Tasmanian Devils

Unlike certain hero or villain characters, there really is a Tasmanian Devil lurking our planet. We may be familiar with Taz, a key character in the Looney Tunes series, who spends much of his time ravenously devouring everything in sight, with a special craving for our rabbit friend Bugs Bunny.

But, far away from us all, on a remote, yet sizeable island off Australia, the last of the real Tasmanian Devils live. Although it’s only the size of a small dog its pungent odour, horrendously loud screech and nasty bite, keep us humans from shoving it into our Gucci bags for a jaunt along the King’s Road.

A more important thing Tasmania is becoming known for is its wine. This southerly location, surrounded by hostile seas and winds, result in a cooler climate that creates wines which are slow to ripen, typically resulting in a late harvest.

If it wasn’t so far, far away I would certainly be tempted to fly out there and explore the region myself. Thankfully, there are a few examples that you can get in the UK that are worth trying.

I first tasted the Jansz Premium NV Cuvée at a wine tasting of Australian wines at the Tate Britain last year. I thought it was a lovely sparkling wine – a fine structure, slight minerality and citrus from the Chardonnay, floral and fruits from the Pinot Noir, “enhanced by layers of fresh cream, yeasty brioche and a fine, velvet-like mousse”.

Subsequently, I’ve been delighted to see that the Geronimo Pubs have this bubbly on their menu at a reasonable £29.50. You won’t be disappointed if you are looking for an alternative to Champagne or Processo.

www.geronimo-inns.co.uk

Another wine I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, and sadly finished, is the Devil's Corner Pinot Noir 2008 from Tamar Ridge. This really is a delicious, easy-drinking wine. It has lovely red berry aromas – packing in strawberries, cherries, plums and is followed by more fruits of strawberry and cherry on the palate – it’s oh so smooth and silky! Just don’t be fooled by the 14% alcohol.

Jamie, from Bon Coeur Fine Wines originally sent me this wine as part of a mixed case (£10.99) and I came across this again at a Revelsoke Wines tasting event last month (£14.25).

www.bcfw.co.uk
www.revelstoke.co.uk

A bearable hangover...

...is one that follows the best celebration.

Looking back at photos, every single person is smiling, grinning, laughing. Happy! People from Poland, South Africa, England, the US. People who've come from Croatia, Germany, Holland. Different languages, customs and even religions. All these people came together to celebrate one thing – the union and marriage of two wonderful people.

And I have to say that two wonderful people brought together their wonderful family and wonderful friends. Different people, sharing a common love for these two people and united in celebrating our traditions and languages – even the Catholic service was held in Polish, English and Latin! – not to mention the abundant and delicious array of traditional Polish foods served throughout the night. Even the national flower of South Africa on our tables did not go unnoticed. For a small moment in time, we made this world a better place.

Now, I don't think it was just our fabulous personalities and a special occasion that brought such big smiles to our faces. I suspect that the 75 bottles of vodka for the 85 guests at the wedding may have had a small part to play.

For once in my life I didn't touch the wine that had been carefully selected and sourced, with difficulty, and stuck to the national drink. Vodka.

Straight vodka. Honey vodka. Cherry vodka. A whole new concept in mixing ones drinks!

This unassuming alcohol quietly and quickly elevates you to a new level. Another celebratory toast and again, another step towards being invincible. In no time at all the music is rocking. You own that dance floor! Oh yes baby! I am happy. I am free. But, all too quickly, we've stretched our limits and this hero hits zero.

Now we all know that there is no such thing as a good hangover, but this particular hangover was worth every flinch of pain, because, in a little place called Ustroń in southern Poland a wonderful, happy group of people were together, sharing in wishing Nic and Magda every success in their new life together as husband and wife.

Na zdrowie - Cheers!

"What not to" do at a wine tasting

I arrived at Cannizaro House for a wine tasting of a selection of wines from Revelstoke, a wine boutique in Raynes Park.

It was that magical light you get just before sundown, where everyone is lit up with a soft warm glow. The rolling lawn disappeared into the trees and the little birdies chirped happily as they prepared themselves for the night. Totally romantic! We enjoyed our initial bubbles alfresco on the terrace until the cool night air pushed us back into the tasting room.

The beautiful Cannizaro House is home to 34 acres of park.

Inside, 35 wines from all corners of the globe were lined up waiting patiently for our attention and judgement. We arrived late so were a little behind the curve and the swing of things, but we made quick progress through the numbered wines, through the bubbles, whites, rosés, and reds... swirling, sniffing, slurping, spitting and by the sound level in the room, mostly swallowing.

Across the room I had clocked this rather dashing man. Whew! I watched from afar as he progressed around the room with his friends. Nice smile. Lovely laugh. Definitely a man to take home to mommy!

By the time we were ready for the reds a hot debate was taking place as to whether number 32 or number 34 was the wine of the evening. I noted Mr Take-home-to-mummy at the table and so, on approach, I enthusiastically asked him what his number was. He grinned his cute grin and replied that people usually ask him his name first before asking for his number!

Oh yes... the ground really did open up and swallow me whole as I died a quick and painful death, whilst all those around us laughed hysterically at my little faux pas.

I never did get his number, and with all the distraction I'll never know if number 32 or number 34 was the wine of the night.

Wine for the 'house'

One of the reasons I love my job is that every Friday afternoon, just before we knock-off for the evening, out comes the drinks trolley with a selection of wines. The aim is to celebrate the end of a week (or should I say the beginning of the weekend?) and to bring people from around the business together in a more social context.

