SA Wiines
Apr 20th, 2006, 01:53 PM
#22
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We also greatly enjoy SA wines and plan to spend more time in the winelands next time we visit but if you are ever in Orlando, the Animal Kingdom lodge at Disney has a wonderful selection of SA wines to sample. So far, we've really enjoyed Meerlust, Fairview and Warwick but have so many more experience.
Apr 21st, 2006, 01:54 PM
#24
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
James: thanks for posting this -- I picked up the Wine Spectator last night just in time to make some buys for my Saturday nigh Safari Palooza Slide Show from my March trip party.
I was thinking of running a little wine tasting. Can any of you experts tell me the correct order to serve? I made the best selections I could find:
My best guess on the order:
1) Ken Forrester Petite Chenin 2004
2) Jardin Sauvignon Blanc 2005
3) Fairview Pinotage 2004
4) Fairview Shiraz 2002
5) Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap (mix of Syrah, Cinsault, Cab Sauv., Grenache, Merlot, Ruby Cab. 2004 -- it was the only one by this vineyard in my store and I know they make lots of good ones
6) Man Vinters Cab. Sauvignon 2003
I was thinking of running a little wine tasting. Can any of you experts tell me the correct order to serve? I made the best selections I could find:
My best guess on the order:
1) Ken Forrester Petite Chenin 2004
2) Jardin Sauvignon Blanc 2005
3) Fairview Pinotage 2004
4) Fairview Shiraz 2002
5) Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap (mix of Syrah, Cinsault, Cab Sauv., Grenache, Merlot, Ruby Cab. 2004 -- it was the only one by this vineyard in my store and I know they make lots of good ones
6) Man Vinters Cab. Sauvignon 2003
Apr 21st, 2006, 04:25 PM
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Order looks good -
Save the big reds for last and finish with any sweet / dessert wines.
Just picked up some Ice Wines (Inniskillin Oak Aged Vidal) made in Ontario, Canada. I tried one the other night at a restaurant here in Chicago and found it to be amazing stuff.
If you enjoy SWEET dessert wines, this wine is the nectar of the Gods!
To make Icewine, grapes are left on the vine well into the winter months. The resulting freezing and thawing of the grapes dehydrates the fruit, and concentrates the sugars, acids, and extracts in the berries, thereby intensifying the flavors and adding complexity to the wine made from it.
Anyone else tried Icewine?
Save the big reds for last and finish with any sweet / dessert wines.
Just picked up some Ice Wines (Inniskillin Oak Aged Vidal) made in Ontario, Canada. I tried one the other night at a restaurant here in Chicago and found it to be amazing stuff.
If you enjoy SWEET dessert wines, this wine is the nectar of the Gods!
To make Icewine, grapes are left on the vine well into the winter months. The resulting freezing and thawing of the grapes dehydrates the fruit, and concentrates the sugars, acids, and extracts in the berries, thereby intensifying the flavors and adding complexity to the wine made from it.
Anyone else tried Icewine?
Apr 21st, 2006, 04:46 PM
#26
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Got a bottle of cabernet sauv. 2004 Royal deMaria- I'm waiting to pop for a good cause (has anyone had this?) - got a photo session coming up from our recent trip. I'll be making a choc. cheesecake topped with strawberries to go with it. Thinking that I may not share 
.
Sherry
.Sherry
Apr 21st, 2006, 07:16 PM
#29
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
James, thanks for the confirmation - I have not tried Icewine, I'll have to check that out.
Cheers Hari - enjoy the Fairview, I'll be having mine tomorrow night as I relive the Kwando experience with friends!
Cheers Hari - enjoy the Fairview, I'll be having mine tomorrow night as I relive the Kwando experience with friends!
Apr 22nd, 2006, 03:46 PM
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Pred,
Wine tasting parties combined with an African safari slide show are one of my favorite things to do and host.
Make sure you don't go too long with the slides (I was always guilty of this).
