It is Easter and once again Boschendal Estate offers an exciting and uplifting programme of activities and events. It is also a time to reflect on significant changes and advances that have occurred at the historic estate.
Chris Nissen
Easter represents rebirth and transformation, issues close to the heart of Chris Nissen, Executive Chairman of Boschendal Ltd. Chris initially headed the 30% empowerment group in the consortium that purchased Boschendal in 2003 and noted at the time that "we see our involvement in this transaction as a significant milestone in the empowerment of the wine industry and key to the upliftment of the community of the Dwars River valley."
Over the last two years there has been significant progress in building and nurturing a partnership between Boschendal and the local community. Of particular note is the signing of an historic social accord between all parties involved in the sustainable development initiative for the valley. In terms of this ground-breaking initiative, the parties are committed to a process of eradicating poverty and conserving the valley's rich cultural and natural resources. Furthermore the Boschendal Treasury Trust has been established and a percentage of the Boschendal land sales will be offered in trust to the community, subject to development rights being obtained.
A household name in all spheres of South African society, Chris Nissen has been widely recognised as a man of integrity and a true champion of the struggle for democracy and human rights. A proven leader, he has all the credentials to guide Boschendal through the delicate process of transformation. With a MA degree in Humanities and 13 years as a Presbyterian minister working amongst the poor, Chris became a political activist during Apartheid and founder member of the UDF. He was the first chairman of the un-banned ANC in the Western Cape in the 1990's and has had many towns and schools named after him. As director of many prominent businesses, Chris now devotes his time to cultivating a balance between economic and social well-being by means of public-private sector partnerships, Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBEE) and transformation.
Recently appointed as Executive Chairman with an office at Rhone, Nissen is working closely with CEO Clive Venning and his team to achieve the objective of sustainable development for Boschendal and the local communities of the Dwars River Valley.
The Cape Epic
Events:
Chris Nissen will fire the starting shot for the final stage of the Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race from Boschendal to Spier on Saturday 29 April. The teams arrive at Boschendal on Friday 28 April after 900 km of gruelling riding through mountainous terrain in the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo. This is the largest mountain bike stage race and most televised mountain bike event in the world. Olympic medallists and international champions are amongst the 500 two-man teams taking part.
The event is part of the Bicycling Empowerment Network to promote cycling as a means of transport amongst the people of Africa and 100 bikes are being donated for this purpose. Adidas is sponsoring a school programme to encourage local participation at each stopover and the children will also have the opportunity of earning some extra pocket money by working as bike washers and vendors. Various schools will encourage the participants along their way by flying their national flags at the starting and finishing lines. For the aspirant mountain biker there will be classes in improving cycling skills and for the would-be soccer star, competitions in dribbling the ball. The school, whose entrant holds the best time, will win ten original matchballs of the FIFA World Cup 2006.
All are welcome to join in the festivities during the Boschendal stop-over on Friday and Saturday 28-29 April and don't miss the dare-devil shows given by Europe's best dirt jumpers demonstrating Backflips, Superman Seatgrabs, 360's and Tailwhips on their mountain bikes! For further details visit the website at www.cape-epic.com.
From the rough and tough to the frothy, frivolous and fun: Elizabeth Arden is launching a secret new perfume on Sunday 2 April in the Boschendal Rose Garden. Arabian tents will be decked out in a fantasy world of silk, satins and harem girls. Winners of a competition run by top women's magazines are being invited to a day of pampering and indulgence, with gorgeous hunks, posing as eunuchs, serving them delicacies and pastel-coloured drinks. How can you blame a girl for letting this go to her head?
On a more serious note Boschendal Manor House was the venue for a smart lunch for 50 members of the Young Presidents Organisation on 14 March. These are makers and shakers of the world, young men and women who made their millions by the age of 40 and are eager to invest in emerging businesses and developing countries. Their visit to Boschendal was part of the Global Leaders Conference held in Cape Town at the CTCC.
For more information about hosting events at Boschendal, please contact Kathy van Niekerk, email: kvniekerk@boschendal.com, telephone +27 (0)21 - 870 4279.
Boschendal Gift Shop:
For an Easter present with a difference try Boschendal's gift shop where we focus on top quality souvenirs for the tourist trade: jewellery made of semi precious stones, exotic pottery figurines, recycled glass, finely crafted leather goods, safari style clothing, and a host of other items including Boschendal wine. Our suppliers are BBEE-compliant and we also support local craft initiatives such as the T'Nkiwa candles produced in nearby Kylemore. For more details please contact the shop Tel: +27 (0) 21 870 4280 or email: sales@boschendal.com.
Alongside the shop is a sculpture garden where works by top Zimbabwean sculptors like Dominic Benhura are showcased. Sculpted in the distinctive Shona style and in the natural stones of Africa, all these pieces are for sale and no matter how large they are Gallery Munhutapa can arrange for freighting anywhere in the world. Visit the website www.shonastonegallery.com.
Wine of Month: Lanoy
Named after one of the original owners of Boschendal, Nicolaas de Lanoy, this classic red wine is a fitting tribute to all those who have worked on the farm and contributed to Boschendal's winemaking tradition. Centuries old skills are used to produce healthy vines with shoots plucked and pinched into shape and small discoloured bunches removed so that all the nutrients, sugars and flavours are concentrated in the best grapes.
As harvesting comes to an end, attention is focussed on the last of the grapes - the Cabernet Sauvignon. Made largely from this variety, Lanoy is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 12% Shiraz. Fermentation is adjusted according to each variety at temperatures between 28°C - 30°C and skin contact between 10 -14 days. A quarter of the wine is matured in new French oak barrels and the balance in second and third-fill barrels for a year.
The result is a wine with 14.9% alcohol, 6.5 acidity and 2.9 sugar. Released after 3-4 years, Lanoy is a beautifully textured wine with firm tannins and lingering palate. It has a complex nose with exotic spice and cigar box flavours and goes well with meat dishes. Lanoy is at present on special offer at the Taphuis where you can buy six bottles for the price of five. Email: taphuis@dgb.co.za or telephone: +27 (0)21 870 4210 /1
Boschendal Restaurants:
Lanoy is an ideal choice for an Easter celebration at Boschendal Restaurant where roast lamb with citrus mint sauce and roast duck with apricot sauce will be on the menu. A traditional six-course meal, it offers a choice of hot and cold soups, smoked springbok with fig preserve and smoked salmon roulade as entr�es, a variety of cold meats and salads and butterfish with olives, beans and anchovies as another main course. Afterwards there's cheese, dessert, coffee and a special little Easter egg just for you!
Alas no Easter bunnies at Boschendal, but plenty of live poultry - bantams, ducks, Indian runners and geese - all housed in an elaborate whitewashed fowl run next to the manor house. At the far end of the Boschendal werf are the old slave quarters, which now form part of the à la carte restaurant, Le Café. A latter-day slave driver might try to whip his staff into action - but not Arthur Arries, the new manager, who prefers to lead by example. With ten years experience at Spier and more on ships, he knows just how to get things spick and span and to work like clockwork. Welcome on board Arthur!
Despite a slight change in weather we can still expect balmy days for the month to come and Le Pique Nique will be open until mid-May - in fact for Mother's Day, 14 May, so book now if you'd like to celebrate in alfresco style!
Email: reservations@boschendal.com
Tel: +27 (0) 21 870 4272/3/4/5
Fax: +27 (0) 21 874 2137
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