There was a time in our careers when you never made a commitment for a Friday night out as on the odd occasion the biggest party was the party in our office! But, now that we are a little older and considered by some as responsible adults, this kind of celebration doesn't happen as often and the next generation just never got into it like we did.

Another reason why I love my job is that I've been responsible for buying the office wine. We have a modest budget, but nevertheless, it's been great fun looking through our supplier lists and selecting wines for client functions as well as budget wines for 'house' consumption.

What's also been interesting is the style of wines my colleagues prefer. In general they tend to enjoy a big busting Sauvignon Blanc, a light Pinot Grigio and a soft, round red - far more popular than a Viognier or Riesling. Below is a selection of wines we've bought for our 2012 list to date:

Bubbles/Rose:
Chateau de Sours Sparkling Rose NV, France
Pinot Grigio Sentito Blush Rose, Italy

White:
The Ned Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Fairleigh Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Macon Village, Cave de Lugny, France
Pinot Grigio Sentito IGT (Stevlins), Italy
Luis Felipe Edwards Signature Series Viognier Reserva, Chile

Red:
Argento Malbec, Argentina
Barista Pinotage, South Africa
Muriel Reserva Rioja, Spain
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Merlot, Chile
Domaine des Montarels, Vent des Collines Rouge, France

All of these wines are available from either Majestic Wines or Jamie at Bon Coeur Fine Wines (BCFW).

Fifty shades of... Riesling

Riesling just has to be the grape varietal of the season! It’s a wonderful spring wine.

A Riesling is a far less invasive wine compared to some of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs currently on the market.  Take “The Ned” for example. It’s one of our most popular Friday afternoon wines in our office, but without food, or if it’s not ice cold, it can hit you like a slap in the face! It’s astringency is just a little much for me.

I adore the metallic minerality and the oily, seductively silken feel of Riesling as it envelops my mouth. This style of wine is beautifully balanced with the acidity of green apples and citrus and it doesn’t bother me in the least that many of these wines are off-dry as the acidy gives the Riesling a bit of a kick and it's wonderfully rounded structure, cutting through the oiliness - a refreshing balance.

Of course let’s not forget the world-class Rieslings coming out of Australia these days, especially the Clare Valley, an area I am desperate to explore… and the finessed German-styled Rieslings from cooler regions of South Africa. Paul Cluver from the Elgin region springs to mind.

Fortunately, in the UK we have access to so many great wines... So... if I close my eyes tightly, I can imagine myself being seduced by the likes of Christian Grey… oops, I mean picture myself relaxing on a deck-chair, watching the sun go down over the vineyards, glass of Riesling in hand.

Cheers!

(I did note that E L James let her characters enjoy a fine 2004 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance with dessert, although, for those who've read Fifty Shades of Grey, you know what really went on for dessert... I think our author enjoys her food and wines from the detail and care she's taken in her books.)

R320 Hermanus Wine Route

Growing up in the Western Cape, I spent countless holidays in Hermanus where the primary attraction of this old fishing town was the beautiful white beaches stretching around Walker Bay, home to the Southern Right whale.

Maybe I was to young to be aware of the growth of the wine industry, but suddenly we went from two prominent vineyards, Hamilton Russell and Bouchard Finlayson, which specialise in the Burgundy varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, to a multitude of exciting vinyards of around 15 wine cellars.

Today, the Hemel-en-Aarde valley is home to some world-class wines. The R320 Hermanus Wine Route was launched as recently as December 2011 and this humble stretch of gravel and tar has become one of the key wine roads in South Africa. Not only are the wines worthy of a detour when visiting the Cape, but so too are the panoramic vistas across the most beautiful valley stretching southwest to the coast. I've visited over 20 wine regions around the world and this is arguably one of the finest regions to visit - it has aptly been named by the locals, who always know best, as "Heaven on Earth".

For further information visit: http://hermanuswineroute.com/

What was once a dirt road for access to fruit and wine farms, the R320 is sowly being tarred to link the towns of Hermanus and Caledon and open up access between the N2 and coastal towns and in doing so, open up this route to wine and food enthusiasts like me.

Even more unusual, or should I say wonderful, is that these producers have collaborated and launched a 'route wine' under the label R320, where all proceeds will go towards supporting local social upliftment, specifically in education. I can't wait to get my hands on a bottle and see what they have created...

Check out their site for more information on the R320 wine and all vineyards: http://hermanuswineroute.com/

Cyprus revisited

It's been 21 years since I spent a week in Cyprus. Although I was still a teenager, I can clearly remember playing UNO with my family, sitting around the bed in our hotel room in Limassol and drinking Ouzo. That was the first, and last, time I tried the anise-flavoured aperitif.

21 years on and browsing through the selection of wine at a local Morrisons, I noticed a Cypriot wine. I had a block of Halloumi at home waiting to be cooked. Perfect. I grabbed the bottle and gulped when at the till I had to part with a whole £3.99! This was not looking good!

Anyway, I made a lovely salad of cherry tomatoes, chopped-up cucumber chunks, red onion, wild rocket, and baby beetroot topped with slices of the cooked Halloumi. Dinner sorted. Now to try the wine...

It's a pale straw yellow wine, with a light nose which suggested hints of pear and vanilla. So far so good. Time to taste... I tentatively sipped the wine and do you know what? It won't win any awards, but with my salty Halloumi salad, or with a summer barbeque, for £3.99 a bottle - it ain't half bad! A light, clean, crisp wine.

