The Standard 22 June 2014

14 THE STANDARD STYLE / FOOD & DRINK / WINE
June 22 to 28 2014
Historic
Raise a glass…
Solms-Delta
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Dusty Miller
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HILKO Hegewisch, a typical
South African name, first
brought Solms-Delta Wines
to Zimbabwe at a memorably
good tasting at blue@2 Private
Wine Bar in Aberdeen Road,
Avondale, some years ago when
he was still chief winemakercum-consultant
there.
I see in my latest Platter’s that
he’s now been replaced by Hagen
Viljoen and Joan Heatlie, with
Mignon du Plessis as general
manager.
Solms-Delta wine estate, 15 km
outside Franschhoek in the Western
Cape Winelands, was named
Top Wine Tourism Destination
in the region’s inaugural District
Municipality Mayoral Tourism
Awards. The wine estate is widely
known for its innovative, prizewinning
wines, modern Cape
cuisine in the beautiful Fyndraai
Restaurant, its picnics, wine
tours and tastings, an annual harvest
festival, a superbly curated
slave-heritage museum, and yearround
entertainment.
I visited this incredible, picturesque
and historic (established
1690) wine estate, representing
Zimbabwe on a week-long familiarisation
tour of South Africa
for journalists from across the
globe organised by Brands South
Africa and was gob-smacked that
it was a modern co-operative that
really seemed to work.
Set in rolling granite hills near
Franschhoek it is jointly owned
by the family trusts of the local
Solms family of German descent
(they arrived in 1838) and the Anglo-American
Astors…yes THE
Astors, of Waldorf-Astoria and
much more fame and the Wijn de
Caab Workers’ Trust.
Among the several hugely interesting
and distinctively different
labels produced on the stunning
estate is Koloni, a blend of Rhine
Riesling, Muscat de Frontignan
and Muscadel d’Alexandrie
grapes which are desiccated on
the vine by strangulation!
Desiccated grapes are pressed
as whole bunches, the wine is fer-
1. Beautiful countryside around Franschhoek, typical if that of the
Western Cape
2. Some of the Solms-Delta products on show in one of the tasting rooms
3. Signage at the entrance to the spectacular Solms-Delta wine farm,
near Franschhoek in the Western Cape Winelands
4. Al fresco lunch on the stoep of the historic farmhouse
5. The famous Solms-delta choir entertaining visitors
6. Dusty Miller at Solms-Delta
mented after settling and matured
for six months in new French oak.
It produces a very different Riesling-style
wine with a surprisingly
dry finish, intense aromas, judicious
oak and a rich mouth-feel.
Solms-Delta is very aware of the
heritage of the locality where people
lived 7 000 years ago and Koloni
is an old isiXhosa word for the
Cape, reflecting its history of colonisation
mainly by settlers from
Europe. The Solms family arrived
there in 1838 and Hilo Hegewish’s
ancestors in 1904 from the wellestablished
wine-making regions
of Germany.
The name Cape Jazz Shiraz reflects
Richard Astor’s love of music
and his dislike of bull dust.
(He’s the father of the lucky bloke
walking out with Pippa Middleton.)
It is a petillant (slightly sparkling)
red wine which gives a superior
thrust to celebrations and
one of the nicest, most drinkable
wines I have discovered in the
past few years. I last glugged it
at Thorn Tree Lodge, Glen Lorne
at a pre-St Valentine’s chefs table
and was chuffed to reveal I’d previously
sipped flutes of the stuff
at a grand gourmet seafood lunch
just a few metres from where the
grapes were grown.
It was named Best Sparkling
wines from
Franschhoek
June 22 (today)
Birdlife Gosho Park, Marondera, outing meet 7am, Mukuvisi Woodlands office
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
Wine of the Year at the Wine
and Spirits Wholesalers of
America show in Los Angeles
and is bottled just after harvest
and in good time for Solms-
Delta’s hugely popular harvest
festivals. According to importer
Tarryn Crundall it should retail
in Zimbabwe at about US$8,50 a
bottle, say US$12 to US$25 in a
restaurant.
Lekkerwijn is a serious and
consistently excellent rose
wine from free-run mourvedre,
viogner and Grenache grapes:
dry, full bodied and extremely
complex.
Lekkerwijn is from the name
of a farm adjoining Delta and
now mainly incorporated by
Solms-Delta, the first owner
was the Huguenot Henri
L’Ecrevent, who was granted
it in 1690. Locals could not pronounce
his French name so got
round it by dubbing him “Lekkerwijn”
(nice wine.) He was
murdered nine years later by
Hans Silberbach, first owner of
Delta, who took flight and was
never seen again!
We’ll take another glimpse at
the fabulous Solms-Delta range
of wines in future editions of
Standard Style!
Tarryn Crundall import
Solms-Delta Wines into Zimbabwe,
contact her on 0772448758.
dustym@zimind.co.zw;
dustymiller46@gmail.com
Dusty’s “What’s on Diary”
Contributions are welcome, to arrive in good time, bearing in mind
events in which readers of this page are interested.
SMS 0733 401 347 or 0776 903 161; (e-mail dustym @zimind.co.zw)
CUT OUT, KEEP, WATCH FOR NEXT UPDATE
Xerophytica International Congress, Wild Geese Lodge www.aloesocietyzim.com
Borrowdale Craft Fair (note change of date)
Fun pub quiz, REPS Bar 11:15am sharp. Quizmaster Stan Higgins.
Lunch: Alo, Alo, Arundel; Theo’s, 167, Enterprise Road; Adrienne’s, Belgravia; Da
Eros, Fishmonger and Great Wall, East Road; Sitar, Newlands; Palms, Bronte Hotel;
Willow Bean Cafe, Rolf Valley, English roast/pudding US$15. (BYOB, no corkage.)
Paula’s Place; Wild Geese, Teviotdale buffet/live music; City Bowling Club, Harare
Gardens (roast lamb, mint sauce); Italian Club, Strathaven, Mukuvisi Woodlands
Coffee Shop; Centurion Pub & Grill, Harare Sports Club, Arti’s, New Section,
Borrowdale Village; Hellenics, Eastlea
Keep fit, Zumba Dancing, City Bowling Club, Harare Gardens. And every working
night except Fridays. 5:30pm-6:30pm.
7pm Line dancing City Bowling Club
Farmers’ market, Maasdorp Avenue, Belgravia (next to Bottom Drawer)
(and every Thursday) Tapas night and music by Evicted,
Amanzi Restaurant, Chisipite
(and every other Thursday) fun pub quiz at blue@2 Private Wine Bar, 2,
Aberdeen Rd, Avondale. Booking essential, Tel 0772 856 371
June 27 Greendale Good Food & Wine Appreciation Society monthly lunch Alo, Alo,
Arundel Village. Twelve-thirsty for 1pm!
Fun pub quiz Borrowdale Country Club 6:30, quizmaster Ron Charles
June 28-29. Polo tournament Thornpark, Mazowe Rd.
June 29 Econet Vic Falls marathon 6:30am. Contact Martin Webster martinw@cmb.co.zw
July 1 (and every other Tuesday) Fun pub quiz, Theo’s, 167, Enterprise Rd 6:30 for 7
July 4 Christmas in July dinner, Borrowdale Country Club.
July 5 Wedding Wow! 39, Argyle Rd, Avondale.
Car boot sale, Borrowdale Country Club
July 11 Gary Stanley entertains Borrowdale Country Club
(Neither StandardPlus nor Dusty Miller take responsibility for inaccuracies,
postponements, cancellations. No charge for entry.
Deadline 10am Tues prior to publication day.)