Back to the Revolution!

Great Scott!! The rumours are true... watch this space for details on how to secure your tickets...

The Revolution is over, long live the Revolution...

We love it when a plan comes together.

The founding members of the Swartland Revolution have decided that there will not be another Swartland Revolution event. It was a difficult but unanimous decision and we had to console ourselves with Callie's birthday cake and some great wines.

"We now want to focus our time and energy on the next phase, the evolution perhaps, of great things in this great region and country of ours."

We believe that last weekend’s event brought things full circle. The three tastings beautifully represented the past, the present and the future of what we started here in 2010. The Swartland Revolution was a stone cast into the ocean that is the South African wine industry and we are all satisfied with the ripples and waves it has caused.

We want to give a high five to everyone who has made these six celebrations possible. It has been pleasure getting to know the consumers and lovers of our wines. It has been a privilege to share the good food, heat waves, views and gees of our valley with you.

Hopefully you will find plenty of reasons to keep returning to the region – for Coenie and Johan’s food, for new craft beers, for G&Ts at the Royal (happy hour between 5-6pm daily) and for wine, oh, always for wine.

There will not be an event in Riebeek early November 2016, but we urge you to keep an eye on SIP, The Swartland Independent Producers… exciting times, they are a-changing and we promise the future will be anything but dull. 

Thank you for being part of the Revolution, we couldn't have done it without you,

Adi, Andrea, Chris, Callie and Eben

#SR2015 the year it all came together

It seems to me (based on personal observations and opinions expressed by numerous participants this weekend) that the 6^th annual Swartland Revolution was the one where we overcame all previous hiccups and kind of nailed it!

As long as you didn’t see or feel the behind the scenes stress caused by overloaded generators, broken glasses and chip fryers that repeatedly tripped the power of a whole town block – you can say we took it in our stride.

The three tastings this year were all well received and on point: 

Starting with Quality first – where Chris brought us full circle – from a bunch of South Africans at Hospice du Rhone to a bit of Hospice du Rhone in the Swartland.

With a Californian who threw away all the gimmicks, “and that was the day I became a winemaker’. And next to me, at some point during the seminar Adi whispers ‘”see, parallel universes”.

Swartland Secrets Stories got introduced by Tim James saying, “when newness becomes less important, excellence becomes more important.” And he got us thinking about history – where we have come from and how we are living and writing future history. And the revolutionaries are planting, experimenting and investing in the future with consideration not for money or awards but for what is sustainable and right.

“Don’t plant what sells, plant what belongs,” chirped Eben Sadie, just a few hours (and many bottles of wine) after Pax had told us how banks in the US base the outcome of your application for funding on the varieties you plan to plant.

Expert Opinions – or this year possibly also aptly named ‘Experienced Opinions’. On Monday on the west coast Andrea describes it as a ripple that left the Swartland and is starting to come back.  While I recall someone saying “I could have had these wines at Publik” you will never again drink them accompanied by the insight of John Platter with open questions to the winemakers that made them, scattered about the room.

But the revolution is not JUST about wine. There was plenty of good food and other things to drink and enjoy. From quite possibly the best steak I have ever had, tannie Ena se ongelooflike poffertjie toring and not forgetting that spinach, green olive and caper berry dip – to good old babelas burgers, wraps prepared with love and a lunch that had even Eben speechless, while the smoked chickens just kept coming out of Callie’s contraption.

Personally I am a big fan of MC the auctioneer, was like totally like ROFL at the air guitar incidents and really enjoyed Basson Laubser and his friends having fun on stage.

I love the long afternoons in the sun on dunnage bags (how much fun are those?...until someone breaks an arm) and do enjoy watching slightly intoxicated men (and a certain lady) sticking their heads in ice water to see who can stand it the longest.

The picnic, to the soundtrack of every song Die Baardskeerdersbos has ever performed, is the perfect way to ease out the afternoon and in general the vibe is extremely generous and gesellig.

I wonder if you caught the details in amongst it all. The poems Andrea wrote about the two wines (literally) on tap all weekend. The ‘with love, the moms’ tag on your wrap. There were limited edition labels on some beers and have you even spotted Yoda and BA in ‘Where’s Callie’? Hopefully you also came across a Caperitif cocktail or two at some point…

In the end it is just a bunch of friends, doing what they love

Side by side and all over the world.

Same same but different.

