#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Middelvlei

Have you ever wanted to say that you've got a bottle of wine with your name on it? Well, like literally, you can have your name on it - one you blended & bottled yourself? Well - it's a rather exciting experience that you can get in on at Middelvlei in Stellenbosch. 

This unique experience allows you to create your own personalised bottle of wine that you can take home with you. So, it's official - I have the 1st bottle of #WineRoutingWithLloyd Middelvlei red blend

On arrival welcomed with a glass of their latest Rosé on a chilly morning, I sat down in the tasting room with a fresh stoked fire blazing to warm up. In front of me - the whole blending kit, 3 bottles of wine fresh from the barrel, tasting glasses, a pen & paper for notes. I've been wanting to do this kind of thing for a while, so to say that I was excited, is a bit of an understatement. 

Whilst going through the motions of tasting & creating your own blends, you'll get to snack on Middelvlei's famous freshly baked Potbrood served with their home-made Snoek Pâté & sweet strawberry jam. 

In those 3 bottles -

1. Pinotage: a Momberg classic. Deep ruby red with fresh fruit on the nose & palate. Accompanied by oak & some spice. 

2. Merlot: an easy drink glass with ripe red cherries & a smooth finish. 

3. Shiraz: a bit of body with pepper & darker fruits with a beautiful aromatic nose.  

Now that you understand a bit about each wine the fun starts - pour yourself a glass of each & taste. Taste & feel what your palate enjoys. Then into a 100ml test tube you pour your own desired mix of the 3. Go on a have a taster, see what stands out, make some notes - the good & the bad. And if you don't like what you've put together, you pour it out & start again. And again - until you find that perfect personalised blend that works for you. 

Multiply your final choice of blend by 10, give it a good mix & now it is ready for bottling. Time to put a cork in that bottle & add a foil cap & label your new creation. (Yes, you do all that too.) Check out my bottling experience here.

Also - there is enough left, after filling your bottle, for you to enjoy a glass or 2 of your final blend whilst you sit back & relax taking in the surroundings of the Middelvlei farm & finishing up the last piece of your Potbrood and jam. 

At R250, this is a lot of fun and the creativity you can express here with this experience is endless & can really be enjoyed by everyone.  If you love your own blend that much, you can have them make you a few extra bottles at R180 each & have them delivered to your door or collected at a later stage. 

#WineRoutingWithLloyd is driven by the #KiaPegas.

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Middelvlei Wine Estate

One of the most iconic South African things is definitely a braai! And well, when majority guys think they really know how to braai, doesn't mean that you're really any good at it. But, let me tell you about this #WineRoutingWithLloyd experience that we stumbled upon on the Stellenbosch Wine Route on a Sunday afternoon. 

The Middelvlei Wine Estate Boerebraai Experience. Well, imagine sitting on the stoep (patio) of one of those old school farm houses, (the ones with the a wraparound polished stoep). The whole family is there for Sunday lunch & it's a bit of a family braai day. The kids are running around playing in the sun, the cows grazing in background, whilst the adults are sipping on a glass (or bottle) of wine. And every now & then you get a waft of that braaivleis being cooked on the open fire. Well, if that doesn't have you salivating yet, then you definitely should imagine that cheese melting in that braaibroodjie.

On arrival you'll get shown to your table, where there is a crate waiting for you, with all of your plates & utensils needed for the lunch. But 1st things 1st. Lets have a glass of wine with our starter shall we?

Freshly baked Potbrood, served with homemade butter, snoek pate & fig preserve. (Almost good enough to enjoy as a dessert too!) 

For mains, well. Think of a bit of everything that you could have on a braai? Lamb Chops, Boerewors, Chicken Sosaties, Pampoenkoekies, Potato Salad & a Green Salad. And it's all braai'd to perfection. Nothing is overcooked. The wors is still nice & juicy, but not raw. And those pampoenkoekies. Delicious! Oh! And don't forget that braaibroodjie that you've been salivating about now.

Then, what's a proper South African experience that's not ended off with a homemade Malva pudding served with Ice Cream? There really is something special here. It all tastes like home. None of this really mass produced product & that is pretty much because it is all made from scratch on site at the estate. 

What I really liked about this lunch experience, is that it is very relaxed and there is really no rush. Exactly like the vibe you'd pick up at a friend's house when you are there for a braai. And to make it even better, this time round you don't have to braai & you don't need to clean up that braai grill afterwards either. Double bonus. 

Then finish off your lunch with a cup of Boeretroos (Coffee) made on the fire. 

This is a unique experience for the locals (the whole family) & the international visitors that will give them the real South African braai experience & at the same time, enjoy some of the great wine that Ben Momberg is producing at Middelvlei. 

Check Middelvlei out here & plan to #VisitStellenbosch. 

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Driven by the #KiaSportage