Liz Palmer Archives

Fleur du Cap Wine and Artisanal Salt Pairing – A Unique Experience

South Africa’s critically acclaimed-chef Craig Cormack has teamed up with Fleur du Cap winery to create specially designed dishes, which are seasoned with unique salts and perfectly paired with award-winning unfiltered Fleur du Cap wines.

Just as there are regions for wine growing, there are also regions for salt. Craig has sourced out black lava salt from the volcanic rock pools of Hawaii, the sea and desert of South Africa’s arid West Coast, Khoisan and Oryx Desert salt, pink Murray River Salt from Australia, and rare Persian Blue Salt from rock crystals.

Craig explains the process: “One of the challenges when pairing salt and wine is to create food that will enhance the wine without dominating it. The natural process of crafting Fleur du Cap wines by allowing the style inherent in the grapes to guide the winemaking team, works particularly well with unrefined, artisanal salts, reverting back to nature in both the food and the wines.”

Some of Craig’s pairings include: Merlot paired with Beef Carpaccio paired with Kala Namak Salt; Chenin Blanc paired with Pizzadeliere paired with Caviar Salt; Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Salted Beef paired with Oryx Salt; Pinotage paired with Salted Peanut, Chocolate and Banana Mouse paired with Peruvian Salt, amongst others. Each dish has a unique salt profile which, when paired with Fleur du Cap wine, brings out the complex flavours of these varietals.

Situated in the hart of Stellenbosch wine country, Fleur du Cap vineyards reflect the rich biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom. One of only six such plant kingdoms in the world – home to over 9,600 plant species.

“Our wines are crafted with nature in mind based on our winemaking philosophy of Regional Excellence”

My favorite pairing
Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Salted Beef paired with Oryx Salt

Oryx Salt
South Africa; natural white unprocessed and sundried; trace minerals

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Tasting Notes

Complex flavours of blackcurrant, blueberry with hints of violets and mocha; integrated oaking adds firm tannins, which give a long finish.

Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Suggestions
This complex wine is the ideal accompaniment to fillet of beef and roast lamb but goes equally well with rich, robust dishes and strong cheeses.

COMITÉ CHAMPAGNE CANCELS LONDON TASTING

The Comité Champagne announced this past week that it won’t be holding its Annual Champagne Tasting in London 2017 after over 20 years staging the event.

Françoise Peretti, who heads up the Champagne Bureau in London, wrote, “The Comité Champagne has been reviewing the annual tastings around the world and it was decided to pause the activity in the UK for the time being.”

“The event, which has been running since 1994, has been very successful, but we feel it is time to review it. Should the Comité Champagne decide to maintain the event, it is unlikely that it would take place before 2018.”

She told Drinks Business that the decision to end the Annual Champagne Tasting was “not a question of slashed budgets; not a question of the UK becoming less important, and not a question of Brexit,” but a result of “a change” in the way the Comité was approaching the marketing of Champagne after more than 20 years hosting the event in London.

Adding “After 20 years, it is time to explore other opportunities.”… “We feel that it is time to look at how we can reinvent the tasting… why do the same thing over and over again?”

While she said that it was “most unlikely” there would be a tasting next year, she said, “be assured, there will be activities”.

Looking ahead, she said that the Champagne Bureau would be spending the second half of this year “canvassing agents, the media, the trade and educators” before deciding how best to promote Champagne in the UK.

Concluding, she said, “I like to see it evolving and everything is possible, we are looking at a big event, or other smaller events, and something digital.”

Nevertheless, she stressed, whatever the approach, “education is number one on the Comité Champagne list”.

The Comité Champagne, formerly known as the CIVC (which stands for Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne), is a trade association representing Champagne’s producers and houses. It is tasked with promoting the region’s wines through R&D, as well as marketing and protecting the Champagne appellation.

The generic body was established in 1941 and has held a tasting in London since 1994, which, for the past two years, was held at One Great George Street.

SOURCES:

Champagne Bureau UK

Drinks Business UK

Wine Review: Southbrook 2014 Organic Connect White

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 9.9%

Sweetness: Medium Dry

Type: White Wine

Style: Off-dry & Fruity

Winery: Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara

Certification: Organic – ProCert

LCBO#: 249078 | $15.95

Drink: 2016-2020

Tasting Notes:

A blend of odoriferous varietals include 58% Vidal, 21% Chardonnay, 12% Riesling, and 9% Sauvignon Blanc; nose is a fruit-driven bouquet of melon, peach and apricot; The palate is soft and round with hints of peach, apple and pear – slightly off-dry with refreshing acidity – flavours linger through to medium finish.

Rating: 89/100

Review by Liz Palmer
www.liz-palmer.com

LizPalmer_
@Lizpalmer_

Let’s Celebrate the Reinheitsgebot this summer with Radeberger Pilsner — Prost!

The German beer “purity law” known as the Reinheitsgebot was introduced in 1516 by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria. This decree allows for only hops, barley, water, and later yeast was introduced. The Reinheitsgebot turns 500 this year.

An excerpt from an article History of German Brewing by Karl J. Eden, published in Zymurgy Magazine 1993, states among other things:

“Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities’ confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.” (translated to English)

And why was the Reinheitsgebot was enacted in 1516? To prevent price competition with bakers for wheat and rye, and to set price of beer at 1-2 Pfenning per MaS (1 litre).

A version of this law is still in effect to this day in Germany, and is considered a cornerstone of its beer culture.

Radeberger Pilsner

Radeberger was the official drink by King Friedrich August III of Saxony, and has long been enjoyed by German nobility.

Brewed by: Radeberger Gruppe KG

www.radeberger.de

Country: Germany (Radeburg)

Style/ABV: German Pilsener/5.0%

500 mL can

LCBO#: 676056

Premier Brands

http://www.premierbrands.ca

Tasting Notes:

Typical German Classic Pilsner; Brewed according to Reinheitsgebot Purity Laws; 3-finger white head – which is foamy; pale golden hue; carbonation is consistent; the aroma consists of soft malt, with hints of biscuit and honey; flavours include some zesty hop astringency, grass, hints of citrus, and some green apple; medium finish is dry and biscuit – easy drinking, clean and refreshing.

Rating: 4.5/5

Liz Palmer
www.liz-palmer.com

NOVAK DJOKOVIC BUYS LAND IN SERBIA TO START VINEYARD

Local sources have claimed that international tennis star Novak Djokovic purchased some land months ago that was negotiated by his uncle, Goran Djokovic.

Djokovic’s land is located near the village of Šumadija in the heart of Servia’s prime wine region, Šumadija, and according to Vladimir Stojić, director of Media Sector, who represent the Šumadija Winemakers Association, the land will require a period of regeneration as it was listed as a vineyard over 50 years ago, but is currently an abandoned woodland.

“It is now being prepared for the grapevines, with planting taking place likely next spring,”Stojić said. “It is not sure when the winery will be built, but it could be in 2017 or 2018.”

Though no official price tag has been disclosed, it is said that just one hectare of land in the Oplenac region can run anywhere between €4,500 and €8,000 (£3,700 to £6,600).

Source: Drinks Business