WINE & CATERING – HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION – SAFARI’S & PERSONAL CHEF

TEL. NO. +27 21 4395412 MOBILE +27 721820439  

G'Day All

For all of you who are unhappy with your cellular network providers ...

Johannesburg: South African cellphone users will be able to switch service providers without having to change their numbers from next week. November 10 deadline The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), MTN, Vodacom and Cell C gave this commitment yesterday.

Cape Town Elgin Flower Weekend 11-12 November, Elgin

I will be organising a tour/trip to Elgin. Anyone interested in joining me?

I plan to visit the Wildekrans Country House, which has an expansive and beautiful garden, opposite Houw Hoek Farm Stall. Sit under ancient oak trees, take in the contemporary art, sip some wine and munch on some home-made bread and cheese.

Every year, the apple capital of South Africa puts on a spring display of flowers, food and wine. Well known for its eight-million apple trees, export-quality fruit and fast becoming one of the premier wine-growing areas in the country, it's only a 40-minute drive down the N2 from Cape Town and makes a great weekend break for Mother City dwellers.

I may have to hire a large vehicle from AVIS depending on the number of people interested. This will also determine the cost per person. So, please let me know by Monday, 6 Nov 2006.

HALLOWEEN

Nothing says Halloween like a macabre desktop full of ghastly trappings. As Halloween approaches, this assortment of themes, screensavers, and party planners is just the thing to make your computer go bump in the night. For all those who dare, devilish downloads await you. Download at your own risk...mwahahaha. http://ct.download.com/clicks?t=16239503-6006cd4d627e8604e60f8304238c5585-bf&s=5&fs=0

GARAGE SALE - ALL R25

I don't know about you but I cannot resist a bargain. I was at a wine farm last Saturday and was offered a palette load of wine (a mixed bag) at a very good price - only if I bought the entire palette. Of course, I wrote out a cheque immediately.

Hmmm, then pondered as to how I would transport this palette, without making numerous trips. THANK YOU RAEL and his microbus. The exciting part was unpacking the palette as I had no idea what I'd bought. Well! I got even more excited when I realised that most of the wines have a 3.5 star rating AND (the best is still to come) the one particular wine which I have loads of has a 4 star rating.

For orders of 10 X 6 or more the price is R20 per bottle OR if you're willing to collect from my garage, the same price applies.

OUT OF AFRICA SAUVIGNON BLANC - 42 bottles

It has a 3 star John Platter rating. It is a very light Sauvignon Blanc, perfect for hot summer days. Water-white in colour; quite forth coming peardrop & mazi panaromas, flinty grape fruit palate. I am holding this stock for a customer until tommorow. Will then let you know what I have left, if any.

BREDASDORP RUBY CABERNET - 30 bottles

Great value for money and a recommended buy. John Platter gives it a thumbs up and 3 stars. It's a good ambassador for this friendly grape; lightish; typical damp thatch, savoury whiffs; softly gripping tannins. I think you'd enjoy this one.

THE BIG 5 COLLECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON - SOLD OUT

John Platter gave this one a whopping 4 stars in 2003. It's a discontinued range so there is no later ratings and I have not tasted it but I'm sure it's still good. Quote from John Platter 2003 Guide: "Sophisticated, silky wine with good balance, showing refinement of Dbnville fruit. 02 'claret' nose of lead pencils, fennel, some savoury whiffs; elegant, dry, minerally finish. Less flamboyant than 2000 , more enjoyable now. 99 fleshy and fine-tannined.

TRIBAL AFRICAN RED - 78 bottles

3 star John Platter rating and he also gives this one a big thumbs up and refers to it as an icon quaffer. Understated plum jam aromas; livelier mulberry flavour, low tannins for easy/early drinking.

THE BIG 5 COLLECTION CABERNET SHIRAZ

As mentioned above, this label is a discontinued range. I couldn't find any info. on the Shiraz and have not had a chance to taste it but I'm sure it's good, as all the wines listed here are from the same winery and I haven't come across a bad one yet.