Did Adi’s voice saying ‘parallel universes’ just pop into your head too?

Yes! But parallels are never supposed to meet – and there it was, happening right in front of our eyes...

Thank you for coming and contributing to the general gees of the weekend. It is exhausting stuff planning and hosting a revolution – but in the end it is so very worth it.  Our wish for you is to take the insight and inspiration of #SR2015 with you to where ever you go in future and to go write history!

Mooi loop tot 'n volgende keer,

Helena

on behalf of all the other Swartlanders. 

Our kind of book.

John Platter will be launching his new book, 'My Kind of Wine', at this year's Revolution on November 7th. Come get a copy as he will be there in person to sign them!

a revolution with a few rules...

Not long now...

As the #SR2015 starts to creep up on us (only 16 days now), here are a few updates of nice things people have said about the region and its fantastic people recently.

1. Lonely planet rates the Swartland as one of the top 10 intriguing wine regions in the world.
"Swartland, especially, is home to a band of cutting-edge vintners with small, manageable estates, many of whom are experimenting with biodynamic production."
Read more here.

2. Tim Atkins attended the very successful New Wave South Africa tasting in London (Adi, Callie and Chris were there) and makes it clear that this here is currently the most exciting wine producing country in the world. 

Says Atkins, "Without Eben Sadie of Sadie Family Wines, based in the Swartland but sourcing grapes from small parcels all over the Cape, the country’s wine industry would not have moved as quickly as it has..."
Read the article here.

3. Jane Broughton visited the revolutionaries for American Travel and Leisure magazine and reports that "It’s worth visiting the Swartland to witness the winemakers’ unconventional, purist methods firsthand—and to experience their uniquely flavorful wines at the source."
Read more here.

That is it for now, see you soon! 

Sold out!

Tickets to this year's Revolution sold out in 2 minutes. Two minutes! That is a record, even for us.

If you were one of the unlucky 89 emails we received after the 400 tickets were claimed, you will get a mail today detailing waiting list information. Don't worry, a few tickets always become available closer to the time. 

If you were successful, you will receive an invoice from Monday and will have 48hours to pay.

Met d(r)ank

The Swartland Revolution team.  

This is how you book...

We love it when a plan comes together...

Quality First the 2015 edition

We've been to France and last year we ventured to Lebanon, but this year we take it a little bit further west and bring you Pax Mahle, one of the leading lights of the new California movement.

Not unlike the revolutionaries in the Swartland, California also has a group of innovative producers rewriting the rules of contemporary winemaking and aiming above all for an expression of California's unique terroir.

Pax is a self trained winemaker who hails from wine retail originally. He started making wine in 2000 under the Pax label and his powerful, intense wines quickly garnered rave reviews and a cult following. 

In 2008 he started a new label called Wind Gap focusing on minimal intervention and fresher wines from marginal vineyards. Wind Gap also very quickly received rave reviews and an equally loyal following.

We look forward to sharing stories and insights with you and Pax.

Tickets?

Tickets to the 2015 Swartland Revolution will go on sale at 8am on July 1st (and not a moment earlier).

There is no waiting list, no special exceptions and no emails will be considered before 8am on 1 July.

Tickets are R2950 each. 

For the complete weekend programme, click here. 

Food (from the revolution) at Home

The 2014 Swartland Revolution features in the February issue of Food and Home magazine.
Read all about the wines, parties and meals and get the recipes for some of the best dishes served during the weekend.

On sale now.

We came, we saw, we revolted. #SR2014

Five years old and still going strong... 

This weekend's fifth edition of the Swartland Revolution confirmed that the region has established itself as a wine (and food and party) force to be reckoned with. Putting into words what the 500 odd involved experienced this weekend is not easy, and I have thus decided to make it a little bit personal.

Speaking on behalf of (by now) legends such as the Mullineuxs, Eben, Adi and Callie is too big a responsibility - they have said what they felt needed to be said, and it is up to each of us to take from it what we need... 

So what you find here is my interpretation of my favourite weekend of the year, in a region where I was born and bred, a region I fled as soon as I could and to which I have very recently returned with much excitement and expectation of even greater things to come. 

I have grown up with the event, and I stand in awe of what happens in Riebeek on this weekend every year... 

We had decided to change the format of dinner and lunch a little, we were experimenting and we were ready for change... We were going to sit down, with table cloths and chandeliers on Friday, we would lay down on the grass for a pre packed picnic on Saturday and for the first time we looked outside of France for our opening act...



