De Grendel Wine Estate - Inspired Living SA

Habits Fashion Meets Wine at De Grendel

Last week I attended a fashion event with a difference! Habits Fashion Meets Wine, held at De Grendel. It was my first ever fashion and wine pairing! What a great idea – two of my favourite things in one room!

Auric Auto, very kindly, chauffeured guests from Claremont, out to De Grendel Wine Estate, in Durbanville, where the event was held. I must admit it was a rather fun experience being chauffeured – something I could quite possibly get used to!

The Habits Fashion Meets Wine, was also a celebration of the new tasting lounge at De Grendel. While the tasting room at De Grendel offers both wine tasting and platters, the new stylish tasting lounge, is exclusively reserved for wine tasting only.

Habits Fashion Meets Wine

We started off festivities with a delicious glass of De Grendel MCC Brut – not entirely sure that there is a better way to start your day!

After a brief welcome, it was over to iconic fashionista Jenny le Roux from Habits. For those of you who do not know, Habits has been a fashion institution in Cape Town, for as long as I can remember!

The fashion items, which were paired with various De Grendel wines, were from the Habits Fashion Week 2015 Collection. Each garment selected was thoughtfully paired with a De Grendel wine, which mirrored or enhanced the character of the design.

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Below you can see the gorgeous Habits designs, from Fashion Week 2015, each displayed with their wine pairing.

The beautiful Variegated Stripe Satin Dress below, was my absolute favourite. It was perfectly paired with the De Grendel Chardonnay. Both the design and the wine are rich and full, with an air of elegance and sophistication!

Another favourite design of mine was the Emperor Satin Caroline Skirt, below, worn with a crisp White Shirt. It was paired with the De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc. The Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc grapes are handled differently, in the vineyards as well as in the cellar, to ensure a bigger and a bolder wine. This makes it a perfect pairing with the design of the Caroline Skirt, which is bold and dramatic, while still projecting a feeling classic style!

What a truly fun experience was had at the Habits Fashion Meets Wine event! Thank you to Habits for the fabulous fashion and De Grendel for the beautiful venue and superb wine. Not to forget Auric Auto for getting us safely to the venue and back to Claremont again, in BMW style!

Contact & Location:

Habits: 1 Cavendish Close, Cavendish Street, Claremont, 7708. Tel: (+27) 21 671 7330 Fax: (+27) 21 671 5201
De Grendel Wines and Restaurant: Plattekloof Road, Panorama, Western Cape, 7500. Tasting room:
Tel +27 21 558 6280

Disclosure Ranking: 4

Cape Town Lifestyle, Lifestyle, Wine Farms

De Grendel Wine Farm

You may remember a recent post I did featuring City Escapes and a brief write-up I did on De Grendel Wine Farm. I thought I would do a bit more of an in-depth feature on the Estate and give you a bit more detail on what the wine farm has to offer.

De Grendel Wine

The farm offers visitors the most spectacular, unparalleled panoramic views, with a particularly amazing view of Table Mountain. {I loved my shot of Table Mountain in a wine glass}

You will also catch a glimpse of the City and the Seaboard, all in one landscape. De Grendel is situated a mere 20 minutes from the city and forms part of the Durbanville Wine Route.

The farm is steeped in local history and has been in the Graaff family for three generations. Baronet, Sir David Graaff, retired politician and leading wine farmer, continues the legacy left by his father and grandfather before him. The historic De Grendel farm remains the heart and soul of the family, assisted by members of staff whose roots on the property go back five generations. Sir David has built a reputation for upliftment in the community, supporting farm labourers and their families and encouraging education for their children.

As far as wine making goes De Grendel Vineyards are perfectly situated on high, sea-facing slopes, it is the only vineyard in the country, which is 350m above sea level and only 7 km from the sea. This elevated position is not only majestic, but creates the micro-climate, vital to the production of their elegant wines.

Our vines benefit from the western-facing aspect and the close moderating effects of the ocean – advantages that are the product of the site. In our viticulture and wine-making, our goal is the expression of the character of this distinctive position.

The day we picked for our visit to the farm was wonderfully clear, albeit a bit chilly but all in all the perfect winters day!

We chose to do the full wine tasting, as well as snack on a cheese board from their Vine and Dine menu.

A few of our favourite whites tasted, were the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2014 Koetshuis, both wines are wonderfully fruity, with a crisp dry finish. Perfect summer time wines!

Rosé is one of my favourite lazy, summer time wines, providing it is dry and not too sweet! The De Grendel 2014 Rosé is perfect! Again lovely and fruity but with a crisp dry finish.

As far as reds go my favourite reds at the moment are usually Shiraz, so I was really surprised by the De Grendel 2012 Merlot! The Merlot is a delicious, full bodied wine filled with a combination of different berries on the nose. Mulberry, raspberry, and blackberry fruit accompanied by liquorice and mocha flavours that carry through on palate. Well supported by firm French oak tannins. Naturally we bought a combination of the wines to enjoy at home!

Tasting fees are R50.00 for the full range of wines available for tasting or R20.00 for any three available wines. Groups larger than eight are kindly requested to book with Douglas on 021 558 6280, weekend tasting sessions for these groups are only available from 09h00-10h30.

As well as wine tasting, the estate boasts an Elegant Restaurant, which is 100% South African! Farm produce and ingredients sourced from local suppliers are given an inventive, modern edge. Home-grown South African chefs and staff are employed and trained to international standards, generating jobs for local people. We have not eaten at the restaurant yet but plan to in the very near future!

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. At dinner the exceptional five course tasting menu (tailored to diner preferences) is a huge draw card, offering the chance to experience the talents and creative abilities of the chefs over more courses. De Grendel Wines are on the menu at cellar prices, making this fine dining experience accessible at realistic prices.

Contact Details:

Wine Farm

t: +27 (0) 21 558 6280
f: +27 (0) 21 558 7083
e: info@degrendel.co.za
follow the wine farm: facebook | twitter

Restaurant

t: +27 (0) 21 558 7035

e: restaurant@degrendel.co.za
follow the restaurant: facebook | twitter

Directions

De Grendel is only twenty minutes from the Waterfront or airport. Leave the N1 at exit 18; continue left down the Plattekloof Road for another 5 km, De Grendel is on the right.

Disclosure Ranking: 2

Exploring the Cape, Local, Travel, Wine Farms

City Escapes with City Lodge

As you know I love travel, both locally and international but time and budget constraints, usually only allow international travel once a year. We also like to venture along the coast or into the country, for weekend breaks but lately we have been doing more City Escapes. Staying closer to home and exploring more of what Cape Town has to offer! [Read more…]