Funny looking fire started yesterday afternoon; very weird. Funnily enough I was alerted to this on my way to a Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism organised digital marketing strategy presentation. I was well impressed, interesting points taken away! Here is Patricks site http://www.collings.co.za/ Now it seems on the whole topic of yesterdays presentation, Patrick mentioned a [...]
Quick Walk
So, I have just been up for a quick walk with Anna Mari and Archie, both chefs from world renowned Le Quartier Francais, and specifically the Tasting Room. For those that have not had the pleasure of dining there: its an experience beyond all culinary imagining. I have been very fortunate to be treated to [...]
Relax with Dax visit to the Farm
The full article is up here: http://www.relax-with-dax.co.za/?p=1335 The highlight of the day was a visit to Haut Espoir. I’m actually drinking a bottle of their 2006 Syrah as I type this and I’m incredibly grateful I don’t have to share it. Any regular reader of Relax with Dax will know that I definitely have a [...]
Herzogs in New Zealand
Herzogs are a favourite on the Marlborough trail, Erica and I had the most fantastic meal here. Also the spot where I tried Montepulciano for the first time. I like the approach to closures and their sentiments on farming. Awesome wines. And yes, they do make bloody good pinot! Bottled History The Herzog families have [...]
Great article on the application of Biodiversity principles in France
Now the mission is to find some fynbos to do the same down here, maybe a cure for mildew? Trawling through the Internets…I popped onto this great example of a Vigneron doing his thing: http://www.wineterroirs.com/2009/08/esca_cure.html Experimental cure of Esca in the Loire Didier Barrouillet in his experimental Sauvignon plotMareuil sur Cher (Touraine, Loire) I was [...]
Serruria gracilis
Below is a photo of our soon to be flowering Serruria gracilis. We got our grubby paws on a few seedlings from Fiona Powrie, and last year planted out on a couple of select sites around the farm. I cant wait to see these little beauts flowering soon, see the tiny little flower heads waiting [...]
Pot o’ Gold
Klein Genot has just finished their first harvest in the new cellar this year, and with a great rainbow this morning welcoming them to another harsh Franschhoek winter, and with Angies philosophy on feng shui, sure that this stunning rainbow hovering over the farm will be well received by them. Their brand new restaurant is [...]
Timber
Here Here is a clip of some major tree felling. The tree in question was by some estimate close on a hundred years old, and unfortunately for it: was a Stone Pine ( not indigenous). I personally do not like cutting any tree down apart from Port Jackson, Wattles or young Blue Gums, but this [...]
Heart shapes in the hoek
This is very weird to say the least. I was up walking through the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve to look at whats flowering Fynbos wise out and about; and of course appreciate the magnificent views of the valley, when I literally stumbled into a little overhang….finding these The eternal archaeologist in me of course was [...]
&Union @Haut Espoir
Monday, July 6, 2009 Q&A with Rob Armstrong of Haut Espoir: From the land to the glass, and plate. The &UNION team had the fortune of being invited to a barrel tasting and lunch at Haut Espoir with none other than Rob Armstrong. A truly memorable experience. We asked Rob to tell us a little [...]
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