With 3600 glasses packed out and poured, we were ready for Serge Hochar to guide us through his wine. Almost two hours later the crowd still hung on his every word. The man's philosophy, his unique approach, patience and his quirky comments certainly inspired me (and made it clear why he is Adi's idol!).

  

A few of my favourite quotes:

"Wine was created by God to be the link between him and humans..."
"I started selling only half of my vintages and aging half in my own cellar"
"Taste, don't talk!"
"Nature is very worrying for me today... No vintage is the same. Each day I learn and discover more."
"When I was a boy I was a philosopher and my philosophy was protect the environment"
"I have never understood wine. I still have so much to discover".
"Wine touches the whole world."
"If you come to my winery I open a bottle of '64 for you"
"Take your time, you drink too fast. Enjoy your nose!"
"Wines are made to be opened and enjoyed. Tomorrow the wines may not be here or you may not be here"
"Wine can lead you to know yourself better..."

The lesson here, from a 75 year old who has been making wine for 56 years, was clear. Slow down, give yourself, your life, your wine time and space. Appreciate, enjoy.

After the tasting it was time for dinner. This year we had asked revolutionaries to dress it up a bit to fit with our (tongue in cheek) glitzy but a little bit f-ed up Bootleggers Ball theme.

Mama Cucina waiting staff, all dressed up.

Revolutionaries don't pose for pictures.

Smashing Eben's "winery of the year trophy" hand made by the talented Mrs Mullineux.

After the auction DJ Chopper got the crowd dancing (till the cops stopped us, the third time...)

After dinner the bar opened... The extended Badenhorst Family were launching their Caperitif with four unique cocktails. Read more about it all here.

Eventually I believe I might have physically chased people out of the tent in an attempt to evacuate, at around 3am. Now THAT is a good party... 

Saturday morning (luckily) came with Babelas Burgers and good coffee from local Beans about Coffee,

before we sat down to 4 wines each from Craig Hawkins and David Sadie. 

Moderated by David Clarke this tasting was an excellent look at the young polarity in the region. David (originally from Malmesbury) and Craig (a Sharks fan from Gauteng) both showed great interest in investing in the future of Swartland wines and vines. From planting new vineyards to planning for the years ahead and growing solid relationships with local farmers... these guys get it.

David's two wines say it well:
Aristargos - meaning to lead by serving people and Elipidios, which means to have hope and expectations for the future!

Then there was a beer and Southern Smoke snack break (I can't tell you much about it, during this hour we clear the tables of 3600 glasses, 450 tasting sheets / spittoons / waters, and replace it with new ones, filled with wines, numbered 1-8...) before Expert Opinions.

This year we made our Revolutionary big 5 the Experts with Opinions... Adi, Andrea and Chris, Callie and Eben each picked a wine that has inspired their love (for wine) and winemaking and we tasted it next to one of their own wines.



What caught me as significant here was that Chris mentioned that any one of them could have easily picked any of the wines on the table as their inspiration. To see this connection and link between the diverse personalities making such unique wines shows that the Revolution and the region is on the right track.

To hear Eben say that he has to continue to drink wines better than his own to grow and evolve shows that the egos are under control. Being reminded of the 5am braai Adi and Eben sometimes shares shows their commitment to the cause and it is always fun to listen to Callie tell a pointless Afrikaans joke...

And then it was time for lunch. With fantastic picnic packs by the Revolutionary Mums, music by our old(!) favourites Die Baardskeerdersbos Orkes and wines by The Swartland Independent... and a lot of people laying around on big blow up pillows and blankets, some until after the sun had set.

Till next year... I hope you also left exhausted yet satisfied and inspired. 

The 2015 edition will be on the weekend of 6/7 November and ticket sales will be announced as soon as we have decided. Give us a break, please ;)

Yours in Swartland gees
Helena

All pictures (c) Maree Louw. 
Food menus / Tasting sheets coming soon.

Met D(r)ank!!

We did it! Everyone survived the 5th Swartland Revolution, no one got arrested and only a few people got tackled to the ground...

First things first, this is a THANK YOU blog post on behalf of everyone. Putting on a world class event like we just did this weekend takes a LOT of planning and hard work and there are a few people and businesses we need to thank from the bottom of our big hearts!

