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.

Feeling enthusiastic!

It is 4pm on a Friday and in the spirit of good Fridays to come we wanted to share his story from the latest issue of Wine Enthusiast. 

Written by Lauren Buzzeo, photographed by Maree Louw (on Kalmoesfontein) and styled by Cornelia Badenhorst, the article is a beautiful feature of the Big 5 as we head to our FIFTH Revolution...

Eben Sadie ‘The Virtuoso’, Callie Louw ‘The Farmer’, Chris and Andrea Mullineux ‘The Dynamic Duo’ and Adi ‘The Personality’.

To read the full story online, click here and have a good weekend. 

A revolution in pictures #SR2013

Lovely pictures from #SR2013 by Maree Louw (of the Callie Louw clan).

Registration this year took place at the back of the Royal Hotel, I think this worked better since revolutionaries could engage with fellow guests while in the line or wait in the shade (with a drink) for the line to get shorter. 

Meanwhile the revolutionary crew was busy filling glasses with the lovely wines by Laurence Feraud of Domaine Du Pegau for our opening tasting: Quality First. 

Then it was time for the (in)famous BBQ Extravaganza. This year it was the boys at Mama Cucina (Johan and Coenie) who impressed the crowds with fantastic local food and meat so soft you could cut it with your bread knife.

While the oomies of the Baardskeerdersbos Orkes entertained and got the people dancing.

On Saturday morning, after breakfast Babelas Burgers 

and coffee from Beans about coffee

it was time for "the early morning tasting". In previous years we have explored the current super star wines from the Swartland in The Eben and Adi Show (2010), Mullineux Magic (2011) and Mountains and Hills (2012). This year we looked back at old wines from the Swartland in the 1970s and 80s. 

Possibly the very last of these wines (a Swartland Winery Cinsaut circa 1970; 1981 Tinta Barocca, 1989 Shiraz and a 1982 Hanepoot along with a 1971 KWV Pinotage) as we cleared out all the cellars we could find to bring our 400 revolutionaries a taste of the old Swartland greats. 

Tim James opened the tasting with a very insightful look at the history of wine in SA and the region in those days (read his speech here)

while Chris, Andrea, Adi, Callie and Eben each introduced a wine (was it a coincidence that Callie got Hanepoot and could use the opportunity to show chicken feet and balls to the whole tent?)

This year, during the 'beer break' (when we change 440 tasting sheets, exchange 440 x 5 dirty glasses into 440 x 9 clean glasses and fill it with new wines) guests were treated to Callie's Southern Smoke sandwiches, Adi's Pyl Uil beers and a beer wine hybrid by Mullineux Wines and Devils Peak Brewery. 

The last tasting, always known as Expert Opinions (since we get experts to share their favourite wines with us every year) showcased some expert Chenin Blancs, presented by those who made them.

Vincent Careme (Domaine Vincent Careme), Damien Delecheneau (Domaine de la Grange Tiphaine) and Benjamin Joliveau (Domaine Huet) brought 8 of their best to share.

It must have been something Adi said... 

Then, it was time for lunch. Once again prepared to perfection by 'The Moms' and styled to look stunning, by Cornelia and Judy from De Liefde.

And with The Lunch comes The Auction. Read more about this in our previous post. 

To end off another great revolutionary weekend, The Swartland Independent Street Party...

Great fun was had by young and old; returning revolutionaries and virgins; organisers and 'workas', weekend warriors and Street Party Specialists. 

The Swartland Revolution would like to thank:

Everyone who came and made it such a unique and fun weekend. See you next year... 

Everyone who helped pour, pack, clear and carry things. 

The Royal Hotel, Short Street, Anton Espost and the people of Riebeek for hosting us. 

Darielle Robertson and Ann Ferreira, DnA Events for all the hard work and organising every glass, plate and speaker. 

Jo Middleton, for making the event look good with her design work.

Helena Quietriotgirl Sheridan, for keeping our pages and feeds updated and keeping the conversation going.

Johan and Coenie and all the staff, at Mama Cucina who impressed everyone with dinner.

Die Baardskeerdersbos Orkes, for being lekker!

Beans about Coffee and The Babelas Burger crew, for getting everyone awake and fed on Saturday morning. 

The boys from The Southern Smoke for the amazing sandwiches. 

The Moms, who cooked for days so we can have a lush lunch. 

Cornelia Badenhorst and Judy Graaf, De Liefde, for organising and making lunch look good.

Everyone who donated items for the auction. 

The Swartland Independent Producers, for great wines to pour at the street party.

And last but never least, Maree Louw for the pretty pictures. See more on her blog, CLICK HERE>