Island Wines Dry White Wine and Halloumi salad

On closer inspection of the bottle, and for those interested, this is a SODAP bottled wine, produced for the Co-operative Group. A 2009 Island Wines Dry White Wine of the Paphos Region, Cyprus. It's a blend of Xynisteri, Ugni Blanc and Muscat and says that it has "delicate floral and citrus fruit aromas, this wine is fresh and fruity with green apple on the palate and a vibrant and crisp finish". I wouldn't necessarily go as far as using the word vibrant, but an honest-enough description What did alarm me though is the list of ingredients!

In addition to the grape varieties mentioned above, the makers have used tartaric acid, the preservative potassium metabisulphate and the wine has been made using oak chips, yeast, bentonite, a milk product - casein, pectinolytic enzymes, and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone!! This looks more like a skin product than a wine! I am a believer that if you can't pronounce an ingredient, you shouldn't consume it, even if some of these ingredients are used to stabilize or refine the wine. I just pray that this isn't typical of all wine making!

Country retreat

Armed with our Americano's from Recipease in Clapham Junction and overnight bags, five of us girls met to escape the wet city and break free for a countryside retreat over the bank holiday weekend.

I've always considered myself immune from all the hype about visiting a spa, but for £219 for a single room, a first rate 3-course dinner, breakfast, lunch, a 40 minute treatment and use of all the spa and sport facilities, this was a deal worthy of further investigation.

The original estate dates back to 1085. Jump forward a few centuries and in 1867 The Poet Laureate, Lord Alfred Tennyson rented Grayshott. Only in 1965 was the estate converted to a health and fitness retreat with further extensions and refurbishments completed in 2005. In 2012, my arrival is recorded.

Grayshott Spa Hotel

There were a few little glitches suggesting some updating may be required, but all-in-all the five of us had a wonderful escape from reality, kick-starting with aqua-aerobics, yoga, and our 40-minute massages before dressing up for a pre-dinner NON-alcoholic drink and canapes. I know this is a retreat, but really, no alcohol? This situation was swiftly rectified with a salmon-pink Provencal rose. A perfect wine to reflect the mood of our environment!

Our 3-course dinner in the conservatory was faultless and after an eventful afternoon we crashed into the comfy sofas in the lounge, lazing around the crackling fire where we discussed, analysed and considered the challenges of love and life.
After a peaceful night's sleep and a buffet breakfast (note that fried eggs, hash browns and bacon are not on the menu!) we shocked our systems into red-alert as we jumped from steam sauna to ice-cold plunge pool to the dry sauna to ice-cold plunge pool and back again. Whew! Invigorating!

Tennis (ahem!) was an entertaining event, enjoyed with great hilarity as we chased little green balls around the court. I got to use my lovely new racket for the first time and have promised to get some more practice this year. One forgets what an enjoyable sport it can be.

We returned to devour more food at the buffet lunch, eaten in our gowns and slippers (the old hats we are!), followed by a final splash in the outdoor pool. The water steamed off the surface as it reacted against the unpleasant 5 degree air temperature!

Feeling refreshed, well nourished, well slept and like I'd had a holiday, we reluctantly returned to London. I now see why, in this fast-paced world we live in, how great a place like this can be and I do look forward to my next escape.
For further information visit: www.grayshottspa.com

Bauhaus: Art as Life

I arrived at the Barbican centre to see the Bauhaus exhibition. I used to work across the road from the Barbican and had forgotten the sheer scale and imposing nature of the place. I don’t know much about this post-modern movement called Brutalism, but the stark and fortress-like monstrosity of the Barbican cannot be ignored, especially on a cold, wet London night. I hurried through the maize of concrete to find the entrance.

Inside, the Barbican is equally imposing, with block-like spaces and dark corers. This place, playing host to the Bauhaus exhibition, is, in it’s strange way, probably the best place for a Bauhaus exhibition to sit. These contrasting, yet very powerful movements complement each other and create an interesting overall effect.

I studied the Bauhaus a good many years ago, so I enjoyed wondering through the exhibition as names and works were remembered. It is always far more rewarding seeing art for real – rather than in a text book. Names such as the founder Walter Gropius, the expressionist Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, László Moholy-Nagy, Herbert Bayer, et al all came flooding back as I paused to examine examples of their work. The arts and crafts, the powerful graphic design and fonts, the photography and the architecture.

For the ex-graphic designer that I am, I was quite inspired. Even if from a top-level “shallow” perspective, without going into the whole psychology and analysis of the movement… I enjoyed the shapes of the teapots, the eery puppets and looking up close at the posters and photographs in a time long before mine.

What I never learnt back at school, and what struck us at the exhibition was the community spirit these creative personalities and artists had. What fun they had designing invitations for events and parties. The home-made gifts they made for each other on their birthdays, and the fun that came through in their work and photography. The joyful, playful approach and the passion in their approach - to enjoy and relish in their creativity and friendships. Just being silly. Maybe we’ve lost a bit of that as we all strive to pave a path for ourselves in today’s competitive world.

It struck me that maybe the hippies of the sixties and the revolution of Woodstock, was not the first modern break from society. Maybe these conservatively dressed artists of the Bauhaus were the real ones to start a revolution. Maybe. But then, in the late 1930s, times changed with the rise of the Nazis. Radically. So I guess we’ll never know.

A Burgundy blind tasting

My 'wine man' included a few bottles Burgundy in my last delivery, and after recently enjoying a week's holiday exploring the appellations of Bourgogne and the joys and secrets of the Chardonnay grape, I was interested in comparing a few different wines.

I invited some friends and put them in charge of our meal, which turned out to be a succulent roast chicken with pork stuffing, glorious roast potatoes and salad.

I had prepared the wines in advance, wrapping them in tinfoil and giving each a number from one to four so that 1) we could guess which wine was which, and 2) find out who liked what wine. I have to admit that none of us guessed all four wines correctly, but we all had a mutual favourite, that being the Saint Veran.

