Newsletter sponsored by Santam Agriculture

Newsletter: June2014

UPCOMING BREEDEKLOOF EVENTS:

18 19 July 2014

Soetes & Soup

11 October 2014

Mountain to Mountain MTB Classic, Slanghoek Cellar

25 26 October 2014

Slanghoek Triathlon, Breeland Cellar

October 2014

Alles wat Dryf

08 November 2014

Meander Trail Run, uniWines Vineyards

November 2014

Breerivier 4x4 Rally

1st Wednesday of the month

Pensioners Day, Slanghoek Cellar

Saturday, 10 May 2014

Slanghoek Cellar Blend & Bottle

Saturday, 16 August 2014

Slanghoek Cellar Blend & Bottle

Saturday, 08 November 2014

Slanghoek Cellar Blend & Bottle

Well, if anyone was wondering what happened to winter I think the weather this last week is proof that it has finally arrived! Our mountains are looking magical with the snow covered peaks and waterfalls and our rivers are overflowing their banks.

And who can believe that it is June already? Thats half of 2014 done and dusted! But before we start thinking what to put into this years Christmas stocking, lets focus on that one special man in everyones life Dad. So while everyone is curling up in front of roaring fireplaces, drinking their favourite Breedekloof Hanepoot or Muscadel, our chefs are busy preparing special lunches for Dad, our wineries are releasing new & exciting wines and we are hard at work finalising the programme for Soetes & Soup 2014.

Fathers Day: 15 June 2014

Every little girls first love and every little boys super hero my Dad remains the most important man in my life and I cant wait to spoil him on Fathers Day!

Here are a few suggestions on where you can take the special man in your life this Sunday or where to spoil him with the best Breedekloof wines:

1. Deetlefs Estate is offering 10% discount on their wines this entire week, leading up to Fathers Day

1. No.10 @ Grietjiesdrif is offering a great 3-course Fathers Day lunch for R130p.p. Bookings essential, limited space. Contact Pieter for more information or to make a reservation: 083 287 5789

Soetes & Soup: 18 19 July 2014

This years Soetes and Soup once again promises to be a fun-filled weekend, with wineries offering exotic home-made country soups, special deals on red and dessert wines and loads of entertainment. Buy your festival pass for only R70p.p. which includes your S&S mug, wine glass and coupon booklet for complimentary soup tastings at all the cellars for both Friday and Saturday. For the Soetes & Soup programme, click here.

Remember to book your accommodation early as our accommodation facilities are offering a Soetes & Soup special: stay 2 nights and the 3rd night is free. For a list of accommodation facilities, click here.

Slanghoek Cellar Wins at CAPPA Challenge 2014 Highlighting the best of the best

The third Cape Port Producers Association (CAPPA) Challenge, highlights the very best Cape Port and Portuguese varietal table wines, showcasing the enviable variety and sheer quality these wines offer the consumer. This year, the overall CAPPA Challenge Trophy went to the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2011,while the top scoring Top 10 table wine went to the Boplaas Tinta Barocca 2013.

Although the Portuguese varietal table wines, blends and Cape fortifieds represent a niche in the Capes wine landscape, it is doubtless that there is a category possessing such a grand heritage and reputation for delivering world class wines. So, for the third year the Cape Port Producers Association (CAPPA) held its annual CAPPA Challenge to identify the top Cape Ports and Top 10 Portuguese varietal & blended table wines, judged by means of a blind tasting conducted by a panel of wine experts, chaired by Dave Hughes.

The Cape Ruby category delivered its first gold in a while, with the Slanghoek Cape Ruby 2013walking away with category winner for this Breedekloof cellar, while the Northern Cape was represented by GWKs Landzicht Cape Ruby 2011 runner-up in the category.

Says Pieter le Roux Carstens, Cellar Master at Slanghoek Cellar: This award just once again confirms the uniqueness of the Slanghoek Valley, seeing as there is such a diverse range of cultivars available from which to make various styles and top quality wines. The unique combination of our climate, rainfall, slopes, height above sea-level and terroir all combine to create the ideal natural conditions for consistently producing championship wines from various styles.