OUT OF AFRICA ORGANIC MERLOT/CABERNET SAUVIGNON - SOLD OUT

Another 3 star rating. characterised by sweet berries & spice, rotundness for early drinking. Medium body; savoury dark-choc flavours.

WOODLANDS PINOTAGE RESERVE - 18 bottles

I know absolutely nothing about this wine, but as mentioned before I haven't come across any bad wine from this winery ... yet.

DIEMERSDAL PINOTAGE - only 6 bottles left

John Platter 3.5 star rating. Round, early approachable yet seriously structured. Fruity, supple & plummy with shy mulberry whiffs, moderately refined, elegant. I had a bottle of this on Signal Hill last night and it was magnificent.

OUT OF AFRICA WINEMAKERS COLLECTION DRY RED - only 12 bottles

I couldn't find any ratings for this wine but can personally vouch for it. I took a case of this and a case of Diemersdal Cabernet to my Dad, in Natal and he preferred the this blend to the Diemersdal Cab.

WINDS OF CHANGE PINOTAGE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON - only 12 bottles

3 star John Platter rating. A typical Pinotage smoky mulberry fruit to fore. 70/30 blend Pino/Cab; soft, silky & lightly spicy.

TRIBAL WINEMAKERS COLLECTION SHIRAZ - 42 bottles

I know absolutely nothing about this wine, but as mentioned before I haven't come across any bad wine from this winery ... yet.

OUT OF AFRICA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 24 bottles

3.5 star John Platter rating. Characterised by sweet berries & spice, rotundness for early drinking. It has braaivleis whiffs over black currant, quite dry fennel flavours.

OUT OF AFRICA DRY RED - 66 bottles

I have no info. on this wine and have not tasted yet (I only collected these wines on Tuesday and spent the whole of Wednesday sorting through them, as I bought a mixed palette). All the Out of Africa wines are 3 & 4 star rated, so I would imagine that this one would be good.

OUT OF AFRICA CHARDONNAY - 18 bottles

3.5 star John Platter rating. 30 % Oaked imparted spice to clean white-peach fruit. Creamy melon aromas, hint peach; flavourful citrus cr?me br?l?e on finish.

OUT OF AFRICA PINOTAGE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 36 bottles

No info. on this one but both the OOA Cabernet and OOA Pinotage have 3.5 star ratings (John Platter).

MIXED ROSE - I have various Rose's - 36 bottles @ R15

OUT OF AFRICA PINOTAGE - 54 bottles 3

.5 star John Platter rating. A fairly lively palate with slight creamy hint, with bright mulberry nose; soft, sweetish entry; ripe but not over the top; soft, easy-drinking.

OUT OF AFRICA SHIRAZ - 162 bottles

This is a great buy! John platter prints his description of this wine in red type and gives it a wowee 4 star rating. Super charged fruit & aromas and punchy. Plummy, plump, juicy, silky. 14.6% alc. These wines are packed in cases of 6, so that is the minimum order, please - I do not want to split cases.

AFRICAN SAFARI'S

Should you be interested in any type of African Safari, please e-mail me vino-tech@telkomsa.net

For Safaris & Overland Adventures from 3 to 56 days; in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda & Kenya. I also have beautifully illustrated and detailed brochures which I'll gladly drop off for you.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

2 Double bedrooms, fully furnished equipped, self-catering apartments in an Art Deco block.

Situated below Signal Hill in a quiet cul-de-sac. The apartments are 15 minutes walk from the V & A Waterfront, 5 minutes to the beaches, 2 minutes to Sea Point and close to many popular bars, restaurants, clubs, deli's, coffee shops and public transport.

Rates are from R500 per day depending on the number of people and length of stay.

PLEASE E-MAIL ALL ORDERS TO vino-tech@telkomsa.net

Remember, if you can’t find something, we’ll find it for you! Whether it be wine, food, accommodation or safaris & event/functions

Janine Smith

VINO-TECH (Proprietor)

N.Dip (Mkt), CNE, MCP, NSW