Franschhoek | - Part 4

Tag Archives: Franschhoek

Stellenbosch pulls ahead of Franschhoek in battle for status of SA winelands gourmet capital – that’s according to the 2015 editions of the leading restaurant guides

11/2014 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THE RESTAURANT critics are largely in agreement… The top dining venue in South Africa for 2014 is The Test Kitchen at The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town, with Luke Dale-Roberts the chef-owner and Wayve Kolevsohn the somellier: third Restaurant of the Year accolade at the 2014 Eat Out Mercedes Benz Awards, 5 Stars at the 2014 Rossouw’s Diners Club Awards, one

Much expected of Mont Rochelle with Branson deal drawing more attention to top wines and cellars of Franschhoek

04/2014 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THE MONT ROCHELLE hotel is nice enough and the Chardonnay can be pretty good, but the estate doesn’t exactly rate among the cream of Franschhoek’s wine properties Allée Bleue, Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Chamonix, Dieu Donné, GlenWood, La Motte, Môreson, Rickety Bridge, Solms-Delta… Not when it comes to best in the bottle. However, that British tycoon Sir Richard Branson views the latest addition to his

2014

Cape Point, Kleine Zalze and Nederburg among familiar names in South Africa’s latest Sauvignon Blanc Top 10

09/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THE 2013 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc Awards organised by the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa again threw the spotlight on a number of wines regularly applauded as counting among the country’s best, as well as on some that have repeatedly vied for attention on the best-value scale. WINNERS AT THE FNB SAUVIGNON BLANC AWARDS Alexanderfontein Chip

Winter Wonderland! Cape winelands transformed after one of the heaviest snowfalls in years makes its mark

08/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Helshoogte, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Vergelegen, Helderberg, Somerset West Vineyard up the road from the Niewoudt’s Cederberg Private Cellar From Ken Forrester Vineyards: Avontuur Estate on the Helderberg, Somerset West Stark-Conde, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek Morgenster Estate, Helderberg, Somerset West Stellenrust, Stellenbosch Paul Cluver, Elgin

Franschhoek’s Rickety Bridge increasingly well travelled

06/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

RICKETY BRIDGE has become more and more attractive for visitors to Franschhoek: smart wine tasting centre, a growing reputation for good wines, a lunch venue offering tasty food and a couple of lovely guesthouses. Plus, Rickety Bridge is among the few stops on the route travelled by Franschhoek’s very own wine tram. One of the best places to relax at

Howzat! Rietvallei Chardonnay makes Top 10 in France

03/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THE GOLD MEDAL that Robertson’s Rietvallei Wine Estate has won with a 2012 at this year’s Chardonnay du Monde in Burgundy, France, follows the gold medal they won with a 2011 at the same competition last year. Prior to last year Rietvallei Chardonnay wasn’t on many radar screens, but having been selected among a Top 10 at a reputable tasting

Chamonix delights French palates at Classic Wine Trophy

03/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THE RESULTS of the 2013 Classic Wine Trophy competition are hardly surprising in terms of the class winners. Particularly not when it comes to the overall victor, with Chamonix scooping three of the 14 trophies awarded in various categories at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town just a few months after being named Winery of the Year in the 2013 edition of

Sensational Sauvignon, but can you tell where it’s from?

02/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

WHAT APPEALS most about the Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run is how it affects the senses. Kinda obvious, right?! Over the past 10 years this has become one of South Africa’s Sauvignon Blanc benchmarks, one of the three most consistent top performers in this category together with Steenberg Reserve and Cederberg – no fewer than eight highly rated vintages in succession, including the 2012 released a few

Tram route unique to Rickety Bridge, Grande Provence

02/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

FRANSCHHOEK is even more cool following the introduction of a Wine Tram. It’s a pity that it only stops at two of the farms – Grande Provence and Rickety Bridge – on a route that begins close to the ticket office in the Bijoux Centre on Huguenot Road, but then the trip also includes an option to transfer from the

Very best value SA Chardonnay at under R80pb in 2012

12/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

GREAT BUYS for the festive season… Chardonnay from South Africa that has been highly recommended by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world this year AND which costs less than R80 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the cellar is closed to the public: BERGSIG 2010 – R66 BOLAND CELLAR Reserve No 1 2010

5 Star rating for brand new blend from top Cape cellar

11/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

YES THERE’S MORE to the quality and character of a wine than the winemaker; naturally the location and condition of the vines, the soil, the climate, the weather and everything else associated with the ‘terroir’ play important roles. However, what a difference the cellarmaster and his team can make! Of course there were exceptions, but before Gottfried Mocke took charge

Top 10 SA Chenin Blanc wines at under R50 per bottle

06/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

GREAT VALUE Chenin Blanc – South African wines at under R50 a bottle that have received good reviews by one or more of the top tasting panels around the world during the past 18 months. Prices given in SA rand – ex-cellar, or approximate retail in the case of wineries that are closed to the public. At R22pb – Cape Weaver Chenin

Top 10 SA Shiraz wines under R65 a bottle – experts’ tips

06/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

GREAT VALUE Shiraz – 10 SA wines that have received good reviews by one or more of the top tasting panels around the world during the past 18 months and which sell for under R65 a bottle. Prices given in South African rand, ex-cellar or approximate retail where cellars are closed to the public: At R22pb, Obikwa Shiraz 2011 (Distell)

Chamonix now firmly among South Africa’s Top 3 Pinot Noir cellars

06/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

OVER THE past 10 years, six wineries stand out as the producers with the best track records when it comes to South Africa’s top quality Pinot Noir: Hamilton Russell, Bouchard Finlayson, Sumaridge (all in the Hemel-en-Aarde area outside Hermanus), Chamonix (Franschhoek), Meerlust (Stellenbosch) and Paul Cluver (Elgin). Over the past 18 months, however, three Pinot producers have been winning most