Left to right: Carel Nel (Boplaas), Raymond Noppe (Judges), David van Velden (Overgaauw), Morn Frey (Delair Graff), Margaux Nel (Boplaas), Louis van der Riet (De Krans), Peter Bayly (Peter Bayly wines), Jaco Theron (Slanghoek), Mike Neebe (Axe Hill) & Ian Sieg (Landzicht GWK)

Jonk, Jonger, Jongwynskou

Suid-Afrikaanse wynmakers wat graag hul stempel wil afdruk op die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf kan naderstaan met die beste wat die 2014-wynoes bied.

Inskrywings vir die Suid Afrikaanse Jongwynskou, die oudste en een van die gewildste wynkompetisies in die land, is oop vir die keur jongwyne vanuit ons wynlande met inskrywings wat op 25 Junie by die streekswynskouverenigings sluit en 11 Julie by die SA Nasionale Wynskouvereniging (SANWSV).

Die SA Jongwyn trofe het ten doel om wyne wat in hul eerste jaar van produksie reeds uitsonderlik is, te vereer. Sodoende word erkenning aan die vaardighede van die wynmaker en wingerdboukundige n die bekwaamheid van kelder toegedig.

Trofe sal toegeken word aan 17 SA kampioene in die kategorie Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Smillon, Ander Wit Kultivar, Dro Wit Versnit, Soeterige Witwyn, Edellaatoes, Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Ander Rooi Kultivar, Dro Rooi Versnit, Port, Dessertwyn en Muskadel.

Alle o sal weereens op die gesogte Groot Kampioenwyn wees, met die mees begeerde Genl Smuts Trofee as bewys van die beste van die bestes vanuit jongwyngeledere. Die vyf hoogste puntetoekennings vir verskillende produkte vanaf een kelder kan uitsien na die gesogte Pietman Hugo Trofee.

Inskrywings word beoordeel deur paneel van sewe spesialis wynmakers en -eksperts met formele kwalifikasies en spesialis kennis van spesifieke wynstyle. Beoordeling van die 2014 jongwyne vind plaas vanaf 28 Julie - 1 Augustus in die Paarl en die wenners word op 22 Augustus by Sandringham, die tuiste van AgriExpo, aangekondig.

Kry die jongste nuus op Facebook by South African Young Wine Show of neem deel aan die gesprek op Twitter @sayoungwine #sayoungwine.

Badsberg Red Muscadel 2013 named the best in South Africa

Badsberg Cellars Red Muscadel 2013 was named best Muscadel in South Africa at the 2014 Muskadel SA Awards function. Out of 25 entries, Badsberg received top honours as the only Platinum laureate.

Badsberg Red Muscadel 2013, made from 100% Muscat dFortignan, has an attractive light ruby colour bursting with classical floral muscadel and raisin perfume which refreshes the palate with a balanced lingering aftertaste

At R55.00 a bottle it is a bargain and the perfect remedy for the cold winter nights ahead.

Interesting fact about Badsberg Red Muscadel

Quite suprisingly, Muscadel comprises a mere 60 ton of the 28000 ton grapes annually pressed by Badsberg and the entire cultivar harvest used is grown by one producer, Wysersdrif, situated approximately 5km from Badsberg en-route to Ceres. These vines of origin are 14 years old and are grown in a unique terrior of medium depth, dry, alluvial soil, on a river rock surface. Thus Badsberg Red Muscadel can be classified as a single vineyard wine with a unique terrior.

Wine Tastings

Come enjoy Badsberg Wine Cellars warm, hearty Boland hospitality. Visitors are invited to their tasting room to enjoy a wide range of award winning white, red and sparkling wines, as well as their heavenly fortified wines.

Times:

Monday to Friday: 08:00 17:00Saturday: 10:00 13:00Closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Visit www.badsberg.co.za for more information on the Badsberg Red Muscadel 2013, other Badsberg wines as well as retail outlets stocking their products. Orders can be placed online or telephonically with Badsberg Wine Cellar.

For more information, contact Marli Geldenhuys at 023344 3021 or enquiries@badsberg.co.za

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Badsberg-Wine-Cellar/107611734549Twitter: @Badsberg

Attitude About Wine @ Kirabo

Taste 7wines with lots of attitude and information during a fun and informal information evening hosted by Karen from Kirabo. Learn about:

- Whats happening in the vineyard and cellar? - White or Red? Sweet or Sour! Dry, please!- Drink or spit?- To eat or not to eat pairing wine with tastes

Book now to avoid disappointment. Only R150p.p. Contact 023 349 6764

Is dit weer El Nino-tyd?

