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Stellenzicht
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Stellenzicht has honorary membership of the Mile High Club
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Membership of the Mile High Club might be bending the truth a little, but Stellenzicht wines have certainly earned their frequent flyer status with consistent listings on leading local and international airlines.
Every year, this acclaimed Stellenbosch wine cellar in the famous Golden Triangle on the slopes of the Helderberg, has had wines listed on SAA flights ranging from the award winning Gold Triangle Shiraz and Pinotage to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The Golden Triangle Merlot was first listed in 2006, and next year SAA passengers can enjoy the 2005 vintage as well as another wine made in the Stellenzicht cellar, the 2007 Hill & Dale Sauvignon Blanc.
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Apart from these consistent SAA listings, Stellenzicht has been very successful on airlines generally. British Airways selected Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Shiraz 2005 for its Business Class passengers this year and has listed Hill & Dale Chardonnay for three consecutive years; Finair listed the Stellenzicht Rhapsody 2003; the Golden Triangle Chardonnay has been on Singapore Airlines and Delta Airlines; and Lufthansa took almost 10,000 cases of the Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Cabernet Sauvignon 2000.
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“It has been stated that the character of the winemaking team is portrayed in the wines they make. Looking back at these airline listings, I can understand that there could be truth to this quote,” said Stellenzicht Winemaker Guy Webber.
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“I believe that airlines look for wines which are not necessarily the best in their class (although they could be) in "normal" wine competitions, but that are good to enjoy at altitudes of 30,000 feet,” Webber added.
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Whilst he does not ascribe this specifically to anything physical such as air pressure for example, Webber believes is may be due rather to the fact that people are either very relaxed with not much better to do than sit back and enjoy the wines, or they are quite stressed by the flying and thus need the wine to relax them.
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“In both cases, I believe that our wines are characterised by a "relaxed friendliness" which proves successful on these flights,” he said.
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From a business point of view, Webber had this to say: “Having these on-board listings is fantastic not only because of the initial sales volumes, but also because there is a certain "prestige" in knowing that your wines are ambassadors for you and the local industry whenever foreigners travel to this country. The exposure we get on these flights is tremendous and something that is very difficult to quantify.”
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Home to exceptional wines with a strong sense of place shaped by their unique location in the Golden Triangle between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, Stellenzicht is recognised internationally for its range of award winning wines. Besides its excellent location, the single-minded endeavour to achieve balance in the vineyard and in the cellar, is what drives the Stellenzicht winemaking team to create their outstanding wines.
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Stellenzicht is open for wine tasting and sales from 09h00 – 17h00 on weekdays and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 – 16:00. For more information call (021) 880 1103 or visit www.stellenzicht.co.za.
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23 November 2007
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Fleur du Cap
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Fleur du Cap Natural Light 2007 – a sensationally light and refreshing summer sip
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With summer just around the corner, the newly released Fleur du Cap Natural Light 2007 with its lower alcohol content yet fruitful character offers you the perfect health-friendly choice for those long, sultry days in the sun without having to compromise on taste.
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A tantalizing blend of 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% White Muscadel, the slight off-dry Fleur du Cap Natural Light 2007 is packed with fruity aromas followed by just a touch of Muscat, whilst the lively palate pleases with fine, fresh acidity. This crisp, light-bodied wine is sure to bring cheer to your chill-out season, whether it is lounging by the pool, meeting up with the girls, entertaining or serving sundowners.
If you prefer the lighter things in life, the style of Fleur du Cap Natural Light 2007 makes it versatile enough to create a truly carefree version by simply adding soda water for a sassy spritzer. Delightfully refreshing, this ‘almost’ sin-free sip is particularly fitting if you’re watching your waistline this summer or coping with the responsibilities of motherhood but still want to indulge in life’s little pleasures.
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To prepare a fabulously cool spritzer: Fill a tall glass or wine glass with ice, pour Fleur du Cap Natural Light 2007 over it, top up with ice-cold soda water and garnish with a twist of lemon or lime.
