auctioneer

2011-07-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

The 13^th Annual London SA Wine Auction, in aid of Jan Kriel School took place on Thursday, 19 May at the Plaisterer’s Hall, London. More than £35,000 (Thirty Five Thousand Pounds) was raised for the learners of Jan Kriel School; a school for children with learning disabilities.

The Jan Kriel London Wine Auction was established in 1998 as a brainchild of Dave Hughes to create not only awareness of the top South African Wines, but also to raise much needed funds for Jan Kriel School. Throughout the years the auction grew and the name was changed.

The 2011 London SA Wine Auction included accommodation packages on wine estates, internationally award winning wines and rare collectors’ items. More than 40 wine estates were represented at this gala charity dinner and auction. Mike Ratcliffe (Warwick Wine and Vilafonte) acted as auctioneer and the presence of Johann Krige (Kanonkop), Duncan Spence (Rickety Bridge) and Chris Edge (Cape Legends), to mention but a few, contributed to the success of the event. The Warwick and Vilafonte lots raised the highest bids of around

4000 - a new record.

Jan Kriel School (est. 1937) empowers and educates learners with epilepsy, dyslexia, medical, neurological or emotional conditions

which make it impossible for them to attend mainstream schools. This year 550 learners enrolled and the Head Boy, Mathew Hardie and Head Girl, Lize Loubser represented their school in London, at the event.

The 14^th Annual London SA Wine Auction will coincide with Jan Kriel School’s 75^th Birthday celebration in 2012. The auction will take place on Thursday, 24 May 2012.

Johann Krige (Kanonkop Estate) congratulates successful bidder, Julia Hands on her 9ℓ Kanonkop Pinotage, 2009 that was auctioned for £1,600.00. Johann opened a 1.5ℓ Kanonkop Pinotage, 2009 at her table to enjoy during the evening.

Preparations to host SACCI event for 300 people well underway....

2011-07-22T01:48:00.000-07:00

Marquee setup by Downings Supplies

Mike posing in our newest vineyard at Warwick

2011-07-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

Food & Wine Extravaganza with the Ratcliffe Family

2011-07-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

2 Nights only - Don't miss out - Book now!
Email: visit@warwickwine.com or call 021 8844410

Book your seats now for Warwick Christmas in July!

2011-07-11T03:23:00.000-07:00

Click on the image for more information

For bookings and inquiries: anthea@15onorangehotel.com

Join Warwick for a Wine, Dine and all that Jazz evening

2011-06-27T06:28:00.000-07:00

info@18hundreddegrees.com

'Pasella' Shooting at Warwick Wine - 'Big 5 Vineyard Safari' for ' SABC2

2011-06-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

Stunning Winters day...PICTURES OF THE DAY

2011-06-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Warwick Wine Dinner - NAHA RESTAURANT - CHICAGO

2011-06-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

With an unseasonably cool weekend in Chicago, we have no real choice but to enjoy great wines. Beach is out, but Red Wine is in. Rich and I went to the Warwick wines dinner at Naha on Friday night. First of course we stopped at Rich’s new favorite restaurant for a drink and hob nob with a chef buddy of his. Funny thing about chefs, they never have time to meet with you unless you are talking about their food.

Anyway, we ended up at Naha to taste the wines of Warwick Estate in South Africa. www.warwickwine.com. We met with a bunch of wine loving folks and winery honcho Mike Ratcliffe. Mike is a great guy, very outgoing and had a great knack for remembering names. We tasted many of the wines that the vineyard has to offer and fell in love with the Pinotage

The below is from the web:
The wine has a deep and intense garnet colour. The nose shows ripe cassis and smoky flavours that fuses with almond and chocolate aromas. The palate is full round with ripe chewy tannins and flavours like coffee, cherry, cigar box and liquorices. The balanced acid creates a firm finish that is complemented by luscious and lingering sweetness.
The net/net - the wine rocks!

Fair priced, tasty and drinks well now and can age.

Look for it on the shelves soon!

Pictures taken at Warwick this past weekend

2011-06-14T03:38:00.000-07:00

Snippets from the Warwick Winter Menu

2011-06-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

Lightly curried Calamari strips
Chef’s soup of the day
Denningvleis - Tamarind stewed Lamb Rack
Pan fried Prawns on a crayfish bisque

PHOTO OF THE DAY - WARWICK TAPAS

2011-06-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Positive mention for Warwick picnics in the latest RED magazine - UK

2011-06-03T01:42:00.000-07:00

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2011-06-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

WARWICK WONDERLAND

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2011-06-01T05:07:00.000-07:00

The ladies from Summerwood Guesthouse in Stellenbosch
visiting Warwick for lunch today.
A warm Warwick welcome to Ann, Anneline & Susie!

JAMES BOND CHOOSES WARWICK AS HIS ‘RED WINE OF CHOICE’ IN SOUTH AFRICA

2011-05-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

The keenly awaited release of the first Jeffrey Deaver penned James Bond novel hit book stores around the world today. Bond get’s a new bespoke Bentley Continental GT but stays with his Omega Seamaster and his perfectly tailored British suits. In what has become classic Bond, 007 mingles with the sexiest women in the world – both good and bad in a carefully managed plot guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. South African wines feature for the first time and James Bond makes no secret about his choice of drink with Warwick’s ‘Three Cape Ladies’ red blend his preferred drink for seducing the lovely Felicity Willing.