In no particular order except how I think of it, let's put our hand together for:

AA Badenhorst Family Wines, Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines, Porseleinberg, Sadie Family Wines - guys and girls you are a true inspiration. Your wines, personalities, financial input, creativity and dedication is what makes this all happen and what keeps people coming back, satisfied.

Ann and Darielle - DnA events. Ladies, your work is incredible and the way you handle pressure and moments when things go a little bit off track is unbelievable! 

Cornelia Badenhorst and Judy Graaff of De Liefde, with the help of Hendrik Coetzee makes sure that every meal and break in the programme looks good and has some unique Swartland style. It is appreciated and admired. 

Coenie and Johan and their whole Mama Cucina Team - you cooked for days, set places for hours and still made us pizzas on Saturday night and fed people lunch on Sunday. Your food is world class and your presence in the valley is a blessing.

Judy Badenhorst, Ena Louw, Suzie Sadie and Anita Rock - The Revolutionary Moms - just wow. It might have taken a while to get everyone their lunch pack on Saturday, but some things are worth waiting for and patience was after all a theme of the weekend.

Serge Hochar, David Sadie, Craig Hawkins, David Clarke, Tim James - thank you for your insightful and inspirational seminars and wines. Nothing moderate about any of it and from the feedback people appreciated and enjoyed every single tasting. A great balance of fun and facts.

DJ Chopper - we have always had a good party on the Friday night but this year raised the roof. Thanks for the tunes, my feet are still sore...

Lars Lyndgaard Schmidt, Kyle Dunn and the Malmesbury men who came to play barmen - die Caperitif het geloop. The cocktails added a new dimension to the experience and the product is amazing. I was still making people concoctions with whatever was still in stock long after the bar had closed, a big hit even if i was cursed for my heavy hand the next morning.

Wicket Treats and Beans about Coffee - thanks for breakfast, what would we do without you?

Callie and Craig - The Southern Smoke is flippen fantastic and your smoked snacks saved some lives.

Devils Peak and Riebeek River Breweries - thanks for all the beer!!

To all our venues, The Royal Hotel (G&T bars were fantastic), Riebeek Laerskool (as well as the hostel where all the food was prepared and where some tired guest laid their heavy heads down) thank you for having us.

Maree Louw, Natural Light Photography - we look forward to your fantastic photos.

Jo Middleton of Two Design in Franschhoek (yes..!) for all the amazing posters, logos, programmes, tasting sheets, mailers and more. Your designs play a huge part in making this thing what it is!

The Swartland Independent Producers for bringing your wines to lunch. You guys are the future!

Die Baardskeerdersbos Orkes - altyd lekker. 

Jurgen and Jasper for the after party. Great bad ideas as always...

To every local who got excited and every out of towner and foreigner who flocked to our beautiful valley to make this event the stunning celebration that it is / was. To every guest and attendee who jumped in to help pack, pour, carry and serve... It would not be the same without you.

I am inspired (how many times can you use that word in one post!?) and honored to be a part of this and I look forward to doing it all again next year. Book 6/7 November 2015 into your diaries!

A recap of the weekend coming here soon, I just await some pictures from Maree.

Thank you, dankie, cheers!

Helena 
The marketing and media revolutionary.

Think I missed anyone? Please shout, three coffees in and I am still struggling with this Monday morning.

Feel it, it is (almost) here...

Finally the week of the 5th annual Swartland Revolution has arrived. Lots of excitement as we put the final arrangements in place and the first deliveries start to arrive in Riebeek.

As always, there are a few exciting things planned...
If you bought a ticket you should have received this in your inbox, but for the sake of information sharing, here we go:

Other news?
The Programme page has been updated with final event times.

Keep an eye on our social media feeds, take part in the conversation using hashtag #SR2014 and well, get excited.

Soon...

which wine who?

So... by now you know that this year's Expert Opinion Tasting will see our "founding revolutionary wineries" each pour one wine of their own, next to a wine that has inspired them and their wine making...

But... can you pair the inspirational wine with the revolutionary?

Adi / Andrea and Chris / Callie / Eben will respectively bring you one of the wines below, but who picked what?

a. 1972 Vergenoegd Cabernet Sauvignon 

b. 2000 Château Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape 

c. 2011 Domaine Gauby Muntada 

d. 2006 Domaine De Montbourgeau Vin Jaune L’etoile 

Try match them all and let us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook.