Month: May 2021

Let’s hit the road Jack (Part 2)

Adventure down the Garden Route!

Following up from my last post about my time in Gauteng, next stop Garden Route with Jo and Nick Lowe from The Grape Hustle in Plettenberg Bay.

Early morning departure from Somerset West to meet up with Jo at The Garden Route Game Lodge.  Beautiful view over the valley with the game roaming in front of you out of the restaurant.

Our first tasting in Plettenberg Bay was at boutique Tten Bazaar, yes interesting store and a fun environment to do tastings. On the evening we paired different types of Olives with the wine. First time I was involved in such a pairing and made for interesting taste. Will I engage in such tasting again? Definitely I will do.

 Our next event we did a Semillon masterclass followed by dinner at Barringtons. Barringtons is for the must stop places in Plettenberg Bay. Great food, great services and most of all great people. If wine isn’t your thing, I am sure you will find the right beer at Barringtons to drink.

Nina’s Cafe in George owned by my friend Wernhard van der Watt (Wern) and his wife Natasha. Wern and my paths crossed the first time in 2009. One promise I made myself is never to drive through George again and not having a meal at Nina’s Cafe. Tasting we did on the evening was astonishing and one of the best pairing with Bizoe Wines I had in a very long time. Wern evening treated us late night with “The Wern Show” in the kitchen showing us how to “sous vide” a steak.

 One final event in Knysna held at Kanonkop Guest House with Mark & Adele Conyers. If Mark is involved in an event you know it’s going to be fun. Entertainment & Food organised by Mark and Adele and we supplied wines for the evening. Definitely we ended our trip in the Garden Route on high note! Thanks Mark and Adele for opening Kanonkop House for us that we can share our wines with the people of Knysna.

Let’s hit the road Jack

Let’s hit the road Jack …. (Part 1)

One morning driving my kids to school on our local radio station in the Western Cape, KFM 94.5 played the famous song “Let’s hit the road Jack” by Eva & The Heartmaker. This made me realize it’s time to get on the road again. Visiting our distributors, retailers, restaurants and sales agents around the country.

Michelle and Kirsten from Extreme Wines in Cape Town was my first call. Kirsten introduced me to one of the most exciting wine stores in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town called Wine & Craft.

Next stop is my all-time favourite store and person in the Western Cape trade, Sue Proudfoot of Wine Concepts Kloof Street. Sue has been supporting Bizoe from our first day we released our Bizoe Henrietta in 2008.

Grub & Vine of Chef Matt Manning was next on the radar where we met with Keize Matumbe, Sommelier at Grub and Vine. Grub & Vine has the Bizoe Robertsvleipad Semillon 2019 and Bizoe Idioglossia Malbec 2018 on their wine list.

Wine trade doesn’t stop in the Western Cape, the following week to Johannesburg to work with Nadia Enslin of Le Vino Vita. Always a highlight on Johannesburg trips is tasting at DW11-13 with Chef Marthinus and Richard.

Spending our last few days in Gauteng with our friends at Into Wine. Late afternoon visit to The Godfather restaurant where you would find our Bizoe Estalet Syrah on their list was one of the highlights.

Final stop in Gauteng was at Capito Restaurant. Must confess I had dinner the previous night there and my sock was blown off again about the quality of food Robbie and his team dishes up at Capito. Looking forward to continue on my next blog about my week in the Garden Route ….

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