The results of our Burgundy blind tasting - you can see which ones were the most popular!

Tasting notes (from left to right):

1.  2006 Saint Veran, Verget, Appellation Saint Veran Contrôlée (13% vol):
This was our favourite wine! It's a pale-yellow wine and I adored the clean minerally, lemon nose and the citrus on the palate with a smooth, not tart, finish. As per the photo above, it was guzzled without much further thought! Splendid.
2. 2007 Macon-Uchizy, Cave Talmard, Mallory & Benjamin (Paul Mallory), Appellation Macon-Villages Contrôlée (13% vol):

Golden-yellow with caramel, honeysuckle, and oak on the nose. A good food wine and perfect with our roast chicken. Reminded me of days as a child sniffing the honeysuckle flowers in my gran's garden - that wonderfully hedonistic scent.

3. 2010 White Burgundy, Marks & Spencer, Appellation Bourgogne Contrôlée (13% vol):

A pale wine with a light, clean nose. Mineral and citrus on the palate - slightly astringent compared to the others tasted. A good value Burgundy. I included this £6.49 M&S wine as I was interested to see how it stacked up against the others. I would happily recommend this with a yummy roast chicken - it's a bargin!

4. 2006 Simonnet-Febvre Chablis, Appellation Chablis Contrôlée (13% vol):

Another pale wine with a touch of peach on the nose - very slightly floral. Lemons. A bit tart and lean on the palate. This is the wine that confused us as we didn't think it was a Chablis.

April showers, chasing sticks

It's that time of the year when today I wear my flower-print top and pumps and tomorrow I'm back in my knee-high boots and hooded-coat. Spring. Winter. Summer temptations. All this indecision. It drives me nuts. Especially as I don't have enough space to have both summer and winter wardrobes out of the backs and tops of cupboards!

These April showers, a term commonly used to reflect the unsettled spring weather of the UK, followed an unseasonably mild March - promising an early summer.
But, really, April is a great time of the year... bright yellow daffodils and colourful spring flowers bob around in the morning sun. Granny is out on the common with her little dog, chasing sticks and balls. The dog, not granny. And then there is granny, sitting on the common bench catching her breath. It's all too sweet.

I see daylight both on my way to AND from work. And at this time of the year the colours create that brilliant, almost black and white effect as the light breaks through between buildings, over bridges and races across the Thames water. It's all rather glorious.

I suppose it can be said that spring is a time for new beginnings, for growth and making sure the year is on track against those New Year ideals we committed to all three, going on four months ago. Instead, it kinda freaks me out knowing that the past months have disappeared and I'm yet to get off the starting blocks. The odd thing is that I am so busy. If it's not mountains of work, then it's social events, family commitments, the odd course or activity, or catching up with friends visiting London... so when exactly does one start the year and future? I guess I am in my future?

Maybe I'm that little dog in the common, chasing sticks and my little furry tail? Dashing round and round in circles. For a brief moment, it's a nice thought. All that freedom and not a care in the world other than catching that stick. But not for a second would I trade my dinner for a tin of Husky chunks and some crunchy treats! Back to my future I will go...

Ceviche & Pisco Sours

Ceviche is a Peruvian restaurant and Pisco bar in Soho - one of the new kids on the block.

I had never tasted a Pisco Sour before and was not really anticipating anything too fabulous, so I was pleasantly surprised when this not too sweet, not too sour or tart drink was presented to me. It has this wonderful lightness and smooth silkiness from the egg whites that seduces you like a Latin lover.

Pisco is a type of brandy and the drink is prepared by blending 3 ice cubes, 50ml Pisco, 1 tbs sugar, 1 tbs lime and 1 tsp egg white. Serve it with a splash of Angostura bitters.

From the Ceviche bar - we enjoyed delicious and seductive treats of seabass ceviche, the pulpo al olivo - braised octopus with a smooth olive paste, light and crunchy cancha - a peruvian corn. We ordered more of those crunchy gems!

Off the list of Anticuchos - grilled skewers - the perfectly medium-rare rump was served with a aji panca chilli anticucho marinade. The Corazon, beef heart!!!, was also tasty - thinly sliced so not too rich, and still palatable for those like us eating heart for the first time. The confit duck on a bed of dark beer rice was also great.

Personally, I would have worked my way through the entire ceviche list! And then finished with the rump anticuchos. Complimented by a Pisco Sour or 5!

Ceviche, in short, is freshly prepared seafood that is marinated in a lime, aji amarillo chilli (a yellow pepper), onion, salt & pepper mix. The citric acids of the limes "cook" the raw fish by changing the protein structure of the fish - almost as if it has been cooked. It is deliciously light and refreshing. Serving this with the crunchy large-kernal corn is a wonderful compliment to this dish and typical of Peru.

The restaurant was busy and vibey - lots of chat and laughter against a chilled-out soundtrack. The staff were friendly and desparately trying to keep pace with the rhythm of the evening and orders. A place to revisit.

Out of Africa

Down in the crypt of Fortnum & Mason I waited. Empty bottles of the world's most sought after wines lined the antique shelves... Petrus, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau d'Yquem... I was in heaven. But, I was not in the crypt for a wine tasting, this time I was joining a small group for an African coffee workshop!

Together we learnt about the life of the coffee bean and how it evolves into coffee. I tend to take wine tastings for granted, discerning the nuances and subtleties between a New Zealand and Loire Sauvignon Blanc, and coming up with suitable terms to best describe the little grape, but with coffee I was back to square one. Sniffing, swirling, tasting... all the elements of a wine tsting, but, what did I get on the nose? On the palate? Roast caramel? Leather? Chocolate? Citrus? Floral notes? Me.... I got coffee. And coffee. And, yes... coffee!