A fun thing to try sometime is a "blind tasting". Have a few bottles of each variety (enough for everyone to get a taste) and place the bottles in brown bags and number each variety (ie, 1 = Cab, 2 = Syrah, etc)
Have guests try to guess the variety of wine for each bottle tasted. Educational and good fun. I had little scorecards and let people make tasting notes, etc.
Of course, everyone wins in that they improve their wine appreciation!
Let us know how the party went.
Cheers,
James
Wine tasting parties combined with an African safari slide show are one of my favorite things to do and host.
Make sure you don't go too long with the slides (I was always guilty of this).
A fun thing to try sometime is a "blind tasting". Have a few bottles of each variety (enough for everyone to get a taste) and place the bottles in brown bags and number each variety (ie, 1 = Cab, 2 = Syrah, etc)
Have guests try to guess the variety of wine for each bottle tasted. Educational and good fun. I had little scorecards and let people make tasting notes, etc.
Of course, everyone wins in that they improve their wine appreciation!
Let us know how the party went.
Cheers,
James
Apr 24th, 2006, 04:47 AM
#34
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Still waiting to pop the 04 cab.sauv. R. de Maria icewine - I forgot to ask in my earlier post if any of you have tried it. Is it very sweet? Think it will be good with the choc. cheesecake?
Sherry
Sherry
Apr 24th, 2006, 02:37 PM
#36
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My party was fantastic. I managed to keep my slide show to about an hour and not go too into the natural history of each species. Our bobotie dish was well received and the wines were a hit.
Both the whites went over very well as did the pinotage and I thought each of them was very good. The Wolftrap was a good solid choice. Shiraz was not smooth and I would not recommend it, and the Cab was also just o.k.
Further, my Springbok's were a huge hit.
These were the wines.
1) Ken Forrester Petite Chenin 2004
2) Jardin Sauvignon Blanc 2005
3) Fairview Pinotage 2004
4) Fairview Shiraz 2002
5) Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap (mix of Syrah, Cinsault, Cab Sauv., Grenache, Merlot, Ruby Cab. 2004 -- it was the only one by this vineyard in my store and I know they make lots of good ones
6) Man Vinters Cab. Sauvignon 2003
Both the whites went over very well as did the pinotage and I thought each of them was very good. The Wolftrap was a good solid choice. Shiraz was not smooth and I would not recommend it, and the Cab was also just o.k.
Further, my Springbok's were a huge hit.
These were the wines.
1) Ken Forrester Petite Chenin 2004
2) Jardin Sauvignon Blanc 2005
3) Fairview Pinotage 2004
4) Fairview Shiraz 2002
5) Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap (mix of Syrah, Cinsault, Cab Sauv., Grenache, Merlot, Ruby Cab. 2004 -- it was the only one by this vineyard in my store and I know they make lots of good ones
6) Man Vinters Cab. Sauvignon 2003
Apr 24th, 2006, 06:39 PM
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pred -
Great to hear the party was a hit. I'me sure I would have personally loved it. if you don't mind me asking, whereabouts do you stay?
Any plans for an encore in the future?
James
Great to hear the party was a hit. I'me sure I would have personally loved it. if you don't mind me asking, whereabouts do you stay?
Any plans for an encore in the future?
James
Apr 26th, 2006, 04:44 AM
#40
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't know how I missed this thread for so long. OK James, what about the SA chardonnays? That's my chosen poison. I tried all I could lay hands on in the camps. I liked one called Golden Kaan which I chased down through Sam's and bought a few cases of but it wasn't top notch if you know what I mean. Now that I'm going back in June I'd love to know whether you have any rec's. I like the old style oaky, buttery chardonnays. I'm thinking of grabbing a few bottles in the JNB airport to bring along to camp.
Re: ice wine, have you tried late harvest wines? I think the harvesting process is similar and they're found in the dessert wine sections of wine shops. On a recent trip to Napa I picked up the Beringer and the Kendall Jackson late harvest chardonnays and they are YUMMY.
Re: ice wine, have you tried late harvest wines? I think the harvesting process is similar and they're found in the dessert wine sections of wine shops. On a recent trip to Napa I picked up the Beringer and the Kendall Jackson late harvest chardonnays and they are YUMMY.
