Excerpt taken from www.wine-extra.co.za Shiraz, or often named Syrah, is one and the same varietal, but the Syrah version is often considered to bemore ‘feminine’, grown in cooler climates. Shiraz brings the spice to life with peppery notes. South AfricanShiraz is generally full-bodied and has ripe red fruits that come to the fore. The more […]
Read MoreExcerpt taken from https://www.hospitalityhedonist.co.za/ I caught up with Master Chef South Africa, season 1 contestant and food network LA winner in 2015, Guy Clark, who has returned from his travels abroad to create a pop up venture in Franschhoek. The first of the his “Winter Farm” luncheon’s was held over the past weekend and naturally […]
Read MoreTen of some of the region’s most talented sommeliers converged at the L’Hotel Causeway Bay in Hong Kong yesterday to take part in Wines of South Africa’s third annual Sommelier Cup which recognizes the rising stars of the world’s wine service industry. The day kicked off with a blind tasting of a white and red […]
Read MoreA recent invitation to attend a wine launch literally stopped me in my tracks – it was from Bellingham Wines. Why did it have such an effect on me, I hear you ask? In the late 1950s, my parents and I “looked after the farm” by staying in the Guest Cottage, while the iconic and […]
Read MoreThe story of Bellingham in Franschhoek is one of the most fascinating, in an area that can tell a tale or two. It was originally called Bellenchamp and was bought by a Johannesburg couple, Fredagh and Bernard Podlashuk. The way Fredagh tells it in her memoirs, they arrived in the Cape during the war years […]
Read MoreThe Pinotage grape variety is almost exclusively tied to its roots in South Africa and was once the 2nd most widely planted grape in South Africa next to Chenin. This New World wine was first created by a professor named Abraham Izak Perold at Stellenbosch University in 1925 as a cross between the more delicate Pinot […]
Read MoreAround the braaiThis is strictly easy drinking territory. No one wants to ponder too long or hard over what goes best with sticky ribs and burgers. Opt for the safest options that will be kind to both chicken and red meat. We recommend our Pear Tree White or Big Oak Red – both blends that […]
Read MoreNavigating the wine sectionBellingham’s Top Tips for stocking your Cellar at Home Be true to yourself. Trust your instincts and follow your palate. Your favourites will never fail to reward ensuring your sensory involvement so your cellar never stagnates. Be adventurous. Venture beyond your usual favourites and taste widely. Be careful. If you are motivated […]
Read MoreHave you ever stared helplessly at row upon row of bottles of wine wondering where to start? Most supermarkets and wine stores organise their wines into red and white first and then into the different varietals like chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon and styles, like dry or sweet, sparkling or still. That’s why it is seldom […]
Read MoreDo you feel foolish when ordering wine in a restaurant? When it comes to wine lists, sommeliers and the wine tasting ritual, it can be intimidating for the uninitiated. The reasons behind the performance are actually quite sensible and might assist you in appearing the consummate connoisseur. What is a sommelier?A Sommelier is a specialised […]
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