“ ...vintage Three Cape Ladies, a red blend from Muldersvlei in the Cape. Bond knew it’s reputation. He took out the cork and poured. They sat on the sofa and sipped. “Wonderful” he said.”

The action set all over the world has Cape Town and Franschhoek in South Africa featuring heavily with their multiple exotic locations and exalted post World Cup reputation perfectly positioned to capture the interest of aspiring Bond fans everywhere. Shooting on the new movie – it is rumoured - commences in South Africa in September 2011.

Warwick is a family-owned and run South African Wine Estate focused on the high-end segment of the market. Warwick ‘Three Cape Ladies’ is available in fine wine stores and top restaurants around the world.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2011-05-31T06:46:00.000-07:00

OUR NEW WINEMAKER TASTING THE CABERNET FRANC

MADAME ZINGARA GROUP AT WARWICK TODAY!

2011-05-30T05:59:00.001-07:00

WEEKDAY OFFER FOR TOUR OPERATORS

2011-05-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

Inspirational South Africa - watch this and try not to get emotional...

2011-05-27T00:18:00.000-07:00

Drinking Warwick Professor Black near Waterow in Devon

2011-05-24T06:35:00.000-07:00

THE WINE WORLD'S SOUTH AFRICA QUEEN BREAKS GENDER BARRIER

2011-05-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

By GEOFFREY YORK, Toronto Globe and Mail

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa - The men who reigned over South Africa's wineries were amused by the former ski instructor from Alberta who was trying to break into their ranks. She was a foreigner, and she was trying to convert a fruit farm into a winery -- and she was a woman in a male-dominated industry.” I was a bit of a novelty -- like their mascot," says Norma Ratcliffe, the first female winemaker to become commercially successful in South Africa. "They couldn't believe that I was making this fabulous wine.” A quarter-century after selling her first bottle of wine, the self-described tomboy from Edmonton, Alberta is today seen as one of the pioneers of contemporary South African winemaking, an industry that has boomed globally.
Her company, Warwick Estate, has gained recognition as one of the best wineries in the world, with its products often landing in the annual top 100 lists of leading wine magazines. Even in the midst of a global recession, her winery is expanding, adding new buildings to boost its capacity by 30 percent. And now she is helping other women breach the barriers to South Africa's wine industry in a mentoring project that involves apprenticeships and networking events. There are 50 women winemakers in Stellenbosch alone, she says, yet none have been invited to join the Cape Winemakers Guild, the elite group of South African winemakers. Ratcliffe is still the only woman in history to become a member (and chairwoman) of the Cape Winemakers Guild, which remains a highly exclusive body. "I think it's very bad," she says bluntly. "It's disgusting. They've never had another woman member. The attitude seems to come from the young guys, not the old guys. I'm after them all the time about it.

"Ratcliffe, a science graduate from the University of Alberta and a former competitive skier, was running a restaurant on an island in Greece when she met Stan Ratcliffe, a South African who owned a 200-year-old farm in a stunningly beautiful valley near Stellenbosch, capital of the South African wine industry. They were married in Edmonton in 1971 -- in the middle of a blizzard, to the shock of the South African family members -- and then settled at his farm, where they grew pumpkins and cabbages and drove them to local markets at dawn. They soon began to take an interest in wine, planting grapes vines and making experimental wines throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. Lacking any background in the wine business, Ratcliffe started at the bottom. She took classes in winemaking, pored through books, bought second-hand equipment, learned to fix pumps and patch leaks in barrels and worked for months at a wine cellar in the Bordeaux region of France. In 1984, she released the first Warwick vintage, a cabernet sauvignon, which became an instant hit. She credits the valley's rich soil, and the help she got from generous neighbors, as big factors in her success. But she was also innovative: she was one of the first South African winemakers to make Bordeaux-style blends and to put wine into French oak barrels. Her true genius, however, was the branding and marketing of her wine, which soon built an international name for Warwick. Her winery created the First Lady and Three Cape Ladies vintages, a reference to her pioneering status and her daughter and granddaughter. One of her most famous wines, Warwick Trilogy -- a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc -- has become a South African flagship brand and has been served at state dinners.

Natasha Meister concert at Warwick this weekend 21st May

2011-05-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

Warwick Winery steps up to the (tapas) plate.

2011-05-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

I have, on many occasions, sampled Warwick‘s beautiful Bordeaux Trilogy Blend or divulged in their succulent Cabernet Sauvignon, but never once have I expected this oasis in Klapmuts to send out a warning to all great chefs in the cape. Well it’s happening, and with gusto.

Mark Springhorn, head chef at the Warwick deli, and on his 7th month in the kitchen, has produced something beyond the extraordinary. The tapas menu has been in place for one week, yes, thats 7 days, 168 hours, 10 080 minutes and is already turning heads. This baby is learning to walk before it can crawl. Hell, this baby is running.

I sampled a fairly large selection of the items on the menu – and by that I mean all except one (The Chef’s soup of the day).