Our little beans came all the way from the east African countries of Kenya and Tanzania to the Geisha monutains in Ethiopia. One legendary coffee - a very special treat we were told - came from a particular part of Panama. Very special indeed. Our host was so excited at sharing this speciality with us, that we oohed and aahed along with him. Indeed... it smelt like, er... coffee. And tasted like coffee. At least it was not the rare Indonesian Kopi Luwak that has reputedly passed through the digestive system of a civet!

Coffee tasting at F&M.

What was interesting was comparing tastings of the same coffee, but using different brewing methods. How some techniques resulted in a smoother, less bitter finish and others brought out a stronger roast element.

I am not much of a coffee drinker. I adore the smell, but hot drinks have ever really been my thing. But I have noticed that, as a social group, we no longer purchase jars of Nescafe or Kenco 'gold' instant, but brew a ground cafetiere style coffee. Next up the ladder is buying the roasted bean and grinding for an even fresher result, but for now I will try out my Jubilee Blend Coffee, which is a special new blend of coffee that uses the finest beans from old and new members of the Commonwealth in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee. A little Fortnum & Mason treat for me. At least now I will appreciate the effort and time spent to make this blend, to create a coffee with aromas and flavours fit for a Queen. God save our Queen!

Overberg wine adventure

In Decanter's January 2012 edition, there is an article about South Africa's new guard of winemakers - highlighting some of the 'young guns' setting South Africa's wine scene alight with their drive, passion, modern approach, with the result of producing some world class wines.

As luck would have it, I was holidaying only a short drive from some of these vineyards, so, as soon as the cellar doors re-opened from their New Year hangovers, we set off to explore the Overberg and Elgin Valley.

Cape Vintage Port on tap at Beaumont Wines

Our first stop was Beaumont Wines in Bot River. This family run farm is headed by viticulturist and winemaker Sebastian Beaumont and has come a long way since my first visit many years ago, where I fell in love with their Ariane, a classic Bordeaux blend. This is the oldest cellar in the Overberg and is a delight for any visitor.

But, for me, their most alluring wine is their celebrated Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc. Oh my God, if I could be drip fed this heavenly nectar for the rest of my days I would be a VERY happy woman! This is a truly outstanding wine, with hints of dried apricot on the nose and green apple and on the palate, again that luscious apricot, beautifully balanced by being barrelled in oak. This 2010 vintage is a definite five star wine and I can't wait to attack the bottles I bought (R145/bottle). The new generation of South African Chenin Blancs are really doing to South Africa what Malbec is doing to Argentina and what Sauvignon Blanc did to New Zealand. These are sophisticated, finessed wines that are exciting and seductive!

Also worth mentioning are the interesting results from their Mourvedre style wines. I succumbed to the 2009 Shiraz/Mourvedre (R125) - a fragrant, spicy blend and promptly bought 2 more bottles for my collection. I couldnt help notice the large barrel standing just inside the cellar door. Scribbled across a chalk board was an offer selling their Foot Stomped 2005 Cape Vintage Port on tap - a 50/50 blend of Tinta Barocca and Pinotage. Not as refined or elegant as their 2006 vintage, but what the hell - sign me up for a few more cases please!

Next up on our fabulous adventure was Wildekrans Wine Estate, which has been under new ownership since 2007 and has about 56 hectares under vines. I slowly worked my way through their full selection at their tasting room in the farming village of Grabouw.

I wasn't wild about their white wines as a whole, although the 2011 Directors Blend (R65) and 2010 Osiris Barrel Selection Chenin Blanc (R120) were notable. What was exciting were their reds - easy to drink and great value for money. The 2009 Merlot (R64) and 2009 Cabernet Franc/Merlot (£63) were both delightful. The former so easily quaffible with hints of chocolate and vanilla on the nose and lovely ripe blackberries on the palate. Six bottles please. The latter was perhaps even more enjoyable, with the Cabernet Franc backbone. A right plum of a wine and 4 more bottles for my collection! Finally, I bought 2 bottles of their maiden vintage 2009 Wildekrans Osiris Shiraz Barrel Selection (R130), which showed off black cherries and silky dark chocolate. I'm not sure if any of these wines will develop as they mature.... Only time will tell!

Oak Valley Wines tasting room

Oak Valley Wines in Elgin is another wonderful destination worth visiting. I don't think I've ever had a poor wine from this cellar and their current selection is no exception, showing yet another stonker of a vintage! They only have 5 wines to taste and buy, but each wine was better than the previous as I moved from the silky-green Sauvignon Blanc, to a beautifully balanced multiple, award-winning Chardonnay, and on to their superb reds... their 2009 Oak Valley Pinot Noir and a super Bordeaux blend - a 2006 Oak Valley Merlot Cabernet Blend (51% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon). This is an expressive blend showing plump plums and red berries. Mocha and even a hint of mint... makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Even though only a 2006 wine, this is still a young wine and so of course I had to buy some bottles to keep for another occasion.

Thankfully I was not in charge of driving, but as the boot of the car was not working, Iwas carefully packed away on the back seat, surrounded by boxes and boxes of my newly acquired wines. Life is good. I am happy.

More info can be found at:
Beaumont Wines www.beaumont.co.za
Wildekrans Wine Estate www.wildekrans.com
Oak Valley Wines www.oakvalleywines.com
Overberg wine information www.overbergwine.com

Phillippa Cheifitz's Cape Grape Cake

A boyfriend once gave me Phillippa Cheifitz's Cape Town Food cookbook. Over the years I have taken inspiration from many of her recipes and I see now that she is a contributor to the Woolworth's Taste magazine.

