Spice Route - 2019 Chakalaka

The Spice Route Chakalaka is a Rhône style red blend. Using 6 varietals from bush vine, that thrive in the Swartland's harsh growing conditions - Carignan, Shiraz, Mataro (ie. Mourvedre), Durif (ie. Petite Sirah, Grenache Noir, Tannat to harmoniously express the unique terroir. A rich & robus velvety wine with layers of ripe dark berry fruits and savoury spices. 

Spice Route Winery’s name, a testament to their signature style of robust, spicy red wines, recalls the ancient mariners of the 15th century who went in search of exotic spices. In much the same way Charles Back’s search for exceptional vineyards took him sailing into the uncharted waters of the Swartland. Synonymous with exploration, adventure and innovation, Spice Route’s’ Journey of Discovery’ is on-going, venturing out further into the Western Cape’s wine regions in a quest to discover more extraordinary vineyards to expand their wine offering.

A deep ruby red in the glass, with ripe juicy black currant, cherry & plum notes. A lovely purity, with white pepper, spiced meats, smoky cloves, nutmeg & vanilla complementing the bold fruits. A full-bodied wine, with an intense, silky smooth rich texture. The palate shows the Rhône-style depth integrated with oak, smooth structured tannins & a lingering spice finish. Like a perfect combination of spices, this wine is meant to harmoniously bring together many different vineyards & varieties, each individual profile complementing the other to make the wine shine.

Most definitely a fantastic food wine. Just as the Chakalaka spicy South African relish adds the truly Proudly South African factor to any dish, so too the Spice Route Chakalaka, whether its's at home, in a fancy restaurant or around the fire, it enriches any occasion with delectable flavour and local flair.

Think intensely flavoured South African cuisine like curry, bobotie, braaied spicy meat (Shisa Nyama – served with Chakalaka relish and pap), Middle Eastern and Asian inspired cuisine.

Keeping it close to home, Chakalaka is a perfect complement to celebrated chef & charcuterie whizz, Neil Jewell’s famous charcuterie, available at Jewell’s Restaurant and Deli at the Spice Route Destination in Paarl. While Neil works his magic in the kitchen at this farm-to-table eatery, his wife Tina, a baker par excellence, looks after front of house. Neil’s passion lies in his homemade artisanal charcuterie that he prepares with mountains of patience & bucket loads of love. A chakalaka sausage to complement a glass of Spice Route’s luscious rich and robust Chakalaka Rhône-style red blend.

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Nederburg

Nederburg is definitely one of those brands that has become somewhat of a household name. They have been around for many moons & many generations have indulged in a bottle or 2 from this Paarl based wine estate. So naturally I was rather excited about my #WineRoutingWithLloyd visit.

From when you arrive, you already feel the history around you. The beautiful Cape Dutch manor house was completed back in 1800 & today is treasured as a national monument. It truly is something to see in person. Out in front of the manor house are beautifully manicured gardens & a sprawling lawn that always played host to the harvest festival or where you can have a picnic.

A glass of bubbly to kick the morning off - the Nederburg 2013 Cap Classique is lively & fresh with some zesty citrus notes. (Definitely something that you could sit & enjoy for the whole afternoon.) Pair it with The Manor House Cheese & Cold Meat board, & you're all set. 

One thing that I think many people don't realise about Nederburg, is that they make more wines than what you actually know of. Yes, the well known bottles you'll find in the stores. But, they have some great wines available that you may not even have tasted before - so I'd highly recommend a visit. 

I was treated to a tasting of some of the red wines on offer - 
 - 2019 Baronne - 
Probably the most well-known in the range - the Baronne is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend, that is a great companion to any braai or Sunday roast. One the nose there's luscious blue & black berries, that follow to the palate accompanied by some spice - pepper & cinnamon for me. A rich & velvety full-bodied wine. 

 - 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon - 
This bottle is dark berries & spice on the nose all the way, which develop & soften with time. Whilst on the palate - cigar box & leather followed by some of the berry aromas. Another full-bodied wine that oozes elegance & longevity. A pleasant dryness that lingers just long enough in the finish.

 - 2018 The Manor House Shiraz
A beautiful deep ruby colour in the glass with aromas of deep ripe berries & cinnamon & clove. All elegantly evolve onto the palate & the dark fruits intensify alongside structured tannins that finish off with a velvety mouthfeel. Another great wine to pair with those beef steaks or even a spicy seared tuna steak. 

 - 2017 Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 
Limited quantities of these are available, we indulged in Bottle 2233 of 3300. Aged for 31 months in 100% new French Oak, the wine has evolved & shows ripe red fruits on the nose, with a slight hint of freshness in oyster shells. A savoury wine at it's best where the fruits evolve further on the palate with aromatic oak spices. Smooth finish with velvety tannins. 

Delving into all this wine should be accompanied by some good food too. I kept it simply - Rib-Eye Steak & Chips. A wonderful choice for all the above wines if you ask me. The menu is simple yet refined with choices for everyone. 