Find my top 3 below (in order), and a link to the full menu at the bottom of this article:

Twice baked mini herbed goats cheese soufflé, wild garlic cream and a sweet red pepper preserve. (R25)
Norwegian Salmon smoked with rooibos and oak chips on sweet cucumber with buttermilk-dill dressing. (R35)
Lamb racks stewed in a sweet and sour tamarind sauce served with poppadums. (R45)

The above three were absolute killer dishes. The soufflé made me weak at the knees – the contrasting flavours of the subtly sour cheese and the tongue twisting sweetness of the red pepper preserve sent my guests and I into a whirlwind of “oohs” and “aahs”. Enjoyed with delicate slices of freshly baked, warm ciabatta – this took the cake, ate it and still wanted more afterwards (what a naughty and greedy little soufflé!).

The Norwegian Salmon was a fresh, summery and crisp little niblet. The fish preparation was executed with utter brilliance, smoked with rooibos and oak chips, and still as luscious as can be hoped. Set onto a little bed of pickled onion and sweet cucumber. The flavours were a mélange of beauty.

The bronze medal went to the lamb, cooked to medium, erring on medium-well, and served with a sour tamarind sauce. I absolutely loved the combination of the almost citrus influenced tamarind sauce with the malty poppadums.

On the other hand, I felt that the cos salad with artichokes lacked that vital X-factor and fell slightly short in comparison to the revelations that were my top 3; however, I did feel that the artichokes were beautifully prepared and perfectly tender. Similarly with the sole paupiettes, the sauce was somewhat basic in flavour and failed to impress. Yet once again, the fish was succulent and excellently done.

The desserts left me speechless, and fit into a top 3 category of their own.

Persian love cake, with almonds, honey and yoghurt. (R25)
Chocolate brownies, white chocolate grenache, cranberries and pistachios. (R25)
Spiced dark chocolate mousse with chilli. (R25)

I have quite literally never tasted anything as good as the Persian love cake. I can see why it so aptly named – I wanted to do more than just love it. As Josh Groban profoundly stated, It raised me up, so I could stand on mountains. Yes, that good. The chocolate brownies, thick slabs of melted, high cocoa content, mouth watering morsels of deliciousness. Decadence to the max. The chocolate mousse was delightful with its chilli hit and fluffy presence.

The setting is cosy and inviting, with a warm fire that crackles in the corner. Windows surround the indoor seating area and take your eyes out across the lake and onto the vineyards or across the quad to groups of happy picnic-ers.

Watch out Cape Town, Watch out Head chefs across the city, this guy is going places. Fast.

Here’s to eating. Deliciously.

KrisA

Warwick Winery Deli

Rated: 4 “R’s”

(You’ll notice I’ve adjusted my grading system. Restaurants are now awarded “R’s” in stead of stars and, once again, this is more a category system than a comparison system.)

Tapas menu available for lunch, Monday – Sunday.

price range: R25 – R45 per dish

021 884 4410

Tapas Menu

Scenes from the Warwick in Wonderland Wine Festival

2011-05-05T04:02:00.001-07:00

Winter at Warwick - Tapas now available

2011-04-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to see the Menu

Spoil your FIRST LADY this Mothers Day Weekend

2011-04-30T00:40:00.000-07:00

Mothers Day at Warwick

Click HERE to see the menu

Click HERE to make a booking

Just finished labelling our new Warwick 'The Black Lady' Syrah 2009

2011-04-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

We recently welcomed some VIP Belgian clients of Peter de Leeuw to Warwick

2011-04-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

I am on the left, Isabel and Paul Wallaert from De Wijnzolder standing next to me. Peter de Leeuw wearing blue.

London South Africa Wine Auction

2011-04-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

DATE: Thursday 19th May 2011

TIME: Registration and champagne reception from 6pm. Event starts at 6.45pm

VENUE: Plaisterers’ Hall One London Wall, London, EC2Y 5JU (Closest tube St Paul’s)

PRICE: £120 + VAT per person

Standard table of 8: £900 + VAT

Premier table of 8 plus winemaker or Saracens Rugby Player: £1,200 + VAT

DRESS CODE: Lounge Suit

AUCTIONEER: Mike Ratcliffe (Warwick Wine Estate, SA)

CHARITY PATRON Dave Hughes

To secure your place, please complete the booking form before Tuesday 10th May 2011 and return to ashtonsmith@saracens.net

Warwick presents the 'Big 5' helicopter safari with BASE 4 - click on the image

2011-04-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

Mike Ratcliffe presents the new vintage of Warwick Trilogy for the Wine Society members

2011-04-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

Mike Ratcliffe presents the new Warwick 'Old Bush Vines' Pinotage

2011-04-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

The Warwick Gourmet Picnic rated #1 by Conde Nast

2011-04-06T02:28:00.000-07:00

Lenny Henry talks about the 'Warwick in Africa' program

2011-03-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

Warwick Estate does it again with big scores from Steven Tanzer

2011-03-24T02:26:00.000-07:00

2010 Sauvignon Blanc Professor Black Stellenbosch Bright pale yellow. Ripe, expressive aromas of nectarine, peach, grapefruit peel and dusty spices, all lifted by a floral quality; showing the clean, fruity side of the variety, not the herbal, peppery one. Smooth, round and dry in the mouth, with good breadth and a seamless texture to the stone fruit and pineapple flavors. Sound acidity gives the wine a light touch and solid backbone. But this is delicious already. 90