Now I am no baker. Never have been. Baking is so scientfic in approach. I love the results of the chemistry between flour, butter and sugar, but I have little patience in sifting and measuring and mixing and timing and not confusing my teaspoons with my tablespoons.

Which is why I so love this recipe. Not to mention the cup of dessert wine required in this wonderfully simple, moist cake that is an absolute winner with men and women alike. Especially now that once the bottle of dessert wine has been opened, someone has to finish it!

This Cape Grape Cake - and the dessert wines - are just so YUM!

This link takes you to the Google books website for the recipe. And do please let me know if you know why the grapes sometimes sink, or sometimes stay on the top of the cake... this time around they sank.

Tasting notes:
2007 Antinori Muffato Della Sala IGT, Umbria, Italy
My first note is that I did NOT use this wine in the cake! After a bit of a Google search, I am glad I didn't as this is a limited quantity, experimental wine by Antinori. It's a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Grechetto, Traminer and Riesling, and is pale gold in colour with floral, honey and citrus notes and flavours, intesified on the palate - and with a smooth and finessed wine. It is produced from botrytised grapes and 6 months in French oak.

2002 Chateau Terfort, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, France
This golden Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle blend from the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux bursts with caremel and honey and is a lovely rich, yet silky wine that is also a result of botrysis.

Beheading dangerous snowmen

I don't know if you noticed that literally hours after the 2-inch snow we had in south-west London during February, that our snowmen had been beheaded. "Who had so savagely chopped off their heads?" I wondered with a melting heart.

Apparently, it was our local councils. I'm yet to find out who's job spec this all-important role belongs to and how our tax money pays for this service.

Sadly, we are victim to the apparent safeguarding of our parks and grasslands, where a beheaded snowman will melt faster AND - believe it or not - were also being destroyed for health and safety reasons!

Headless snowmen lying broken across our common

Resilient forever, but handle with care

I've spent the past few months catching up with old friends... housemates, schoolmates, play mates. Great friends - some that I've gotten to know over many years, people that know my secrets and I their's. Friends that I've laughed and cried with. And friends that I don't always see enough of.

It's fair to say that many friends have married and settled into roles of husband, wife, mother, and father, so their lives have shifted and evolved, sadly, often away from mine. Many have new friends, from maternity classes, through their partners, and more recently their kids' schools. They juggle work, travelling spouses, dinner parties, and weekend social and sporting events. I am constantly in awe at how resilient we humans are. How deep-down there is that reserve energy and somehow everyone keeps it together and survives another day and another week. I feel exhausted just listening to some routines and yet impressed at so many achievements.

I on the other hand am meant to be living this social life, free from commitment and responsibilty, of dancing on tables and going to bed as the first birds start their morning chatter. I don't think I've ever danced on a table. Maybe I should! But, there's no fun in cracking open a bottle of wine unless you are in the company of friends, to toast to old memories, drown out others, and hope for great adventures ahead. Friends, to be your family when your family are thousands of miles away, to share your dreams and your pains, laugh at our stupidy and commend our bravery!

Under all this tireless resilience we are sensitive to comment, criticism, rejection, and exclusion. It's a fragile network that needs to be handled with care. This little family of friends that forever shifts as the patterns of our lives change.

As a person living in London, you never need to be alone, but you can be lonely. I think I can say the same for friends in relationships, who can also feel alone in their challenges to balance their lives, to be an individual in their own right and yet find the right level of compromise with their partner and children. Maybe we get too distracted on what we are striving for, rather that pausing on our journeys, to stop, exhale, crack open a bottle of wine, dance on a table and enjoy time with our friends... before diving back into our crazy lives.

Proper olives!

I used to hate olives. Now they are the perfect nibble to partner a glass of wine or enjoy at the start of a meal. Recently my friends and I came across these wonderful big green olives - they are are brightest of green, they are fat and succulent, and we want more!!

Jamie Oliver's amazing whole Verdi Mammoth olives! 

I am not sure why you can't buy them in our local supermarkets, but I have found them at the following places:

BYRON Burger - order a bowl of their "Proper olives" for £2.75 and of course try out their great burgers! YUM!

byronhamburgers.com

Jamie Oliver's RECIPEASE in Clapham - selling their amazing green Verdi Mammoth olives from Pulgia for £3.95

jamieoliver.com/recipease




Afternoon high-tea celebration

A little afternoon spoil for my female cousins and I to get together to celebrate my aunt's 70th birthday.

Out of the boxes came my pretty little tea-cups, tea pots, and cake stands. Into the fridge went the bubbly, cream and caviar (I just can't enough of this yummy salty, mouth-popping roe!).

Jo and I spent the morning preparing a lovely afternoon treat of dainty cucumber sandwiches, salmon on a dill and spring-onion cream-cheese spread topped with caviar, hot out-of-the-oven savoury scones as well as plain scones with clotted cream and black-cherry jam, profiteroles stuffed full of cream and vanilla custard, and baby goats cheese and beetroot thyme tarts. Served with pots of Yorkshire Gold tea, fresh mint & lemon water, and a glass of two of Charles Heidsieck Champagne.

Savoury scones, profiteroles & cucumber sandwiches

Salmon on a dill and spring-onion cream-cheese spread topped with caviar

We left the men to their own devices, which no doubt involved beer and rugby.

