With the Festive Season almost upon us, our ‘Vintage’ Wine and Dine series draws to a close with one of South Africa’s most cherished wine farms, Rustenberg. With a menu leaning towards traditional and wines dating back to 1999, this evening in Cape Grace’s Signal restaurant is an early gift you definitely want to share.
The Barlow family has been at Rustenberg for over 70 years. The 3rd generation farmer/winemaker, Murray Barlow, has returned from completing his Masters in Oenology in Australia and has brought with him a renewed passion and modern outlook to the winemaking and marketing on the property. Join him on Thursday 29 November for Signal’s very last ‘Vintage’ Wine and Dine event in 2012.
Q – WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE 2012 HARVEST AT RUSTENBERG?
A – 2012 was nice and cool for us. The whites are fantastic; great fruit, minerality and super natural acids. The early ripening reds are also amazing; some very lush Merlots, while the later ripening reds have slightly sterner structures and tannins and will go the distance but not for early consumption.
Q – WHAT’S THE BEST WINE YOU’VE HAD TO DATE (other than your own)?
A – I have had a number of fantastic Bordeaux’s. I have been fortunate enough to benefit from my father and grandfather’s foresight in laying great bottles down from the 1960′s, 70′s and 80′s.
Q – WHAT ‘CHEAP & CHEERFUL’ WINE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR EVERY DAY?
A – Rustenberg Ida’s White and Ida’s Red launched this year, great quaffers at around R50 a bottle.
Q – CORK OR SCREW CAP?
A – The screw cap is a perfect seal. The 5% failure rate of cork wouldn’t be acceptable with any other food stuff in the 21st century, why should it be the case with wine?
Q – WHAT WOULD YOU ORDER AS YOUR LAST MEAL?
A – Mum’s salmon pasta.
Q – WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SHARE A BOTTLE OF WINE WITH AND WHY?
A – I find it refreshing to enjoy wine in the company of people who love to drink good wine. I have a number of friends I made in Australia who are fantastic wine drinking buddies.
Q – TELL US ONE FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF THAT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS
A – I keep bees
Q – PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM?
A – The journey of life is the destination.
With Murray Barlow at the helm of our ‘family’ table, this year end event in Signal is going to be a corker, so book now to secure your place. Call Chantelle on 021 410 7097 or email. To read all our previous winemaker Q&A’s take a look here.
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