Wine on Wheels

08/05/2025

RAKA Biography Shiraz and the cooler autumn nights go very well together 🍁🍷

22/04/2025

Do not miss this show on the 1st of May. Come and relax while tasting all different kinds of cultivars and spirits. For more information and tickets, contact Nut Grove.

18/04/2025

15/04/2025

Here are 10 fun facts about red wine:
1. Color from grapes: The color of red wine comes from the skins of red grapes, not just the juice.
2. Aging changes color: Red wines lighten in color as they age, going from vibrant purple to a lighter garnet or even brown.
3. Multiple health benefits: Red wine is known for its antioxidant properties, which may help reduce heart disease risk and cancer risk.
4. Tannins give structure: Tannins, a type of polyphenol, are responsible for the dry, slightly astringent feeling in your mouth and help red wine age well.
5. Not all reds are created equal: There are many varieties of red wine grapes, each with its own flavor profile and characteristics.
6. White wine from red grapes: It's possible to make white wine from red grapes if the skins are removed before fermentation.
7. California's global impact: California wines are well-known internationally, with a significant portion of US wine exports coming from the state.
8. Red wine can be sweet: While most red wines are dry, there are also sweet red wines like port and certain dessert wines.
9. Health benefits from moderation: Moderate red wine consumption has been linked to various health benefits, though excessive drinking can be harmful.
10. Complex aromas: Red wine can develop a wide range of aromas, from fruity and spicy to earthy and complex, depending on the grape variety and winemaking techniques.

11/03/2025

At Longridge we honour the age old organic traditions by looking down into the earth, making sure there are no harmful chemicals or toxins in the ancient decomposed granite soils, or in the fresh mountain waters running down in cool underground aquafers from the Helderberg slopes that gently envelope us securing us with the majestic Helderberg Mountain as our backdrop, from too much wind. The cool Maritime breezes from the Atlantic ocean drifts in as morning mist, ensuring our vineyards are enveloped in a cool blanket to protect them from the heat of the day.

23/01/2025

We would like to welcome Cape Saint Blaize Gin.

*Classic Gin*

A vibrant full-bodied Gin, a bittersweet symphony of lime, fragrant carissa, elderflower and wild rosemary underpinned with earthy notes of freshly cut bark, honeybush and toasted spice. Rose geranium and caramelized rhubarb amplify ripe piquant kai apples. Aromatic juniper and pine meet with a late burst of citrus, delivering a slight sweetness with a long dry smooth finish.

Enjoy neat on ice or with a quality tonic, curl of lime zest, Cinnamon bark, and a sprig of rosemary.

*Floristic Gin*

A soft floral pink Gin with gentle aromas of freshly cut flowers, plump strawberries and peppered grains of paradise give rise to notes of green rooibos and mint buchu. A subtle hint of juniper, coriander, honeyed pistachio, fresh black fig, and vanilla deliver a mouthfeel that is both fragrant and exotic. Rich aromatics of saffron, toasted cinnamon, cardamom, candied grapefruit peel leads to a comforting smooth finish.

Enjoy neat on ice or with a quality tonic, curl of lemon zest, strawberry slice, and a bouquet of petals.

*Oceanic Gin*

A rich and woody Gin Infused with coastal lemon pelargonium, sea asparagus, milkwood berries, cold brewed rooibos and the bittersweet salty sour fig, the gentle warmth tempered by lingering fruit flavors of caramelized plum and ripe redcurrant. Delicate floral notes of soft cherry and cassis intertwine, presenting a velvet like mouthfeel that is berry rich. Aromas of fresh citrus, crushed juniper, toasted bark, and earthy spice deliver a dry elegant finish.

Enjoy neat on ice or with a quality tonic, curl of salted orange zest and scattering of fresh berries.

If you have any questions please contact our office.

31/12/2024

Wishing you a New Year filled with new hope, new joy and new beginnings. Cheers to a year of happiness and success!

24/12/2024

We wish you a Merry Christmas filled with love and cheer!

15/11/2024

We had a wonderful visit from SilkBush last week. The wine tasting was held at Olivers and Pioneers. Thank you for the effort and hosting of these events. Silkbush is situated in the Breedekloof, a farm not known by many people in the Lowveld. You have to taste the wine it is so silky.Let us know if you would like to try their wines.

21/10/2024

In the wake of the Second World War, a group of visionary wine farmers, their hearts tethered to the winemaking traditions introduced by the Huguenot families, embarked on a daring quest. United in purpose, they set out to provide their fellow farmers with the means to produce wines of quality on a grand and sustainable scale. Their collective effort gave birth to Simonsvlei in the year 1945.

But why “Simonsvlei,” you may ask? Well, dear readers, this name pays homage to none other than Simon van der Stel, the founding father of the South African wine industry, and the vlei, or wetlands, that graced the surrounding landscape.

Picture it,
if you will…

… a 17th-century Simon van der Stel, the Cape’s Governor on behalf of the Dutch government, selecting this very spot with a discerning eye.

He saw in it the potential for greatness, thanks to its cool microclimate, perfectly suited for nurturing the finest grapevines.

And let us not forget the prevailing winds, whispered by the vlei, which naturally cooled the cellars and the wines in their barrels, creating a haven for crafting wines of unparalleled excellence.

THAT is where Simonsvlei Wines began…

Yet, our story doesn’t end here…
There is another hero to be celebrated…
Oom Sarel, a legendary figure who left an indelible mark on Simonsvlei.

Under his watchful guidance, winemaking at the estate evolved and flourished, setting a solid foundation for the winery’s promising future.

But it was Sonny le Roux, one of the co-founders, who etched Simonsvlei’s motto in stone: “quality wines at affordable prices.”
And,
my friends,
this dedication has borne fruit in the form of innovative, high-quality wines that have become the very essence of Simonsvlei.

08/10/2024

Get ready for the festive season with our Alvi's Sparkling Wine Range.
Both wines have their own uniqueness when it comes to harvesting and in the cellar.

Blanc de Blanc is 100% Chardonnay and the Brut Rose is a Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend.

If you have not tasted one of them as yet. It is time to get the spark going for this festive season 🥳🎄🎉🥂

04/10/2024

A wine of an intense, deep garnet hue enhanced by the rich, spice-tinged aromas of dark berries and the elegant, delicate nose of plums. A well-balanced blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Shiraz, and 15% Durif. Integrated tannins ensure both structure and longevity.

Winemaking
Grapes are harvested, crushed, first fermented, stirred, and separated from the skins by a press. Second fermentation softens the acid from malic to lactic acid.

Each cultivar of wine is barrel matured for 18 months with French and Hungarian oak.

Each cultivar brings different building blocks to the blend.

Shiraz adds aromatic notes of smoke, black fruit, and pepper spice.

Cabernet Sauvignon tends to bring great intensity, great power, and weight to the wine.

Durif or Petite Sirah is one of the deepest, most opaque red wines with very high levels of anthocyanin (an antioxidant) and attractive weighted tannins.