SUMMER Elegance... What a fruity affair!

Days of wine and roses laugh and run away, Like a child at play. Johnny Mercer (1909-1976)
Days of Wine and Roses






Natalie Nel, Mariska Janse van Rensburg, Lucille Jacobs and Leslie Maliepaard

Thursday 29 January 10 lovely ladies (Natalie Nel from Avontuur, Mariska du Preez from Van Pepper Wines, Robyn Daneel from Sure Stellenbosch Travel, Charlotte Spicer from Asara, Mari Hanekom and Celeste van der Merwe from Villiera, Charlotte Terblanche from Lovane, Leslie Maliepaard from WineWeb, Lucille Jacobs from LUSAN, and Mariska Janse van Rensburg from Pink Salt Catering) went to Avontuur Wine Estate to attend the firt-ever Women of Wines event. And what an event it was! Natalie Nel, winemaker at Avontuur welcomed us with a Vintners Blend cocktail.

Natalie Nel, Avontuur's winemaker

We tasted 5 wines.
Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Lovely tropical aromas with hints of guava and asparagus. Quite a pungent nose. Natalie recommends serving this wine with salads and pasta.
Vintners Blend (88% Chardonnay, 12% Pinot Noir)

This wine has been a favourite of mine for a long time! Perfect for hot summer nights and serving with spicy food - Natalie recommends Tika Chicken. The butteriness of the Chardonnay and the hints of strawberries make this a great wine for girly evenings! Charlotte Spicer, Robyn Daneel and Mariska Janse van Rensburg

Vintners Red 2005 (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cab Franc)
A delicious easy-drinking red wine, matured for 6 months in French oak. Perfect with Italian food!
Shiraz 2005
The favourite of the evening! This wine has spicy, earthy aromas and is so drinkable, we finished a bottle of two with our cheese platters! (Note: Try this with Avontuur's ostrich medallions - a realy gastronomic treat!)
Baccarat 2005
A Bordeaux blend from Avontuur's premier range. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. An absolute treat of a wine! Hints of ripe plums, blackberries, fynbos and tobacca and my favourite aroma - chocolate! ;) Best served with a robust read meat dish.After the tasting we had some gorgeous cheese platters and more of the delicious Shiraz. A great time was had by all and we are all looking forward to the next Women of Wines evening on 26 February at Beyerskloof.

Charlotte Terblanche and Mariska du Preez

Lucille Jacobs (front), Celeste van der Merwe, Mari Hanekom, Charlotte Spicer and Robyn Daneel

Women of Wines: January 2009 {SUMMER ELEGANCE... A fruity affair}

Woon ons eerste Women of Wines byeenkoms by op Donderdag 29 Januarie 2009 om 17h30 saam met Avontuur se wynmaker, Natalie Nel.

Die aand gaan hope pret wees met die tema:
"SUMMER ELEGANCE... A fruity affair..."
Koste is R75 wat proe, eetgoed, 'n geskenkie en hope wyn insluit!

Laat weet teen 19 Januarie 2009 of jy dit wil bywoon.
Vir meer inligting, kontak Mariska: mariska@vanpepper.com

Women of Wines Schedule for 2009

Thursday 29 January: Avontuur with Natalie Nel. Theme: SUMMER ELEGANCE (A fruity affair...)
Thursday 26 February: Beyerskloof with Corné Truter. Theme: {With a little bit of Passion}
Thursday 26 March: Villiera with Celesté van der Merwe {French Flair}
Thursday 30 April: Asara with Charlotte Spicer
Thursday 28 May: Molenvliet with Mariska du Preez, Mariska Janse van Rensburg and Ockie Oosthuizen
Thursday 25 June: Lovane with Charlotte Terblanche
Thursday 30 July: Stellenzicht with Lucille Jacobs and Guy Webber
Thursday 27 August: Lourensford with Janine de Roubaix and Wim Braak
Thursday 24 September: Mulderbosch with Erina Cillié
Thursday 29 October: Diemersdal with Inge Heuer
Thursday 26 November : Jordan with Rachel Erasmus
December: Krone (Twee Jongegezellen) - date to be announced