I like mine medium rare

Occasionally someone in this world surpises me. Half-way through my perfectly prepared medium-rare rump steak the restaurant manager noticed that my glass of 2009 Cefiro Casablanca Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile was empty. He came over to ask if I'd like another wine and if he could recommend something different.

Back he came with two tasters... a little 2010 VdP Maurel Verdeau Pinot Noir from France and a little Pulenta La Flor Malbec 2010 from Argentina. I thought the Malbec was a little thin, but loved the cherry notes in the Pinot Noir so I chose the former.

Five minutes later, the manager was back... this time with a bottle of wine! I had barely taken a sip of my Pinot Noir, but "this wine" is his favourite off the wine list and I simply must try it - even though it wasn't available by the glass. So, onto the Italian wine we went... to the 2008 Allegrini La Grola from Veneto. It was bigger and bolder than I was expecting although I am not much good with my Italians. Was that a hint of coffee? My brother sighed and took a sip of his Bitburger Premium Pilsner Draught. All this wine talk was distracting us from our steaks and him from his beer!

But how nice it was to have an enthusiastic restaurant manager, who takes pleasure in the food and wine he serves and shares that with his guests... I was and am impressed.

http://www.thebutcherandgrill.com/wimbledon

To top it off our meals were faultless and we had a lovely evening, catching up and enjoying a good glass (or two) of wine on a cold winter's night. I will certainly recommend you try The Butcher & Grill in Wimbledon Village SW19, and form your own opinion.

Revisting Gruner Veltliner

Earlier this month I mentioned tasting the Gruner Veltliner 2008 Weingut Pfarre Weissenkirchen - the Austrian wine from the Wachau region.

I've tried this once very trendy white grape again, and again I really enjoyed it, so will have to go out and buy a bottle or three - you can buy the current vintage at Magestic for £9.99 a bottle.

It's acidity is racy - but this time I got green pear on the palate, with a lovely minerally backbone! I love the 'clean' feel I get from this wine. Almost but not fizzy, maybe like a pear-drop. It's a lovely change from a New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc, which is not my favourite after all the Hermanuspietersfontein wines I so enjoyed in South Africa.

Gruner Veltliner is one of those varieties, like Riesling, and due to it's acidity, that will age well. It is also a versatile grape variety that is great with spicy foods and other complicated foods such as asparagus - I'll be sure to try it out.

Gruner Veltliner 2008 Weingut Pfarre Weissenkirchen

What is love?

Remember Dr. Alban? He asks the question we all want the answer to: "What is love?"

At school we had heated debates with our English teacher who said emphatically that you just cannot love anything other than another human. She said we can't possibly love our pet cat or dog. But you could love Shakespeare? Not so sure...

So as it is "V" day - what is love? I think I love relatively easily... I love my parents and family. I loved my cat Nelson (after Nelson "Madiba" Mandela!) - he was a great cat and I know he loved me back! I love my friends. Living away from family your friends become your family and are your pillars and support. Do I love my job? Sometimes. In retrospect, I love most of my ex-boyfriends. They are good people. I'd like to think I wouldn't have dated them otherwise.

But all that is different to being "in love".

We joke in the office saying "I love you, but I'm not in love with you". I love this line - it works and it puts relationships with people in perspective.

There's another great line that I love: "I may love you, but I don't have to like you at this moment." - a great line!

I love wine. I love food. I love them together. And even better when together with the people you love.

Could I be "in love"? Maybe. But maybe it's that cheeky word "infatuation" - which I think is such a dangerous word. It plays with you. Toys with you. It distorts perspective. It can be mean. And it can hurt. A lot. We've all witnessed the pain and confusion our friends have been through during those blind moments of infatuation. So maybe, just maybe.... we should just dive in - take a gigantic leap... and shout: "I am in love!"

But only if he's worth it!*

Happy Valentines Day!

* Note: Taking a gigantic leap or a dive into the unknown of course may hurt the most of all. But maybe it's the result and reward that will be oh so worth it? I'll keep you posted and I look forward to your point of view on love...

На здоровье! Na zdorovie! Cheers!

I haven't yet mentioned my visit to Moscow in December 2012. My colleague and I were there during the biggest protest march since the fall of communism in Russia. Security in the thousands monitoring even greater thousands wearing white ribbons on their lapels as they marched through Moscow protesting against Putin.

I have been working on Russian projects for a little over two years now and thoroughly love the people. They are intelligent, cultured, driven, and passionate. They are immensly proud - and rightly so - about their great city and country. Coming from a country that has also been troubled over recent decades I feel I can relate to the desire to prove to the world that we are from great countries, with wonderful traditions, fascinating histories, and beautiful landscapes.

Of course when you are in Moscow, being so well looked after, you are exposed to the joys and tradtions of drinking vodka. And with vodka, closely follows caviar - the wonderful pop of oily salmon roe and the release of its velvety juices and saltiness, followed by another toast to someone or something and enjoying the ice cold cleansing vodka. In this case it was the deiciously smooth and silky Beluga Vodka. No more Smirnoff for me! In London, Russian Standard is a good option to keep in your freezer.

Since my visit I have been making my version of a Russian influenced sharing platter. It is truly out of this world and has been greedily devoured as a summer Christmas starter, a beach-side sundowner platter, and a starter before a winter lamb stew with the candles flickering and a crackling fire - keeping us protected against the -6 degree winter freeze. It goes something like this:

Starter with Russian Salmon caviar

Caviar platter

Finely dice 3 or 4 cooked beetroots (out of a bottle is also fine) and a good handful of chives. Arrange lengthways in strips along a dinner size plate, but one with a dip like a shallow soup or casserole plate, the beetroot, a carton of plain cream cheese, the chives and a jar of black and/or red caviar (Ikea sell a seaweed version, and Waitrose sell a herring roe - all are fine - of course if you can get your hands on the Russian salmon roe caviar or the ultimate Beluga caviar, then you're in business!). For additional textures and colours you can also finely dice two hard-boiled eggs. Serve with a french loaf and/or blinis and unsalted butter. With that, serve with a shot of ice-cold vodka or Champagne. На здоровье!

