It is just over two years ago since Boschendal was bought by a consortium of investors headed by a dynamic young CEO, Clive Venning, who announced his intention to develop Boschendal into South Africa's premier estate. While visitors may sense little change in Boschendal as a tourist destination, much spade work has been done by Clive and his team to realise their broader vision. Detailed environmental, visual and heritage impact studies have been carried out to ensure that the development meets all criteria for approval by the authorities. It is a phased development, beginning with the launch of the exclusive Founders Estates on the slopes of the Simonsberg, followed by lower-lying Farmyard Estates on the footprints of existing housing, and thereafter plans for a sensitively placed boutique hotel, retirement village and shopping precinct.

Clive Venning and family on the lawn at Good Hope.

Undaunted by the ambitious project, Clive Venning has been an entrepreneur from a young age, dabbling in property as a school boy in Zimbabwe. A creative spirit, Clive studied Fine Arts at Wits University and is a keen collector of Southern African tribal art and paintings from the Cobra Movement (1958 -1999). After studying Clive took up property development in a big way in Johannesburg, Los Angeles, London and Brussels. He returned home to develop the Sun River/ Borrowdale Brook Country Club in Zimbabwe and then moved to the southern Cape where he developed the Pezula Private Estate and the Sparrebosch Golf Course and Hotel. With credentials like these it is not surprising that Anglo American, after careful scrutiny decided to hand over the reins to Clive Venning and his consortium, now known as Boschendal Ltd.

Moving around the world on various projects, the Venning family has been uprooted many times. They are at present happily ensconced in the homestead at Good Hope, where Clive and his elegant wife, Joanna, entertain constantly. Their daughters, Natasha and Georgina, attend the Bridgehouse School nearby Boschendal. This excellent school should be a draw-card for prospective buyers with children.

Events:

With Boschendal being actively marketed as a venue for events, the potential of the estate is coming to the fore with special teas at Rhodes Cottage, drinks for VIPs at the view site and formal dinners in Boschendal Manor House. In January a black-tie dinner was held in honour of the President of Latvia while she was on a private visit to South Africa. The estate is being used increasingly for TV leisure, travel and film shoots and we are expecting a Russian film crew in March. The popular SATV lifestyle programme, Top Billing, visited Le Pique Nique in February.

Cape Classic Concerts:
World-class classical music is to be performed at Boschendal on the evenings of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd March. The venue chosen for this event is the old Sherry Cellar at Rhone, adjacent to the winery. Organised to promote cultural links between Germany and South Africa, the concerts include many German musicians but also the Dutch tenor, Nico van der Meel and Italian pianists, Davide and Daniele Trivella. The programme features vocal and chamber music with works by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann and lesser known composers. For tickets please phone: 021- 870 4279. For more information please visit the website: www.cape-classic.com.

Cape Argus Pick-n-Pay Mountain Bike Challenge
All is set for this annual mountain bike race which starts and finishes on the lawn in front of the Rhone homestead on Sunday the 5th March. Late entries can still be made for the tough 55km main race, as well as the easier 26km and 13km routes. The Taphuis will be open as usual and a special two-bottle gift pack is on offer. Bikers can also enjoy light pre-booked picnics on the lawn. For more information visit the website: www.dirtopia.co.za.

Harvest time coincides with the height of the tourist season. Good service counts a lot at Boschendal and we try to make it a memorable experience for each visitor. It is always rewarding to get positive feedback and we were delighted with the above photograph sent by Rosemary Kennard as a token of appreciation. Pictured here are security guard, Scelo Booi and Taphuis staff, Alex Adams, Yolanda Smith and Ted Kwelepeta.

Harvest 2006:

A good harvest is the result of good vineyard practices the whole year round. Morale was high when harvesting started because in mid-January Boschendal had just come a close second in the Vinpro Vineyard Block Competition. To receive the prize at a farmers' day in Wellington were Isaac Jefthas, Andr̩ Lambrechts and Spekkies van Breda, who head the vineyard teams.

Spekkies, our viticulturist, reports that harvesting reached a peak early in February. With sugars rising fast in the heat, the Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc grapes ripened at the same time, adding to the harvesting pressure. In late February dew during the night and slightly lower day temperatures helped cool things down and steady the pace. We are now onto the red wines, with Shiraz and Cabernet sauvignon due to be harvested in the next two weeks.

Power failures over this period were a major problem and interruptions meant that the winery could not process the normal tonnage in a day. Power cuts brought the de-stalker and the conveyor belts carrying hand-selected grapes to a halt, while the cooling system was also affected. Despite these problems Cellar Master, JC Becker, is very optimistic about this year's vintage and initial tastings of the Sauvignon Blanc in the tanks augur well.

Wine of Month: Jean le Long Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Viognier 2005

A worthy toast to the 2006 harvest is this unique wine from the innovative Jean Le Long range. Deviating from past vintages, Chardonnay was used instead of Sauvignon blanc, making this a rich, complex and versatile wine which can be savoured with a variety of dishes. A blend of Chardonnay (50%), Chenin blanc (30%) and Viognier (20%), the wine is made from choice Chardonnay and Viognier grapes grown against the Simonsberg and from 25 year old Chenin blanc bush vines. The wine is 100% barrel fermented in French oak, and matured for six months in the barrel before being blended and bottled. The result is a remarkable wine with lovely aromas: peach, apricot, butter, vanilla, and delicate floral undertones. The palate is concentrated, unctuous and well balanced, with a prolonged aftertaste. Only 60 cases of Jean Le Long Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Viognier have been produced and it is only available on the Boschendal Estate.

Wine and food

With a glass of Jean Le Long Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Viognier in hand, let's introduce you to the wonderful array of local cheeses on Boschendal Restaurant's buffet. From Simonsberg (named after the mountain overlooking Boschendal) comes Simonzola a mild and very creamy Italian-style blue cheese, closer to the delicately flavoured Dolcelatte than Gorgonzola. Simonsberg also makes various Camemberts and Bries and a local combination called Cambrieni. Fairview, situated against Paarl rock, is best known for its goat's milk cheeses, in particular Chevin rolled in herbs, garlic and other condiments. A great favourite with foreigners is Fairview's pungent La Beryl, the first rind-washed, medium-fat, surface ripened cheese made in South Africa. From Dalewood comes traditional French Camemberts and various Brie's flavoured with chilli, figs and porcini. Also available is Foxenburg's Chabris as well as Glen Carlou's sophisticated French-style cheeses made from Ayrshire milk.

February is the busiest month for the Boschendal restaurants and this is the first season as part of the Kristensen Restaurant Group. Some restructuring has taken place with Tammy Michalitsianos transferred to Spier and Niel Els promoted to General Manager of the Boschendal Restaurants, including the main restaurant, Le Café and Le Pique-Nique. In his usual hands-on way, Niel manned the Boschendal stall himself at Bien Donné's Picnic Festival this past weekend. It was hot and very busy and Niel says Boschendal's smoked snoek pâté, brandy snaps and Grand Vin Blanc went down very well.

While the popular Le Pique Nique is open until mid-May, the last of this season's Moonlight Pique-Niques are to be held on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 March 2006. Don't miss the opportunity to treat yourself to a moonlit dinner in the Boschendal werf with a string quartet playing as you wine and dine in style.

Email: reservations@boschendal.com
Tel: +27 (0) 21 870 4272/3/4/5
Fax: +27 (0) 21 874 2137

You have received this e-mail as you have previously subscribed to receive communication from Boschendal.
Should you wish to unsubscribe from the E-Newsletter, please click here