SPRINGTIME .....

The bright spring daisies lining the roadsides announce the change in season. Walk through the gardens and open spaces at Boschendal and you'll notice a variety of delicate wild flowers under foot. In the southern hemisphere 1 September is regarded as the beginning of spring - as well as Secretary's Day. This year it falls on a Thursday so treat your secretary to a special outing to the countryside and a meal at Boschendal Restaurant: there is a 10% discount on the Boss's bill that day!

Springtime symbolises rebirth, renewal and transformation. At Boschendal we celebrate our communal history in the Heritage Festival that takes place from Friday 23 until Monday 26 September 2005. Boschendal with its beautiful Cape Dutch buildings and exquisite collections, also has strong links with the neighbouring villages of Pniel and Languedoc: a legacy of the Huguenots, Rhodes, the slaves and the indigenous Khoisan people - all to be experienced here.

For over 300 years a wine-making tradition has been maintained in the valley and now flourishes under the Boschendal name. In the 1980's Boschendal took the lead in producing new styles of wines and was instrumental in introducing Chardonnay to South Africa. It is from twelve year old vineyards that Boschendal Chardonnay is made.

Chardonnay grapes are amongst the earliest to be harvested and are hand-picked in the early morning. 60% of the wine is fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks and the remainder in first, second and third-fill barriques. The latter portion is kept on the primary lees for six months and does not undergo malolactic fermentation in order to preserve its flavours.

With an alcohol content of 14.5%, the Boschendal Chardonnay achieves a fine balance between fruit and oak. It is a fresh, lively wine, redolent of ripe mango and pineapple with hints of pear and apple. The wine shows complexity and length on the palate with the distinctive nutty flavour of Chardonnay coming through. It complements seafood and white meats.

Wine and food

Waterblommetjie and Chardonnay soup is the first item on the menu Boschendal Restaurant plans to offer for the Heritage Festival 23-26 September. Chardonnay would go well with several Cape dishes that appear on this menu: cool avocado soup with dhania and chilli jam, blue cheese mousse with melon preserve, saffron and orange mussels and smoked snoek bobotie. However the roast Kudu fillet with blueberry jus deserves a full-bodied red such as the Boschendal Syrah. There is a choice of local cheeses and preserved fruit - figs, citrus, ginger etc and an array of sweets including Boschendal's famous malva pudding to end the festive meal.

With the weather improving one can move outside and enjoy light meals at Le Cafè under the oaks with their bright green new leaves. Try Chardonnay with a selection of dishes such as bacon and butternut soup, smoked trout and broccoli quiche and baked fig cheese cake.

Upcoming Events

Le Pique Nique reopens 5 October 2005 and in December our Moonlight Picnics start.
Be sure to book for the summer season!

Reservations:

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