Nederburg sure is a surprise visit & there is more than you'd expect! When in Paarl, this is definitely one #WineRoutingWithLloyd stop that you should pop in at. 

#WineRoutingWithLloyd is driven by the #KiaSonet

Roodeberg - Classic Red 2019 (limited edition gift pack)

A classic red wine is always a must in any household. What better than a name that's been part of South Africa's wine culture for over 70 years. The Roodeberg Classic Red. And it's just been released in a limited edition gift pack that tells the story of the legacy. (It makes for a great gift this coming festive season too.)

The story of Roodeberg starts back in 1949 & has evolved over time from the master's original blend to an accessible contemporary classic red wine with 7 decades of rich proudly South African wine history. 

1949 - Launch of Roodeberg: The signature blend, crafted by Dr. Charles Niehaus from the 1946 harvest.

1950's - Gateway to international markets: Exports start with Canada leading the helm.

1955 - La Concorde becomes the home of Roodeberg: The façade of La Concorde in Paarl features on the Roodeberg label.

1960's - The Secret Blend: Wine drinking becomes more popular & the secret blend takes root in winemaking.

1971 - Dr. Niehaus retires: The father of Roodeberg hands over the reigns to the next generation.

1991 - French oak barrels are introduced: Roodeberg increased complexity with the introduction of oak barrels.

1995 - A more contemporary style: The 20 millionth bottle of Roodeberg is bottled on 16 November.

2014 - Best museum class: Roodeberg 1995 wins Best Museum Class Trophy at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show.

2019 - 70 Year celebration: The launch of the 1949; a commemorative limited edition red label. 

In your glass, a blend of the real classic red varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot & Tannat create a deep & rich red colour that plays beautifully with the light. On the nose, you'll get aromatic layers of ripe red & dark fruits, hints of spice & dark chocolate. And easy drinking on the palate, being well-rounded with hints of oak & dark ripe plums. Finishing off with an elegant silky smooth touch that lingers just the right amount of time until your next sip. 

A personal favourite for a braai to have with that steak, or even a Sunday lunch with a roast. But most importantly, to be enjoyed with friends & family all around. (And retailing at around R99 a bottle, you know you can work a few of those bottle's into your festive budget.)

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Spice Route Destination

I won't lie. I was honestly pleasantly surprised with my visit to Paarl & the surrounding areas. I even found my way to Spice Route Destination. (Slightly later than expected, but I made it. And I can now say that I am so glad that I did make it.) What a view to sit & enjoy. In the distance (approx 70km away, you can see a slight outline of Table Mountain.

So a bit about the Spice Route Destination. The story goes that many years ago, when ships used to dock at Cape Town, mariners would blast their horns & this was usually heard as far as the Paarl mountains. This call was not only to announce their arrival, but also signal farmers that it was time to mount their horses & go collect & trade. The same experience is what Spice Route Destination is channeling, by bringing hand picked artisans with a collection of flavours & celebrations of Cape culture together & to support each other. 

Off to La Grapperia Bistro & Pizzeria, which could easily be summarised as an Italian/German styled bistro with everything from Pizza to Eisbein & Gin; and Gin & Tonic to Beers. What I most loved about this restaurant, is that it is plain & simple, with nothing too fancy & unpretentious! Most definitely a great homely vibe buzzing from the moment we arrived to a very busy restaurant. (So if you plan on a visit, especially on a weekend, best you make a reservation.)

On arrival, I opted to take a break from the wine & have a G&T. So one of the artisans that you can find at Spice Route Destination, is Wilderer - Fynbos Gin. They make a mean Naartjie G&T, which comes highly recommended! The actual distillery is also on site and right next door to the restaurant, so you could definitely pop in there & see how they create their gin. 

On arrival, I opted to take a break from the wine & have a G&T. So one of the artisans that you can find at Spice Route Destination, is Wilderer - Fynbos Gin. They make a mean Naartjie G&T, which comes highly recommended! The actual distillery is also on site and right next door to the restaurant, so you could definitely pop in there & see how they create their gin. 

On to our late lunch/early dinner. A very exciting & big menu to choose from. So, if you are not as indecisive as me, you won't have any trouble finding something to eat. For starters classic garlic snails & pulled lamb bitterballen with a traditional German mustard.

On to mains. I was told that the pizza here, is simply incredible & that it is a must. Well, they were right & I'm telling you the same thing now!

I opted for a pizza with salami, ham, olives & artichokes. It was simply delicious & what a great combination of savoury flavours. With a nice crispy thin base, this is one wood-fire oven pizza that I'm currently craving as I write about it. 

Another on site artisan is Spice Route Wines. Coming in all the way from the Swartland area, winemaker Charl du Plessis sure has a talent for making magical wines.

