Egg-straordinary!

Have you heard of wine made in a ceramic egg shaped containers? 

The large ceramic egg container is perhaps the largest living vessel in the world and is designed specifically for wine fermentation. The egg shape naturally encourages liquids to move in the lemniscate, or figure of eight, promoting continuous passive convection within, allowing developing wine to move and breathe inside, without stirring. Please view the video explaining the process in more detail.

The Romans were using basically this shape of vessel to ferment wine more than 2,000 years ago.  A dolium (plural: dolia) is a large earthenware vase or container used in ancient Roman times for storage or transportation of goods.

A handful of winegrowers are currently using egg shaped clay vats in view of adding complexity to their unoaked wines. If these vintners express different schools of thought on the best techniques to associate with this sort of container, they all share the same objective, that of preserving the true characteristics of their wines.

Organic and biodynamic growers make a point of exploring the best ways to elaborate wine as naturally as possible.  A vineyard in Southeast France came up with the idea in 1991, of creating a museum with a vineyard and cellar, producing wine according to ancient methods. This initiative has since stirred the imagination of some modern-day vintners, interested in finding out if terracotta oval casks can be a viable substitute for concrete, stainless steel or oak vats.

One of our local organic wineries in the upper Hemel en Aarde wine area has started experimenting with this idea.  The wine is not for sale, but we will keep you updated on the topic.

Hermanus Wine and Food Fair

Wine, Weather, Whales, Weekend!

The 15th Hermanus Wine and Food Fair took place from 9 – 11 August and proved once again that the whales are not the only reason why people tend to flock to Hermanus.  The festival usually takes place over the first long weekend in August.

At this year’s Hermanus Wine and Food Fair the wine was once again flowing, the weather kept organisers on their toes and the whales were giving shows to those brave souls willing to face the wind and rain.

Wine Village - Hermanus sits at the heart of a number of excellent wine regions, including Elgin, Botrivier, Kleinrivier, Stanford and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The Hermanus Wine and Food Fair featured wines from the entire Overberg region.  While many of those sipping on the complimentary tasters were locals, many more made the short and picturesque drive from Cape Town, including international travelers from a host of countries.

The three-day fair filled a marquee pitched in the grounds of Wine Village, which serves as a one-stop shop for those seeking to taste local wines but without the time to go from farm-to-farm, with more than 700 producers from across South Africa represented.

The wines that were available to taste were for sale at the Wine Village at cellar door prices.  Apart from wine there were also two boutique distilleries showcasing their handmade gins, vodkas and a much raved about absinthe. There was also handcrafted cider on offer and while there was also port to taste and a couple of MCCs (Methode Cap Classique, the local name for Champagne), some of the best sellers were Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Pinot Noir.

For those more interested in nibbling than sipping, entrance to the food tent was free and filled with locally-produced cheese, cured meats, organic nibbles and a host of enticing baked goodies for dessert. Local restaurants also showed that wine and food go hand-in-hand together and an exciting line up of food is already being planned for the Hermanus Wine and Food Fair 2013!

Away from the wine, live music played, kids got their faces painted and families shopped for food and crafts both within the tent and the rest of the Wine Village beyond. And if the wine tasting ever got too much, the town’s world-famous whale watching was only a short drive away.  Please remember to include this weekend in your diary for next year: 9 – 11 August 2013 and join us for Wonderful Wine, Wild Weather and Wonderous Whales over the winter weekend!

www.hermanuswineandfood.co.za