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Whether you prefer to drink it on its own or add some fizzazz, Fleur du Cap Natural Light 2007 is the perfect easy-drinking refresher for everyday enjoyment, anywhere and anytime. Savour it during a lush picnic, a laid-back alfresco lunch, at a braai in true South African style, or even as an aperitif before a lavish affair. Fleur du Cap Natural Light 2007 retails at around R28 per bottle.
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07 September 2007
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Platter 5-star triumph for Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest
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Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2006 has joined the select group of elite wines to be capped with 5-stars by the prestigious John Platter Guide - South Africa’s definitive wine directory. This noble wine is one of only 21 wines including just two unfortified dessert wines, to be classed as 5-star wines in the 2008 Platter edition out of the almost 6 000 contenders that have been tried and tasted over the past several months.
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Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2006 is made of Rhine Riesling grapes selected from a prime vineyard in the Stellenbosch region and meticulous hand-selection ensured a very high percentage of botrytis grapes for that distinctive noble taste.
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This star studded wine is rich in aromas of peaches, apricot and honey enhanced by a seductive spicy background, whilst the
palate is perfectly balanced with dried fruit and vanilla spice flavours ending with a lively aftertaste.
This Noble Late Harvest is the ultimate choice for desserts or a variety of cheeses for a luxurious ending to a meal. Fleur
du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2006 is due for release early in 2008 and will retail at approximately R85 per bottle.
The 2008 John Platter Guide will be available from November 2007 from selected book shops and retail outlets, as well as the website, www.platteronline.com.
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07 September 2007
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Eikendal
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Zesty Eikendal Sauvignon Blanc goes green
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Eikendal, situated on the verdant foothills of the Helderberg, lightens up for summer with its latest Sauvignon Blanc 2007 radiating a renewed crisp taste with a significant ‘greener’ appeal than its more tropical predecessors.
Bursting with fresh intensity, this easy drinking wine is a combination of grapes from the cooler West Coast region and the Sauvignon blanc from Eikendal’s own prized vineyards.
Blending the fruit of these two diverse terroirs – both well suited to Sauvignon Blanc – imparted a revitalising spectrum of flavour and ripeness to the wine, ranging from the green and grassy nuances to the luscious, more voluptuous floral tastes which dominated its former vintages.
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"The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, creating cooler pockets in the vineyards near Vredendal ensures slower ripening, resulting a natural acidity balance and terrific green flavours in the berries. The introduction of the typical coastal, minerality and a flinty character, literally elevated the wine to greener pastures!" explained Eikendal winemaker Henry Kotzé.
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Allowing full carte blanche in the vineyards, leaving it up to the grapes to determine the style of the Eikendal Sauvignon Blanc 2007 whilst expressing the variety at its best, Henry gleefully admits that in the end only minor fine-tuning was needed in the cellar.
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"The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness and handled with extreme caution at low temperatures to harness their natural flavours," said Henry.
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Flaunting exceptional fruit layers and lower sugars than in previous years, Eikendal Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is the perfect sip for the sunny season. It is a lively and tangy dry white, with the sun-kissed flavours of ripe gooseberry, fig and papaya perked up with slivers of lemon grass and green pepper on the palate, lingering with a good, firm finish.
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"With a glass of Eikendal Sauvignon Blanc 2007 in your hand, with the wonderful whiffs of freshly cut grass coming through, it almost feels as if you are sitting on Centre Court at Wimbledon, only better," the young wine craftsman added.
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Whilst the temptation to crack the screwcap straight away is hard to resist, the wine should be okay for another two years. Enjoy it slightly chilled on its own or tantalise the tastebuds and serve it with exotic seafood, poultry and pasta dishes.
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Eikendal Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is available from R40 per bottle, directly from the cellar or at leading supermarkets and wine outlets nationwide.
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For more information, contact Eikendal at Tel: (+27)21 855 1422 or send an email to info@eikendal.co.za.
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07 September 2007
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