I decided on the 2015 Spice Route Mourvèdre.  Well, firstly, because this is a very scarce varietal in South Africa & secondly, because I had never had a 100% Mourvèdre before. So to me, that just made perfect sense to try something new in a new place. On the nose, you get dark black cherries with hints of nutmeg & cardamom. These carry through to the palate & develop into more mature fruits. A beautiful wine with a great medium body & a slight bit of iron-like undertones which emphasize the savoury elements of the wine. A great choice to go with my pizza. 

As the sun sets, you can experience this beautiful view finishing off your glass of wine, or just get your evening started. Either way, the Spice Route Destination is a must see & you'd definitely need some time to really enjoy every moment here. 

Check out Spice Route Destination here.

#WineRoutingWithLloyd

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Mellasat Vineyards

Mellasat Vineyards - Home of the White Pinotage. Yes, you read that correctly. A White Pinotage. The very 1st White Pinotage in the World to be more exact. 

Only established back in 1996 on the original Dekkersvlei farm near Paarl, just under the Klein Drakenstein mountains. Mellasat Vineyards enjoys a beautiful panoramic view of the Paarl & those granite domes.

One thing that I need to mention is that this is most definitely a boutique style wine estate. So they have a small range of wine. But this small range is of the highest quality. Entering the market with the more easy drinking Dekker's Valley range or for those more specific palates, the Premium Mellasat range, they have something for everyone. 

So lets go back to this famous White Pinotage. The very first vintage, was back in 2007. As they say; "The paradox of this wine is that the eye belies the other senses." And rightfully so. What looks a fresh crisp white wine, is actually a beautiful full bodied red wine. Making a white wine from red grapes, using South Africa's very own Pinotage varietal. By making use of whole bunch pressing, this prevents the juices from obtaining any colour from the skins.  Being barrel fermented & matured for 11 months, gives the White Pinotage has a subtle banana flavour coming through, but is balanced out nicely with a more creamy & nutty finish. 

Another wine that you may never have even heard of before is on offer in very limited quantities. Tempranillo is definitely a lesser known varietal, but one that should not be taken lightly. This red wine is slightly more savoury in character & can you just imagine what being matured in French Oak barrels for 18 months does to it? A fresh cigar box aroma on the nose, that is followed by dark ripe cherries & black fruits which follow through on the palate. (I'm keeping a bottle of this hidden for a few more years. I think it's going to get a whole lot better with some more age.)

Here I had a private tour of the cellar, by the winemaker herself who you can see absolutely loves what she does. 

A first for me was getting to do a tasting straight out of the barrel of a few of the wines that are currently being matured. So exciting! I mean, here I am, drinking wine, with the winemaker, straight out of the barrels in the cellar. More of an unique experience I definitely could not ask for on this trip.

What was interesting is that you could pick up on how the flavours of the wines develop over time & with the maturation. The one year was so fruity & all I could taste was a whole lot of guava, then the very next year, the fruitiness had become so subtle & the wine started smoothing out nicely. 

I think it's best you head out to #DiscoverPaarl & plan your visit to Mellasat Vineyards soon. You definitely won't be disappointed. 

Check out Mellasat Vineyards here.

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#WineRoutingWithLloyd - D'Olyfboom Family Estate

Set against the Paarl Mountain, is the d'Olyfboom Family Estate, from the Cape Country Routes Collection. It is still within the suburban borders of Paarl, meaning that it is pretty much in the city. But once you drive through that gate, it is like you are out on a farm, away from the hustle & bustle, giving it an ambiance that will have you relaxing in no time. 

With 5 individual guest suites, that are perfect for a night stay when passing through Paarl, or even for a bit of a longer 'staycation,' when exploring the area. All rooms are non-smoking & are well equipped with a TV, air-conditioning & a mini coffee station. And a lovely bath & separate shower for you to pick & choose from. By the way, it gets rather chilly in the evenings as the sun sets. But, do not fret, the bathrooms are equipped with heated towel rails to have your towels warm for that moment you step out of a hot shower or bubble bath. 

I think what made me fall in love with this gem, was the view the next morning when I woke up & decided to have coffee on the porch overlooking the town, as the sun was coming up over the Paarl Mountains & the city was waking up.

Breakfast the next morning was either a full farm house breakfast, or a delicious continental style breakfast which I opted for. Fresh fruits. Cheese & Cold Meats. A Homemade Granola with Yoghurt & Berries. All beautifully plated. From what I noticed is that d'Olyfboom is very much focussed on a holistic approach to wellbeing. And this so echoes at "The Well" - their small retail shop/restaurant. The Well is also situated where the old well on the estate used to be, hence the name. But then, I also picked up on the play on 'wellbeing', The Well...

I honestly can not stop raving about my stay here. The staff were all so friendly & welcoming. I didn't want to have to leave, but alas, all good things have come to an end. (Well, at least until my next visit!)

Check out d'Olyfboom Family Estate here.

#WineRoutingWithLloyd