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Experience the magic of bubbles
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November 26, 2009
By David Biggs
With the festive season almost upon us, many wine lovers are looking seriously at sparkling wines, and our Cap Classique bubblies in particular.
(I may add here that sensible wine lovers don't wait for a festive excuse to enjoys some bubbles. They are perfect all year round, but let that be.)
One of the merriest of the Cape's wine events is the annual Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival, which takes place in the town on December 4, 5 and 6.
All the Cape's serious sparkling wine producers have their products on display, and most of the champagne importers offer theirs for tasting, too.
Last year's list included revered labels like Ayala, Billecart Salmon, Claude Beaufort, Gosset, Joseph Perrier, Laurent Perrier, Pol Roger, Thierry Lesne and Tribaut.
Local MCC bubblies included Bon Courage, Boschendal, Chamonix, Graham Beck, Krone, Pierre Jourdan, Simonsig and Villiera.
It's no wonder the festival is known as "The Magic of Bubbles".
The event takes place in a huge marquee on the lawns surrounding the town's Huguenot Monument and the stalls include those offering food from some of the Cape's best-known chefs. Franschhoek claims the title of Gourmet Capital of South Africa and this is an occasion where foodies pull out all stops to prove that claim.
My advice would be to spend at least a day and a night at the festival and book into one of the many bed-and-breakfast establishments in and around the town.
The entrance fee of R' entitles you to entrance to the festival, a tasting glass and a book of tasting coupons. Additional coupons can be bought at the site.
Several music groups will perform at the festival, which is open from 6pm to 10pm on Friday and noon to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
It's essential to book in advance, as admission closes once the marquee is full. You can buy tickets online from www.webtickets.co.za
The blending of red and white grape varieties is not new. Champagne has traditionally been made from a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay and this tradition is followed by most of the Cape's Cap Classique producers.
It is quite unusual, though, for a wine maker to produce a white table wine from a red and white grape blend. This is what Simonsig's cellar master Johan Malan has done to create the Simonsig Chenin Blanc Pinotage 2009, which was made specially for Woolworths.
This wine combines the crisp, green apple acidity of the chenin blanc with a rich plummy undertone added by the pinotage.
It's a very versatile food wine that goes well with a whole range of dishes, from pasta to chicken and even sushi. It's perfect for al fresco lunches.
It sells for about R45 a bottle and is great for drinking now.
I'd like to lay down a couple of bottles of this wine for three or four years, though. Both chenin blanc and pinotage are capable of elegant maturation. Indeed, members of the Chenin Blanc Association repeatedly claim that we South Africans drink ours far too young.
This is probably wishful thinking. I have a suspicion that any bottles I buy are unlikely to survive the Christmas onslaught. My friends all know where I keep the good ones.
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