Caviar platter

Three majestic wines

Our wonderful Chairman (on this particular day I think he's particularly wonderful!) has assigned the task of wine buying to myself and a colleague. What fun! And what a wonderful challenge to have. As a company, we have a considerable budget to accommodate the needs of my colleagues - enjoying a post-work drink around the kitchen on a Friday evening - and our clients - for meetings, lunches & dinners, and corporate events.

Majestic arrived with some great wines for us to taste. For me it's extra special to get valuable information and insight from people who are knowledgeable and educated in wine. There were some notable wines worth mentioning - all available at under £10 a bottle:

Gruner Veltliner 2008 Weingut Pfarre Weissenkirchen is an Austrian wine from the Wachau region. I rather liked the balance between the green acidity and the more oily, slightly mineral finish. This is not a wine for everyone, but is definintely worth trying with food, such as pork and oriental and spicy-type dishes.

If you are looking for a Burgundy wine, try for a change the Eikendal Chardonnay 2010/11 from Stellenbosch, South Africa. It is a classic Chardonnay that has been aged for 7 months in French oak. Wines like this encourage me not to rule out Chardonnays - I think this is an elegant wine and is lovely to enjoy around the fire with your book and slippers. Maybe even a pipe for the boys?

Continuing with Burgundy-style varietals, one wine definitely worth trying is the Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2009/10 from Marlborough in New Zealand. Not your French classic, but this medium-weight red has lovely black cherry flavours and a soft smoky finish - or perhaps a hint of cocoa? Fruity yet smooth - no sharp acids, resulting in an elegant wine, perfect to drink straight out the bottle or with a rack of lamb or seasonal game birds. I'm salivating at the very thought!

Majestic wine tasting - Friday 3 Febraury 2012

South African summer whites

Before I moved to London, back in 1998, I was predominantly a red wine drinker. To be honest I was probably an any wine drinker, specialising in whatever I could find in my father's cellar or free tastings in and around the Stellenbosch and Paarl wine routes.

Then came the parties, late nights and cheap red wines from the local pubs we frequented in London and along with that came the red teeth and lips syndrome. I quickly learnt that if I was to maintain any kind of visual composure, that I had to avoid red wine at all costs. Soon enough I was onto the over-oaked bottom-line Australian Chardonnays, followed soon after by the citrusy Pinot Grigio, etc - you get the picture!

Over the years I have graduated throught the ranks, refining and defining what I really enjoy in a white wine. To help matters along my budget allocation to buy wines has improved, enough to enjoy a flinty Chablis or a slightly, but not too floral Viognier. Even a Tasmanian bubbly...

One of and probably the only the good thing about being taxed to hell on wines in the UK is that when you go on holiday to places like South Africa you are happy to pay that little bit extra for a special bottle of wine. Together with hot and sunny weather the whites reigned supreme and over the days and weeks we tasted, drank and enjoyed countless bottles of truly delicious wines. Below, from what I can remember, are my (current) top 10 South African white wines I enjoyed this holiday:

1. Hermanuspietersfontein No.5 Sauvignon Blanc 2009
2. David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Semillon 2008
3. Beaumont Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc 2010
4. Hermanuspietersfontein No.7 Sauvignon Blanc 2011
5. The Oak Valley Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008
6. Hermanuspietersfontein No.3 Sauvignon Blanc 2011
7. Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc 2010
8. RAATS Original Chenin Blanc (unwooded) 2010
9. Hermanuspietersfontein Sommer Nommer 2011
10. Nabygelegen Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Hermanus, Walker Bay

Note: There is a bias towards the coastal wines of Walker Bay as the bulk of my time in the cape was in this area during my January 2012 holiday.

Hermanuspietersfontein Die Bartho, Bloos & Swartskaap tasting



Burning sunsation...

Why is it that two weeks ago, out in the plains of Phinda game reserve in South Africa looking for the thrill of an overnight kill by a lion, cheetah or leopard, did I have to cover up, like an exposed vampire, against the burning sun as it rose up over the distant ocean, when, two weeks later, that exact same sun that rose up over the River Thames did not have any effect against the cold that winter brings. No impact against my steamy breath or warmth against my skin as it ached against the icy breeze whilst I waited, not for the kill, but for the 22 bus that takes be to work...

Phinda sunrise, KZN South Africa

Paying the rent

After almost five weeks of glorious holiday I find myself back at my desk glaring at my screen, punching in words and numbers and dreaming of being whisked away from the reality of work.

Oddly, I actually enjoy my job! For the most part I work with wonderful people who are talented, professional and committed. My salary covers my rent and allows for my annual leave, but sadly it doesn't give me the freedom to plan a great escape to a world of frivolous adventure and pleasure - a place where I can do as I please and when I want.

The grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side. Or is it? I'm sure Mr Wine- or Dairy- farmer doesn't think how lucky he is when he's up at 4am to check his vines and milk his cows, seven days a week and 365 days a year. I'm sure the romance of living and working on a farm wears off quickly once reality sets in.

When would I be able to have that Saturday morning lie-in? Or take a five week holiday?

So 2012: I face you armed with my thoughts, dreams and determination to do more of the things I love and to do them well. And of course enjoy what I do!