VIGNE á VIGNE ...
As the vineyards enter a new growth cycle, a 'cycle' of another kind takes over. Boschendal is fast becoming one of the most prestigious cycling venues and will host the last leg of this year's Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race. The riders will start arriving at Boschendal from 11h00 on Friday 8th April after seven days traversing rough terrain from Knysna, through the Klein Karoo, to the Boland.
Over 2000 people are expected and there will be an information/entertainment tent and vendor stalls on the grounds. The final stage of the race will set off from Boschendal werf on Saturday morning the 9th April for the last 100 km to Spier. Coinciding with this last leg is the Vigne-Ã -Vigne, a one-day 30 km fun ride. For more information check the websites: www.cape-epic.com or www.vigne-a-vigne.com.
Join the hubbub on Friday and cheer the riders on as they cross the Franschhoek Pass and enter into the heart of the Franschhoek Winelands. The scenery is spectacular with the vineyards, plotted and pieced against the mountains, starting to change colour. The harvest is over and the basic round of irrigation, fertilisation and cleaning of undergrowth begins again in the vineyards while new wines are fermenting and being coaxed into shape in the cellar...
Boschendal was the first South African wine estate to produce a Blanc de Noir. It has been copied by many other wineries but Boschendal's Blanc de Noir remains No. 1. The distinctive coppery pink colour and its full-bodied fruity flavours make it an ideal wine to celebrate the coming of autumn.
Made from the free-run juice of black grape varieties, Blanc de Noir is cool fermented as a white wine. After crushing, a maximum of two hours skin contact is allowed to achieve the characteristic pink colour. Noble red grapes are used: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Ruby Cabernet. These not only impart colour to the wine but also rich berry flavours, making for a versatile medium-dry wine.
Blanc de Noir is suited to al fresco eating as the days become cooler and more pleasant. There are only six weeks left of the Le Pique Nique season: have you tried the picnic baskets this summer? Start with a spinach, cream cheese and red pepper marmalade roulade and work your way through to the ice cream in a wafer basket with chunky berry sauce.
At Le Café we can recommend Blanc de Noir with the pork and chicken-liver terrine for starters and roasted chicken glazed with fig jam, chilli and lemon for the main meal. How about ending with the Belgian dark chocolate and van der Hum cake for dessert - you may find that Blanc de Noir is one of the few wines that go with chocolate!
Boschendal Restaurant now offers seating inside and outside, so you can make the most of the good weather while it lasts. Blanc de Noir will stand you in good stead throughout the six course buffet meal, from cold to hot meats, calamari, duck, chicken, beef or ham to an array of local cheeses, preserves and desserts.
Reservations:
Email: reservations@boschendal.com
Tel: +27 (0) 21 870 4272/3/4/5
Fax: +27 (0) 21 874 2137
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