DAY three of my trip to Stellenbosch last month was packed with food and wine from morning till evening. It was the marathon I’ve been training for my whole life, and it began bright and early (10am) with the new pizza and wine pairing at Blaauwklippen.
The new-look Tasting House has streamlined its offerings; the smaller portions for pairings can also be ordered full-size, which no doubt makes life in the kitchen much easier. The 1682 pairing combines Malbec with a bobotie spring roll, Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled fillet, De Blaauwe Klip Bordeaux-style blend with oxtail ravioli, and 10YO potstill brandy with a mini malva pudding.
For vegetarians, there is beetroot carpaccio with Cap Classique Brut, grilled haloumi with Sauvignon Blanc, and a mushroom risotto ball with Cab Franc Reserve. The meze pairing comprises Chenin Blanc with marinated feta and olives, lemon pita and tzatziki with Sauvignon Blanc, and a chicken souvlaki skewer with rosé.
Our pizza pairing began with the Athena – feta, rosemary, onion and garlic – with Chenin Blanc, followed by Formaggi – Brie, Gorgonzola, mozzarella and Parmesan – with Shiraz. The Marinara is topped with prawns, calamari, garlic and a hint of chilli, and paired with Zinfandel. On the far right was Quattro Stagioni, the classic four seasons, represented here with ham, artichoke, olives and mushrooms. It is paired with Cabernet Sauvignon. This, and I imagine the others too, was a substantial pairing and a leisurely way to get the day going. If there wasn’t still a busy schedule ahead of us, I’m pretty sure we could have been convinced to order one or more of the other pairings. Or even a full-size pizza…I loved the simplicity of the Athena, and with a bottle of Chenin in the sunshine, it would make for a magnificent Saturday.
From the press release: “Moving away from the traditional concept of a tasting room, which is generally a single venue, the Tasting House takes on the approach of many rooms. Seasonal wine pairings are perfectly harmonised by Blaauwklippen’s winemaker Narina Cloete together with the new chefs from Cucina di Giovanni. Moving away from a traditional pairing, visitors can look forward to ‘leisurely, mostly savoury’ pairings. For those looking for a sweeter pairing, the red wine and fudge, or wine and chocolate pairings might be of interest. In addition, the ‘house’ offers small plate meals, which allows for a truly leisurely experience.
“Adding another dimension to your visit is the Blaauwklippen art gallery, in collaboration with curator Ilse Schermers- Griesel of IS Art (pictured above). With more than 30 years of involvement in the art community, both locally and internationally, illustrious curator, art historian, and proprietor, Ilse, her discerning eye and unparalleled expertise are reflected in the carefully curated exhibitions that grace the walls of the gallery. Ilse’s success is not limited to the walls of the galleries she consults for her own gallery. Her passion for art has extended to several publications on South African artists, cementing her reputation as an authority in the field.”
The Tasting House is open daily from 10am to 6pm. For more information email [email protected] or call 021 880 0133.