Johan van den BergSantam LandbouMei 2014

Daar is reeds vir n paar maande sterk aanduidings dat El Nino-toestande besig is om te ontwikkel met see-oppervlaktemperature in die Stille Oseaan wat besig is om te verwarm. Voorspellings in Mei vanjaar dui op n byna 80% waarskynlikheid vir die ontwikkeling van El Nino-toestande vir die 2014/15-somerseisoen. Die aanduidings is dat see-oppervlaktemperature as El Nino geklassifiseer kan word van reeds so vroeg as Junie/Julie 2014.

Met die droogtetoestande van 2012 en 2013 in groot gedeeltes van die land nog vars in die geheue, word die vraag nou gevra of ons nie reeds vroerEl Nino-toestande ondervind het nie. Is El Nino nie altyd verantwoordelik vir droogte of droogte altyd as gevolg van El Nino nie?

Nee, dit is beslis nie waar nie. Die laaste El Nino-verskynsel was gedurende 2009/10. Daar is baie ander faktore wat droogte kan veroorsaak waarvan die bekendste (en wat ook waarskynlik verantwoordelik was vir die 2012/13 droogte) die voorkoms van tropiese siklone in die Indiese Oseaan wat versteurings in die normale renvalpatrone veroorsaak.

Wat is die moontlike uitwerking van die 2014/15 El Nino op klimaatstoestande? Wat renvaltoestande betref, is daar tydens El Nino-toestande n effens beter kans vir winter- en lenteren oor die Noord-, Oos-, Suid- en Wes-Kaap asook oor die suidelike dele van die Vrystaat. Die rede hiervoor is dat koue fronte gewoonlik meer gereeld voorkom asook verder noord as normaal gedurende El Nino-toestande. Daar was egter ook reeds El Nino-seisoene waar renvaltoestande swak was gedurende die winter en lente. Ons moet dus nie staatmaak op goeie ren vir hierdie periode nie. Soos reeds genoem, bly die voorspelbaarheid van seisoensrenval baie swak. Daar is egter ander gebeure en tekens wat kan help om dalk meer akkurate en vroegtydige aanduidings te kan kry van verwagte toestande. El Nino het gewoonlik n baie sterk negatiewe effek op renval van Julie tot Oktober oor veral die oostelike en suid-oostelike dele van Australi, die suidelike dele van Amerika en Mexiko,asook gedeeltes van China en Rusland. Daarenteen word El Nino geassosieer met bogemiddelde ren en selfs vloede oor die sentrale gedeeltes van Noord-Amerika, groot gedeeltes van Europa en Suidoos-Afrika. Dit sal dus interessant wees om die verloop van klimaatstoestande in die volgende maande oor hierdie gebiede te volg en dus te gebruik om moontlike gevolge ook in Suid-Afrika te kan voorspel, veral vir die 2014/15-somerproduksie seisoen.

n Bydraende faktor wat veral somergraanproduksie betref, is die relatief lae vlakke van oorgedraagde grondwater. Hoewel baie ren oor groot gedeeltes van die land voorgekom het gedurende veral Februarie vanjaar, was die grond op daardie tydstip so droog dat dit wel die somergraanoes kon red,maar daar was min grondwater wat oorgebly het. Die gebrek aan verdere ren het ook bygedra dat grondwatertoestande oor veral die Vrystaat en Noordwes Provinsies redelik swak is. Dit kan die risiko vir swak produksietoestande verhoog en die effek van n El Nino verder beklemtoon.

Ren wat rondom die middel van Mei 2014 voorgekom het oor veral die suidelike helfte van die land en veral die Karoo, kan egter baie help om veral Karoobossieweiding te verbeter.

Baie beplanning is dus nodig om produksie oor die langer termyn volhoubaar te maak. Risiko kan wel bestuur kan word, maar dit is n gentegreerde proses waar van verskillende hulpbronne en metodes gebruik gemaak moet word. Langtermynbeplanning is egter die sleutel tot risikobestuur.

So once again, you need no further excuse to head out to the Breedekloof. Come spoil Dad or join us at one of our upcoming events. We look forward to welcoming you to the Breedekloof once again!

Melody BothaBreedekloof Wine and Tourism

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