THE marathon of drinking wine and eating on day three in Stellenbosch continued with a visit to L’Avenir. We were to have the carpaccio pairing but our good friend Ryan Bredenkamp – one of the jolliest, most fun people I’ve had the pleasure of wine tasting with over the years – decided that was quite simply not enough, and we had to have the canapés as well.
That, along with an extended and unofficial off-the-record sampling of several other wines in the company’s portfolio, of which I can say no more.
Owned by the French leader of terroir wines, AdVini, L’Avenir has always produced authentic South African wines, with a touch of French flair, and specialises in Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. The Single Block Glenrosé is a highlight for me, and its bottle is a thing of beauty. It’s paired with smoked salmon canapé with the lightest zest of lemon, and combinations don’t get much better than that. Also from the Single Block range, Chenin Blanc is paired with chevin and green fig; Pinotage with ostrich carpaccio and red onion marmalade.
This is not the same as the smoked ostrich carpaccio paired with Provenance Pinotage in the three-part carpaccio pairing. Also in front of you are smoked kudu carpaccio with Stellenbosch Classic – a medium-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc; and Provenance Chenin Blanc with smoked crocodile.
A variety of tastings and pairings – and indeed eating of platters and/or toasties – take place in the Cellar Door tasting room, a rustic and comfortable space which draws on the French influences. In fine weather, there is a literal rolling lawn, tables under umbrellas, and boules – one of the most civilised games I know, which can be played with a glass of wine in hand.
There’s accommodation on the farm, and I’ve stayed over a couple of times. “L’Avenir Country Lodge is an intimate, 4-star lodge located on a working wine estate, just minutes from the historical town of Stellenbosch. Features include a rim-flow pool overlooking the lakes, home-cooked breakfast on the deck, complimentary wine tasting, mountain biking and trail running trails through the vineyards and a cosy fireplace ideal for sipping Pinotage on winter afternoons.” No prizes for guessing which of those activities I favour.
There are conference and wedding facilities, and you can read more about the Hands-on Garden and L’Avenir’s involvement with the Pebbles Project on the website. If you are rich, you can fly in by helicopter.
