Archive for September, 2010

Heritage Day is celebration of the diversity and uniqueness of South Africa and all our people and traditions. 

The government has described Heritage Day as an opportunity to celebrate “aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the land in which we live”. 

Braai is such big part of our traditions and culture and that’s why this coincides with the National Braai Day. 

What would be the ultimate South African braai , which celebrates our uniqueness? 

I think a braaied Ostrich Kebab   , with roosterbrood and koeksister for dessert will probably be as uniquely South African as you can get. This meal, served with the iconic and uniquely South African wine Kumkani will be the ultimate heritage braai meal. 

The Kumkani Pinotage will complement the Ostrich Kebab and will also contribute to give this heritage braai an even more South African flavour. 

Recipe: Ostrich Kebabs 

Ingredients: 

• 500 g Ostrich Fillet/Steak, cubed 300 g small brown mushrooms
• pieces of green and red peppers
• 150 ml coconut milk
• 50 ml beef stock
• 30 ml chopped fresh coriander
• 30 ml brown sugar
• 20 ml red curry paste (Thai)
• 50 ml fish sauce (Thai)
• 20 ml oil
• 5 ml lightly crushed coriander seeds
• Skewers

Method: Place the cubed ostrich meat, wiped mushrooms and chopped peppers in a marinade dish. Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over the meat. Marinate for 2 – 3 hours. 

Now thread meat, mushrooms and peppers alternately onto skewers. Grill over glowing coals for ± 5 minutes – the meat should be medium rare. 

Source: ostrichsa.co.za

The coveted Kumkani Infiniti 2004 won the best vintage prize at this year’s Wine Magazine and Amorim Cap Classique Challenge.

The Amorim Cap Classique Challenge is one of the main competitions for premium South African sparkling wines. Methode Cap Classique is sparkling wine made in the traditional bottle-fermented champagne style, but because the of restrictions enforced by the Champagne wine region in France, had to be given an alternative name.

The competition, now in its ninth year, was judged blind (labels out of sight) by a panel of five, including two international judges, namely Hervé Dantan, chef de cave of Champagne Mailly Grand Cru and Nicolas Follet of Oenosense Consulting based in Riems, France.

This wine is made from Chardonnay,  Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes and was also on the Wine magazine Top10 MCC list, cementing its status as one of South Africa’s top MCC wines.

Tasting notes:

Good frothy mousse pale straw colour with fine lazy bead. Toasty yeasty nose with hints of nuts. It has a creamy entrance with a rich complex palate of nuts warm toast and medium spicy, fruity candy flavours with a complex, persistent finish.

Source: wine.co.za

South African born Lynne Sherriff is the new chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine. 

This Institute is seen as one of the leading and most influential bodies in the international wine world and it is a great achievement to have a South African leading the leaders.

The Institute has granted just 280 Masters of Wine to its students across 23 countries since the inaugural examinations were held in 1953. The title, which is the highest professional accreditation conferred in the wine industry, is granted after a rigorous series of practical and theoretical examinations conducted over two years and designed to test the knowledge and ability of candidates in the art, science and business of wine.

Such is the status of the qualification that those seeking to enrol first have to submit extensive proof of their eligibility before being interviewed and considered for candidacy. In addition to submitting essays and proof of tasting acumen, applicants have to hold some form of internationally recognised qualification in wine.

Sherriff, who holds the South African Cape Wine Masters (CWM) qualification, and is a former director of the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Academy, was one of the first two South Africans to earn her MW, in 1993.

Fluent in English, French, Dutch, German and working on her Japanese, she has consulted to some of the world’s leading producers and marketers of wine across Europe, as well as in North America, Chile and Japan, advising major multi-nationals and generic marketing organisations.

Although living in the UK for almost 20 years, she remains closely involved with the South African wine industry. She launched and developed Arniston Bay, one of the country’s top-selling brands in Britain. She returns home regularly, serving on the Veritas judging panel for the annual SA National Wine Awards and consults to local producers.

“That someone from our country now occupies one of the most prestigious and influential positions in the international world of wine, is a great honour for South Africa,” says Wines of South Africa (WOSA) CEO Su Birch.

Iconic South African wine Kumkani salutes this exceptional South African with her great achievement.

Source: supermarket.co.za

 South Africa is a relatively new player in the international wine markets but some wine analysts suggest that this ‘late entry’ is a distinct advantage in comparison with other New World wines.

In a recent article about the current dynamics of the US wine market , wine consumer purchase perceptions with regards to cultivars and country of origin are investigated and it draws some interesting conclusions.

The article suggests that Argentina, Australia and New Zealand become successful and large wine exporters because of one single grape (cultivar).

These single grapes by the different countries include Malbec from Argentina , Shiraz from and  Australia and Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. This created  marketing and new consumer perception problems  as the rigid reputation stem growth in sales of new wine styles.

South Africa does not have such a restrictive single cultivar reputation which will help us in future years.

Kumkani is one of the iconic South African wine brands with a full range of award winning wines from different styles , cultivars and methods.

Source: morssglobalfinance.com

This blog has been nominated for a SA Blog Awards in the best food and wine blog category.  

Thanks to everyone who nominated this blog. If you haven’t already voted, please do vote for us. It’s easy. Click on the banner on the right of the page. Scroll down.  Fill in your email (confirm) and you’re done.

Thanks!

For centuries Champagne has been synonymous with celebrations in all corners of the world. But the global demand for this popular drink has created a dilemma as Champagne’s carbon footprint is extremely high.

It is estimated that the transportation of billions of litres of Champagne creates a carbon footprint of 200 000 tons, which is the equivalent to the yearly emission of roughly 100 000 cars.

The heavy bottle is the main culprit in Champagne’s high carbon footprint as the production and shipping process are stretched to manage this bulky bottle.

The hefty bottles were designed in the 17^th century by Dom Pierre Pérignon and were created to prevent secondary fermentations and possible ‘explosions’. The bottle is undergoing a redesign as the French aim to reduce the carbon footprint by decreasing the weight by seven percent.

Some sceptics indicated that the lighter (mass) bottles may have an effect on the bubble size which in turn can influence the taste of the Champagne. But the CIVC, the Champagne trade body, indicated that the new bottles will have no meaningful effect on the quality and taste of Champagne.

Kumkani brand news

Kumkani Infiniti Brut is one of South Africa’s best *MCC (Method Cap Classic) wines and we support this environmentally friendly venture.

* South African wines which uses the classic method of making champagne by creating a second fermentation in the bottle is called Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) sparkling wines.