Locals let it the bottle breathe in Linden
Guests were recently treated to a food and wine pairing at Belle Bistro & Wines.
On one recent weekend in Linden, wine appreciators let bottles breathe as they enjoyed wine pairing at Bell Bistro and Wine.
As patrons tucked into indulgent plates of food while sipping on decadent Swanepoel Wines, winemaker Dirk Swanepoel described the history behind each of the wines he had brought for the occasion, which were produced in the small Western Cape town of Tulbagh.
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Swanepoel said all his wines were unique in some way as they were small-scale boutique wines. To start off the day’s proceedings, he introduced a Grenache Noir MCC, which is one of only two in South Africa. He also presented a red Pinotage and red Grenache and ended the day with a port.
He explained he vinified the grapes so they reflected the nature they grew in. The winemaker loves being able to keep things interesting, saying he recently harvested a Greek grape called Assyrtiko for his wines. “I try to do unique things because wine is quite interesting, and you have to keep it fun, at least.”
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Though he admitted winemaking could be complex, he said a lot of people made it more difficult than it was. “At the end of the day, the more you learn, the more you realise how little you know, and the only way to find out is doing more of it.”
Speaking of the guests and venue, Swanepoel said he loved that he got to share his wine with the lovely people of Linden. “I have always loved travelling up here. The food was great, the wine was lekker, and everything paired well.”
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