Wednesday, August 02, 2006

 

Oh No, REALLY? A Wine Region? Again?!

Before we commence on this part of the story it must be said that despite the evidence to the contrary, this trip was NOT planned according to how many wine producing regions we could go to. But as we were on the doorstep of yet another great wine producing area it would be rude not to pay our respects! So we ended up in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for a couple of days and came away with some great recommendations and yet more independent wine merchants that we must seek out when we get home.

Over the course of our travels our tastes have moved from "...yup, I like that..." to "...nice, but not as good as in Oz..." You'll be pleased to know that we haven't got as far as saying "...oooh, a bit earthy..." but I tell you, we could 'fake it' with the best of them after all the dribble we have heard spouted over the last few months. One experience that was really nice was in Franschhoek where we were recommended by one estate to visit a couple of others. In one, the restaurant was open and they seemed to think that the other half of the business was open too but no-one seemed to have told them that the tasting room had knocked off early!

The second one was a real gem. After we had negotiated the tree felling operation and taken the long route through the front garden of the house we arrived unscathed at the tasting room. In fact it looked like it had just been well and truely locked up for the winter and had a layer of dust to boot but that was part of the charm as the lady tried to remember where the light switches were and dusted off the tasting glasses .... particularly large ones too, always a good start! And then onto the wines, they only made 4 and none of them were technically 'white' so Nikky was off to a bad start. During the tasting, the wine maker who we had seen busying himself in the corner of the cellar as we arrived popped in and it was a great experience to meet the man that created the masterpieces. He was supremely proud of the mere 1500 cases (of 6 that is) that they produce each year and pooh pooh's the recipe factories of Jacobs Creek and the like who are proud of the fact that they can get a bottle from vat to dock in 3 hrs.

If anything, the last year has made us appreciate in more detail than basic supply and demand, why some bottles command such a high price and some are 'cheap as chips'. Naturally, we procured a couple of bottles from this fine establishment to accompany the couple we had already purchased. Now we have reds and whites to accompany a steak, a curry, a chinese and a BBQ so we just need to find somewhere to prepare the accompanying food!

Of all the wine producing regions of the world that we have been to this has to rank among the prettiest in terms of the 'chocolate box' appeal. Both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek were like stepping back in time with limewashed houses and thatched roofs. Although unlike home, they all look like they have been recently re-thatched rather than in desperate need of re-thatching. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek were the only wine producing towns that we went to in the area, although there are several more, but there is scenery to see and we must press on ........

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