2008 Pinotage Old Bush Vines Stellenbosch Bright ruby-red. Sexy floral scents of dark berries, eucalyptus, cinnamon, pepper and licorice. Suave and vinous, with a compelling deep sweetness to the berry and cedar flavors. Smooth and classy pinotage with a light touch. Finishes with fine, mouth-dusting tannins, excellent length and enough structure to support further improvement in bottle. 91

2007 Three Cape Ladies Cape Blend Simonsberg (a blend of 35% cabernet sauvignon, 34% pinotage, 27% syrah and 4% merlot): Deep, saturated ruby-red. Burnishes aromas of plum, black cherry, currant, cedary cigar box and sexy oak. Lush, rich and deep, but with harmonious acidity framing the complex flavors of plum, chocolate, licorice and mint. This boasts a compelling sappy core of sweet fruit and superb energy for a wine that spent nearly three years in oak. Very sophisticated and very long, finishing with building tannins that call for patience. A beauty. 92(+?)

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon The First Lady (cabernet sauvignon; no new oak): Good full medium red. Cassis, pepper, fresh herbs and graphite on the nose. Suave and silky but not at all overly sweet, showing a medicinal reserve to the flavors of plum, currant, licorice and mint. A laid-back wine with a rather light touch, in an Old World style. Finishes with dusty tannins. This needs time in bottle to expand. 90(+?)

Warwick in Wonderland

2011-03-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

BRING YOUR KIDS TO WARWICK IN WONDERLAND THIS EASTER

The holidays are approaching and you must be wondering what you are going to be doing with the kids. From the 22nd – 27th April we will be hosting our annual Warwick in Wonderland wine festival. Great fun for the whole family. Bring your kids to meet Alice, the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat – kids can participate in Easter egg hunts, there will be jumping castles and much more. Parents can eat drink and be merry. Join us! Click HERE for pictures from the 2010 event. Book HERE

'The First Lady' scores big with Steven Tanzer and Arrowine.

2011-03-23T02:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Mike,

It's easy to find a highly rated cabernet sauvignon with great depth, complexity, and texture if you spend $80 or $100. If you look hard, you can even find one for $30-$40. But you just can't get cabernet sauvignon this deep, lush, and complex for $16 per bottle. And yet $16 is the suggested retail price of the 2008 Warwick Cabernet Sauvignon "The First Lady", a deep and complex cabernet rated 90+ points by Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar ("Outstanding and highly recommended" and "likely to merit a higher rating in the future").

And today you don't even have to pay $16. Our e-mail case price for this deep and complex cabernet sauvignon is just $10.99 per bottle -- over 30% off the suggested retail price!

	*2008 Warwick "The First Lady" Cabernet Sauvignon*

Suggested retail: $16

Our Reg. $14.99
6 bottle sale: $12.99 per bottle
12 bottle "Case" sale: $10.99 per bottle

Not only is this cabernet deep and complex and highly rated and outrageously inexpensive, this exciting and exotic cabernet sauvignon also comes from one of the most celebrated wineries of an entire continent, the famed Warwick Winery, located on Simonsberg mountain in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The Warwick property, formerly called the "Farm of Good Success," was established in 1770. In 1964 it was purchased by Stan and Norma Ratcliffe who recognized the potential of the property to grow world-class wine, especially cabernet sauvignon.

Norma Ratcliffe was one of the first female winemakers in South Africa and is still considered among the greatest winemaking talents in the history of her country. Her outstanding worldwide reputation earned her the moniker "The First Lady of South African Wine". This wine, created by her son, Mike Ratcliffe (now active in running the estate), is named as a tribute to his famous mother who is still active at the estate. A panel of winemakers, journalists, sommeliers and other wine professionals recently named Norma Ratcliffe one of the "most important women in wine of all time" saying "she is one of the most important trailblazers in the South African wine industry.

She and her husband began growing grapes and vegetables in the 1970s, and Ratcliffe became so enraptured with winemaking that she went to train in Bordeaux in the mid '80s. Many of South Africa's successful winemakers, in turn, trained under Ratcliffe. She's still the director of Warwick Estate in Stellenbosch." How does this cabernet sauvignon taste?

This deep ruby colored cabernet has aromas of red berries and black cherries made more complex with suggestions of black olive tapenade and chocolate. The smooth and plush palate is ripe, but not sweet, and shows plum and black cherry fruit together with crushed herbs and mint. The finish is long and satisfying with just enough ripe and round tannin to assure this medium bodied, gorgeously textured cabernet can hold up to a hearty steak and keep for at least 3-4 years.

Thank you for reading.

Jim Cutts

Ziyanda Tutu accepted the Gold Medal For Warwick Trilogy at the Classic Wine Trophy Awards

2011-03-16T01:57:00.000-07:00

Sommelier pouring The First Lady at the Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai

2011-03-10T23:10:00.001-08:00

Norma Ratcliffe on the list of 'Leading women in the World'.

2011-03-10T01:20:00.000-08:00

LES GRANDES DAMES OF THE WORLD

Today is the 100th International Women's Day--the perfect opportunity, we felt, to highlight the achievements of some of the wine world's most important women.From winery owners to winemakers to critics to journalists, a significant portion of the wine industry's leaders are, in fact, women. So to figure out who stands above the rest, we assembled a panel of winemakers, journalists, sommeliers and other successful wine professionals, and asked each of them to name the five most important women in wine of all time (See the panel below). Dozens of women were named, but three in particular received the greatest number of votes from our panel for their contributions to the wine world:•

Jancis Robinson: The runaway winner, she's a Master of Wine, author of several books and writer of a weekly Financial Times column that's considered to be the pinnacle of wine journalism. She's one of the most respected, level-headed wine critics in the world--and a genuinely nice person, to boot. Check out her site, here.

• Zelma Long: She's perhaps the greatest consultant winemaker you've never heard of--a winemaker's winemaker who got more votes from our panel than Helen Turley, Heidi Barrett or Philippine de Rothschild. Long was Robert Mondavi's head enologist through the '70s, then turned around the Simi winery and became its CEO. She's consulted for wineries in Washington, Oregon, Israel, France, Argentina and Italy, and she's also the winemaking partner of Vilafonté in South Africa--as well as owner and winemaker of her own company, Long Vineyards, in Napa.

• Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, aka, Le Veuve ("widow") Clicquot: Widowed at age 27 in 1805, Ponsardin took the reins of her husband's Champagne business--and changed the entire industry. Under her leadership the technique of riddling was instituted and perfected, which transformed Champagne from a sweet drink to the fine, dry, fizzy wine we know and love today. Next time you open a great bubbly, know there was an even greater woman who inspired it. And that was just for starters in her long, brilliant career.

Among our nine panelists, more than 25 different women were named at least once for their contributions to the wine world--which goes to show just how many important and influential women there are in this industry. There are winery owners, winemakers, writers, Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, you name it--each of whom has moved the wine industry forward in one way or another.

Read on to learn a little more about each of these women, and get a sense of how much they've influenced what wines the world sips each and every day.

Leading Women in Wine

We asked each of our panelists to name the five most important women in the wine world, of all time. The following women all received at least one mention from our panel. Some received two or three mentions, but no one earned as many votes as Jancis Robinson, Zelma Long and Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (Le Veuve Clicquot), above.

• Alessia Antinori is a 26th-generation winemaker in the famed Antinori family of Italy, though she spends much of her time--at the moment--marketing the family's ranges of wine in new and established markets around the world for months at a time. Still in her early 30s, it's this young, fresh face that's bringing new attention to one of Italy's most established families and traditions.

• Fiona Beckett is one of the leading food and wine writers in the U.K. She's written more than 20 books, with pairing food and wine as her main focus; she's a regular columnist for The Guardian. Check out her sitehere.

• Heidi Peterson Barrett is one of America's--if not the world's--most respected winemakers. She's known for making some of California's most successful cult wines, Screaming Eagle chief among them. Today she consults for several different producers, and also has her own label, La Sirena.

• Lalou Bize-Leroy is the owner of Domaine d'Auvenay and Domaine Leroy in Burgundy, and for nearly two decades she helped run Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, the Burgundy producer that makes some of the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world (she left in '92). Leroy, in particular, produces several grand cru, premier cru and village-level wines, and all the wines are made according to biodynamic principles.

• Lilly Bollinger has a story that somewhat mirrors that of the Veuve Clicquot. Lilly's husband died in 1941, and she ran the Champagne estate for the next three decades. She expanded and improved production, and traveled the world to sell the Bollinger Champagnes. She's perhaps best remembered for what she once said of Champagne: "I drink it when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it--unless I'm thirsty."

• Laura Catena is a true renaissance woman. She's a physician, a mother of three, the author of a wine bookand the president of her family's winery, Bodega Catena Zapata, in Argentina. Follow her on Twitter, here.

• Sylvie Cazes is perhaps the most powerful person in Bordeaux. She's credited with the successful running of Chateau Lynch Bages (and several other holdings in the family business over the past 20 years), and she was elected president of the Union des Grand Cru Classes de Bordeaux in 2008. She's also served on the Bordeaux City Council, and just last month she was named managing director of Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande. Only in her mid-50s, expect Cazes to be a guiding force in Bordeaux wine for a long time to come.

• Jeannie Cho Lee is the first person from Asia to become a Master of Wine. Born in Seoul and educated at Smith College and at Harvard, Cho Lee currently lives in Hong Kong. She's a widely published wine journalist and critic, and also works as a consultant for Singapore Airlines. She has her own site, Asian Palate.

• Diana Cullen and her husband Kevin are considered pioneers of the Western Australia wine industry. They planted their vineyard in 1971, and gained quick acclaim for their high-quality wines. In 2000, Diana was inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia for her service and contribution to the development of the wine industry. She died a few years later, but her daughterVanya Cullen, also named to our list, is carrying her mother's legacy forward. She's been head winemaker at Cullen since 1989, and she's earned many accolades and awards; she was named Woman of the Year by U.K. magazine The Drinks Business in 2008. She was the first Australian to receive the honor.

• Veronique Drouhin Boss is a pioneer in Oregon Pinot Noir. She and her father, Robert Drouhin, were among the first to see Oregon as a serious spot for Pinot on par with their home of Burgundy. She's made the highly acclaimed Domaine Drouhin wines since 1988. Read our interview with her here.

• Merry Edwards has been a fixture of the Sonoma wine industry since the 1970s, working as a consultant for several different high-profile producers. But her relentless pursuit of perfection with her own wines, Pinot Noir in particular, is what's drawn the most admiration from her peers near and far. Find her wines here.

• May-Eliane de Lencquesaing ran and made the wines at Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande for three decades. She's also widely known and respected for her work promoting and marketing Bordeaux wines around the world.

• Mary Ewing-Mulligan is the first American woman to become a Master of Wine, and she's co-author of the books Wine for Dummies and Wine Style, along with her husband Ed McCarthy. Learn more about her wine classes at the International Wine Center here, and follow her on Twitter here.

• Laura Maniec is one of the youngest American women ever to be inducted into the Court of Master Sommeliers. She was wine director at the BR Guest Restaurant Group for 10 years, and is soon to open her own wine bar, Corkbuzz, in New York. She plans for Corkbuzz to offer wine tastings and classes.

• Corinne Mentzelopoulos is the owner of legendary Chateau Margaux. She's credited with completing and advancing the work of her father, who took over the estate and began restoring it in the '70s after it had fallen on hard times. Much like de Lencquesaing, above, Mentzelopoulos is lauded for her work marketing the wines of Bordeaux around the world, but she's also known for her keen business sense that led her to the right time to buy the estate outright in 2003.

• Hazel Murphy is largely responsible for the exploding popularity of Australian wine through the '90s and 2000s. She spent approximately 20 years as head of the Australian Wine Bureau in England, and on her watch Australia's wine exports rose from the thousands of cases per year to the tens of millions. Most importantly, she did what so few had been able to accomplish to that point: She exposed people to wine who'd never before thought about buying it. The rest is history.

• Ann Noble is a professor emeritus at the University of California Davis, best known for inventing the wineAroma Wheel. It's considered to be one of the best tools for helping those new to wine -- as well as seasoned wine professionals -- better understand how to taste and assess wine. She has a PhD in food science from the University of Massachusetts, and she was the first female faculty member of U.C. Davis' viticulture department.

• Mary Penfold was the wife of Christopher Rawson Penfold; they emigrated to Australia from England in the mid-1800s. Together they established what is today Australia's -- and one of the world's -- most famous and successful wine companies. Mary ran the winery and vineyard for about 40 years, her viticultural and winemaking expertise unmatched in Australia during that time. Her ability to experiment in the vineyard and winery, too, led to many grape-growing and winemaking techniques adopted and developed by others after her death in 1896.

• Norma Ratcliffe is one of the most important trailblazers in the South African wine industry. She and her husband began growing grapes and vegetables in the 1970s, and Ratcliffe became so enraptured with winemaking that she went to train in Bordeaux in the mid '80s. Many of South Africa's successful winemakers, in turn, trained under Ratcliffe. She's still the director of Warwick Estate in Stellenbosch.

• Andrea Robinson is a Master Sommelier, the author of several wine books and has hosted wine-related shows on Food Network and Fine Living. Visit her site,here.

• Louisa Rose is chief winemaker at Australian producer Yalumba, where she's worked for nearly 20 years. In particular, she's known for thinking outside the Shiraz, and has made some of Australia's most prized Viogniers. She's also the first female winemaker to be the head judge of the Perth Royal Wine Show.

• Baroness Philippine de Rothschild is the owner of legendary Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and has led the family business from strength to strength since she took over in 1988. Back then, a bottle of Mouton released for somewhere between $50 and $100; the 2008 was released at more than $1,100 per bottle.

• Martine Saunier is the first woman to establish a wine-importing company in the United States, and is currently president of Martine's Wines. Throughout her career she's taken regular trips to France to find new and interesting wines which, early on, she sold through a mailing list. More than a salesperson, she's credited with being an ambassador for French wines in America.

• Serena Sutcliffe is a Master of Wine--the second woman to earn the distinction, and one of the very few people to pass the exam on the first attempt--and the head of Sotheby's wine department. She's earned several awards for her service to wine education and written several wine books; she also shares much of the credit for popularizing wine auctions beyond a few, small circles of private collectors.

• Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is only the fifth American woman to become a Master of Wine, and she helps train wine- and spirits-industry professionals. She's a regular fixture on American television and radio, offering straight, easy-to-understand wine guidance. Visit her site, here.

• Madeline Triffon is only the second woman to pass the Master Sommelier exam, and has been exposing Detroit-area diners to the great wines of the world since the late '70s. Today she heads the wine department for the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group in Michigan.

• Helen Turley stands alongside--and perhaps above, some would argue--the greatest California winemakers ever. She trained some of California's other cult winemakers, such as Heidi Peterson Barrett (above) and Mark Aubert, and has consulted for wineries such as Pahlmeyer, Bryant Family and Colgin. Her own, small-production wines, Marcassin Vineyard, are some of the most sought-after in the world; the mailing list is a years-long wait.

Our panelists:

• Gary Vaynerchuk, host of Wine Library TV

• Mary Ewing-Mulligan, Master of Wine, educator and co-author of Wine for Dummies

• Randall Grahm, winemaker

• Elin McCoy, Bloomberg wine writer and author of The Emperor of Wine

• Stephen Brook, writer for Decanter magazine

• Natalie MacLean, author of Red, White and Drunk All Over, and a new book coming this fall

• Michael Olivier, South African wine critic and author

• Alpana Singh, Master Sommelier and director of wine and spirits for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

• Ben Edwards, Australian wine critic and author

• Richard Betts, Master Sommelier

Original post at http://bottlenotes.com/the-daily-sip/wine-personalities/les-grandes-dames

sunset on the top of the mountain

2011-03-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Sundowners & Live Music every Friday at Warwick

2011-03-09T02:12:00.000-08:00

WIN A SUNSET PICNIC AT WARWICK ESTATE

2011-03-01T02:22:00.001-08:00

inconjunction with

Enter Now!

Warwick is participating in the Wine Spectator Grand Tour in May. The Top 200 wines in the world being poured in Chicago, Las Vegas & Boston

2011-03-01T01:30:00.001-08:00

Sundowners & Live Music every Friday at Warwick!!

2011-02-23T05:08:00.000-08:00

Harvest 2011

2011-02-22T05:26:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day sunset picnics at Warwick

2011-02-14T23:44:00.000-08:00

"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven" - Karen Sunde

Picnics, Wines and all things nice

2011-02-14T05:49:00.001-08:00

What do you have planned for Valentines Day?

2011-02-09T23:38:00.000-08:00

Steal her ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Book a sunset picnic at Warwick

R375 per couple (incl wine and basket)

Warwick Wine Tasting Hosted by The 'First Lady' on board The Queen Mary 2

2011-02-08T00:54:00.000-08:00

ALL ON BOARD THE QUEEN MARY
By Ziyanda Tutu

It is huge ! That Was my first reaction to the Queen Mary which was docked in Cape town over night.

On Saturday 5 February Warwick’s “First lady” and her entourage, which included myself, the estate manager: Ronald Spies and his son JP, hosted a wine tasting on the Queen Mary 2.
This was a wine tasting of a different kind. It was hosted on a luxury passenger ship and was accompanied by a brass orchestra. They played music from “Carmen”- one of my favourite ballets – and, “don’t cry for me Argentina!” It was all so romantic. I could not help but think about The Titanic. Fortunately we were close enough to swim to shore should this boat follow suit.

After the wine tasting I was taken on an express tour by the chief sommelier Kelley. I was in absolute awe of the sheer opulence. Even the ash-trays are pure silver! I got to see numerous dining rooms, indoor pools, swimming decks, a spa, art galleries, night clubs and pubs. I could only imagine what happens at night in these decadently decorated digs.

The security is extreme on such a ship and, even though I wanted to stay on board, it was not an option. Good bye Queen Mary 2. I hope to see you next year

Tapas - International Food and Wine Evening

2011-02-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

Members of the Warwick hospitality team who sold R30 000 plus in food, wine and merchandise were rewarded to an international wine and food evening set in the Warwick boardroom.

The matching menu was prepared by Mark Springhorn and Lara Jordaan of Caroline’s fine wine treated the team to some very appealing international wines. The food was an amazing sample of the Warwick winter menu. All clean plates.

International Food & Wine Pairing Evening at Warwick

2011-02-04T00:47:00.000-08:00

Heston Blumenthal sings the praises of the world-class cosmopolitan dining offered in South Africa’s restaurants.

2011-02-03T22:38:00.000-08:00

I first went to South Africa as a teenager. My father was born in Zimbabwe and was educated in the Cape, so my first trip was to visit my relatives.

I have been back many times since. There are so many facets to the beauty of South Africa, from driving up The Garden Route and the amazing experience of the game reserves to the natural beauty of the Drakensberg mountains and other wonders of nature, such as God’s Window in Mpumalanga, so called for its panoramic view of the Lowveld with the Kruger National Park and Mozambique in the distance.

The extreme natural beauty of South Africa is so breathtaking. Cape Town is the most beautiful city in the world and the vineyards are only 45 minutes away.

Abundant delicacies

As for the produce, the beef is as good as you will find anywhere in the world and the lamb from the Karoo is excellent – you will occasionally even find truffles.

There is an abundance of fruit and an outstanding selection of incredible seafood – gloriously rich butterfish, oysters from Knysna and of course the crayfish.

So the restaurants have a huge abundance of outstanding produce to choose from, often inspired by the multicultural population. In the Cape, there are cuisines influenced by countries ranging from Portugal to Malaysia, represented in dishes such as Bobotie and Waterblommetjie.

There is a culinary explosion in South Africa at the moment with an amazing new energy. It is testament to the perseverance of South Africa’s chefs – 20 years ago you couldn’t even import basics such as gelatin. They have so much passion and drive and now South Africa is a great location for a culinary holiday.

La Colombe, one of Cape Town’s most well-loved fine-dining restaurants, has achieved an impressive 12th place in the San Pellegrino 50 Best Restaurants of the World Awards 2010 under its executive chef Luke Dale-Roberts.

The Tasting Room restaurant at Le Quartier Francais hotel in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands is also in the top 50, where its executive chef Margot Janse and her team serve course after course of exquisite culinary delights with ingredients sourced from Le Quartier’s own organic garden or from small local producers.

Luke Dale-Roberts and Margot Janse are perfect examples of the energy and drive currently being exhibited by chefs in South Africa and it would be great to see more of the country’s restaurants on that list.

Boutique wines

I love South African wines – from the great Burgundian chardonnays like Hamilton Russell to the new breed of boutique wine makers who have taken the original South African grape, chenin blanc, to a new height. Reds also range from the traditional Meerlust through to classics such as Warwick Estate and new breed boutiques such as Eben Sadie.

You could spend a month in the wine regions and just scratch the surface of the density and quality of the wines produced. What’s more, the setting is one of the most beautiful in the world.

surely the Warwick Valentines weekend has the potential to be the sauciest Valentines night ever?

2011-02-02T01:58:00.000-08:00

name the person on the left in this photo and win a bottle of Warwick Trilogy

2011-01-28T06:12:00.000-08:00

are you coming to our dinner with three star Michelin Chef Aurelien Gransagne from Burgundy? Friday February 11th - click here for more

2011-01-27T01:19:00.000-08:00

The Warwick wine-making team planning the 2011 harvest

2011-01-26T04:48:00.000-08:00

Jenny Ratcliffe is Editor of Winestyle magazine. Have you signed up?

2011-01-19T06:39:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Warwick

2011-01-18T00:52:00.000-08:00

From: Candice Diab Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 7:21 PM
To: info@warwickwine.com
Subject: Congrats!

To whom it may concern

We’d like to say a HUGE thank you to Hendrika & staff (incl the awesome manager whose name escapes me, Alexander???) for a WONDERFULLY relaxing day spent picnicking and lounging on your lawns.

The service, food and wine were all top class and all contributed towards a long and lazy Saturday afternoon. The attention to detail made us feel as though everything was taken care of and all we needed to do was…nothing at all. What a great experience! One doesn’t find that very often nowadays no matter how much the guest is paying.

We will highly recommend your farm to our friends and will certainly not wait too long before coming out to you again!

Please pass on our thanks to Hendrika – her smile and service as well as her ‘can do’ attitude was a pleasure!

Regards,

Candice Diab

SUNSET Views

Self-catering accommodation

www.sunset-views.co.za

iPad schmipad! This March 2003 picture in Aureole Las Vegas - first restaurant in the world to have tablet wine-list

2011-01-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

David Wibberley @bordeauxboy posted this image of his mate and his potential bride drinking from the Warwick Wedding Cup

2011-01-13T02:15:00.000-08:00

Norma Ratcliffe December 1999 WINE Magazine front cover - historic

2011-01-07T00:32:00.000-08:00

The Warwick Wine Estate vineyard team undergoing Fire fighting training

2011-01-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

All the beautiful ladies at the Warwick Wine Estate penthouse

2010-12-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

Warwick Wine Club Garden Party 16 December 2010

2010-12-20T05:14:00.000-08:00

Announcement of a change at Warwick

2010-12-17T06:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Warwick wine club members, clients and colleagues,

I hope that you are all well. I would like to bring to your attention some changes at Warwick.

Warwick winemaker Jozua Joubert will be leaving Warwick due to a sad and sudden death in his family. We share in his grief and wish him well. Jozua has been and remains an outstanding winemaker and contributed enormously to Warwick. He will be missed by the entire team.

Louis Nel has been appointed as consultant winemaker effective immediately and will oversee preparations for harvest and the harvest itself through April/May 2011. As long-time former winemaker at Warwick, Louis has a deep interest and knowledge in our vineyards, winemaking style and winemaking philosophy and has already slotted in like an old friend. Louis has indeed got outside responsibilities with his own wines, but has made a full commitment to ‘deliver the goods’ at Warwick.

Warwick is currently interviewing extensively both domestically and abroad for a new full time winemaker to commence in the position after harvest 2011. We have identified a number of strong candidates and are quietly taking our time to make sure that we identify the ideal candidate to take Warwick into the future.

Wishing you all the best for a great holiday season.

Regards,

Mike Ratcliffe

Managing Director

Warwick Wine Estate

Look how pretty our Warwick Wine Club Garden Party setup is looking

2010-12-16T00:15:00.001-08:00

2010-12-15T00:26:00.000-08:00

Brand new Warwick 'Three Cape Ladies' 2008 - fresh from labeling line - yum

2010-12-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

The boys at annual party celebrating Warwick Trilogy's #46 position in Wine Spectator Top 100 wines in the World

2010-12-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

A small sample of some of the damage wrought by the hailstorm in STELLENBOSCH this week. Not good.

2010-12-04T06:03:00.000-08:00

Warwick got great coverage in the Chinese media last month

2010-12-02T02:45:00.001-08:00

What a day for a daydream - Right said Fred - see Warwick looking sexy

2010-11-26T01:02:00.000-08:00

look at this great article written by Victor Strugo in the Saturday Star in Gauteng

2010-11-25T23:31:00.000-08:00

image from International 'Best of Wine Tourism' awards - Warwick was voted most Innovative Wine Experience

2010-11-25T05:31:00.000-08:00