Jozinites savoured a slice of the good Winelands life, when the 2015 Stellenbosch at Summer Place, an opulent showcase of wine, food and art curated by the City of Oaks, got its glitz on in Hyde Park on Wednesday, 25 November.
Annually presented by Sanlam Private Wealth in a class all by itself, Stellenbosch at Summer Place is one of Jozi’s most sought-after social events. Each year South Africa’s first and foremost wine route makes its sumptuous pilgrimage to the north to serve up the pinnacle of its finest pleasure to serious food and wine lovers.
This year five of the finest Stellenbosch chefs – of which three clinched a spot in the enviable 2015 Eat Out Top Ten Awards – teamed up with 38 prominent winemakers and estate owners to create unique gourmet sensations paired to perfection with an exclusive selection of more than 80 top flight Stellenbosch wines.
The wines had been split into their varietals ranging from exquisite Chardonnays and terroir-driven Sauvignon Blancs to royal red blends, elegant Pinotage renditions and serious Cabs, all spread out across Summer Place’s stylish main hall. The chefs then each prepared a dish to perfectly pair with a specific varietal.
In the polished white wine section Michael Deg, head chef of the world-class Delaire Graff Restaurant on the Helshoogte Pass, made his event debut with a mackerel and cucumber ballotine, served with a miso aioli and green apple. Chenin and Sauvignon Blancs shared the limelight with the amicable George Jardine of Jordan Restaurant, and his delicious Joostenbergvlakte duck with artichoke purée – a serious crowd pleaser on the evening. Completing the ‘white-trio’ was celebrity chef Bertus Basson of Overture Restaurant at Hidden Valley Estate and the Ultimate Braai Master TV show, with his Asian inspired, crisp ham hock with cauliflower and parmesan.
Joining culinary forces in the red wine section was master saucier Michael Broughton, who heads up Terroir Restaurant at Kleine Zalze Wine Estate with his confit shoulder of lamb and Gregory Czarnecki of Waterkloof Estate’s signature ‘Restaurant in the sky’ who coaxed the senses with a crusted beef fillet with smoked potato foam.
Not only did this give the guests the chance to taste such exceptional culinary creations and interact with the chefs whilst they prepared it to their onlookers, it also offered them the rare opportunity to sample some of the finest flagship wines in the country whilst they casually hobnobbed with the winemakers.
There was also a luxury Brandy Lounge with a grand selection of cheeses and sweet treats, where guests relaxed in between all the tastings.
This all was experienced against a backdrop of live music entertainment and extraordinary portraits on display from the 2015 Sanlam Portrait Awards.
For more information on the Stellenbosch Wine Routes visit www.wineroute.co.za or follow @StellWineRoute on Twitter.