FYN winelist speaks to the nature of this Top 50 restaurant
A JOURNEY of discovery! That’s what they promise to put on your plates and the same can be said about what they pour into your glass. The FYN dining experience was recently ranked among the World’s Top 50, following its inclusion among the Top 20 according to Cape Town’s Inside Guide, and one wonder’s how it will rate in terms of South Africa’s best lunch and dinner venues when the next Eat Out Restaurant Awards are presented come November 2022. The last time Eat Out chose a Top 10 – in 2019, pre-Covid – FYN was ranked No. 5 in the country. The rooftop, fine-dining establishment in the CBD, headed by chefs Peter Tempelhoff and Ashley Moss together with manager Jennifer Hugé, also scooped the Style Award. Moreover, Hugé was honoured for Outstanding Service, and it is she who calls the shots regarding the wine selection.
Whereas the team is relaxed when it comes to posting about various menus on their website, Hugé is hesitant to do the same with the winelist – she feels she’s put a lot of work into it, drawing upon years of experience and wary of certain competitors following suit. To go through all eight pages you’ll need to make a reservation at the restaurant. However, the following observations can be made, to mention just some of the wines:
• By-the-glass options include Cape Point Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Saurwein Riesling, Vuurberg White Blend, Kaapzicht Cinsaut, Vin de Constance…
• SA Chenin listings extend to Beaumont, Cederberg Five Generations, David & Nadia, Eden, Mrs Kirsten, Patatsfontein, Van Loggerenberg…
• SA Chardonnay offers extend to Capensis, Crystallum, Jordan Nine Yards, Leeu Passant, Paul Cluver, Restless River, Storm…
• SA white blends include Cape Point Isliedh, Mullineux, Patatsblanc, Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse, Vuurberg…
• ‘Something Different’ among the whites includes Lismore Viognier, BLANKbottle Grenache, Scions of Sinai Grenache Blanc…
• SA Cabernet options extend to Le Riche Reserve, Restless River, Stark-Condé, Thelema…
• SA Pinot Noirs include Bouchard Finlayson, Crystallum, Hamilton Russell, Newton Johnson, Storm…
• Pinotage listings include B Vintners Liberté, Beeslaar, Kaapzicht, Kanonkop, Rijk’s…
• SA Shiraz offers include Boschkloof Epilogue, Mullineux, Savage, Sons of Sugarland, Trizanne Reserve…
• SA red blend listings extend to Constantia Glen Five, Delaire Graff Botmaskop, Kanonkop Paul Sauer, Leeu Passant, Meerlust Rubicon, Raats, Taaibosch Crescendo, Tokara Director’s Reserve…
• Showcase treatment given to AA Badenhorst, Alheit, Kanonkop, The Sadie Family, Vilafonté…
• The bubblies include a 50:50 split between Champagne and Cap Classique, with Bruts of the Cape including Bon Courage, Des Dieux, Peter Ferreira, Silverthorn…
• ‘Old World’ imports include over a dozen whites and some two dozen reds, mostly from Bordeaux and Burgundy…
Excluding gratuities, a meal will set you back between R575 and R1575 per person, the wine from R90 to R390 per glass or between R320 and R2900 per bottle of SA white, R490 to R890pb of Cap Classique bubbly and between R310 and R9600pb of SA red. Wine pairing options also available.
