Harvest news~

A short bit of news from the Mullineux Cellar is that they've finished harvesting all their white grapes and are getting stuck into the reds in a big way this week!

The heat is keeping the whole Swartland on its toes, but so far everything looks good as you can see from these lovely pictures!

Harvesting Steen

Hanging out the straw wine!

On the other side of the Riebeek Mountain, in the Paardeberg Adi Badenhorst and team are also in full harvest swing on Kalmoesfontein.

Everyone has jumped in to help get the grapes in to the cellar in the scorching Swartland sun. Cousins are becoming drivers, Jasper Wickens is once again our assistant winemaker and even young Samuel Badenhorst is getting in on the action (winemaker in training!).

Neighbour Barry Schreiber was there to count every berry of Chenin Blanc and we have a female French import, harvest hand Helena Kotzev. Here they are loading the press.

In good Taste...

The 2010 Swartland Revolution featured in a lovely colourful story in the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Woolworth's Taste Magazine.

Lovely pictures by Greg Cox and our own photographer Maree Louw along with a in-depth article by Sumien Brink and Jocelyn Warrington follows the journey to the event from concept right through to the amazing wines and food on show on the weekend.

A nice insight into what you missed if you weren't there in 2010, and what we are building on to make 2011 even better...

Buy this TASTE Jan/Feb 2011 issue today, and turn straight to page 78!

SAVE THIS DATE, or miss out~

The second annual Swartland Revolution will take place on

the weekend of 11 - 12 November 2011.

So make a note for 11.11.11 somewhere. We will aim to have 100 more tickets available this time, so 250 lucky revolutionaries will join in the fun.

Booking details to follow in 2011.

Official pics~

Winemaker Callie Louw's wife Maree was the official photographer for the revolution.

Take a look at all her amazing picture on her website by clicking here.

If you would like any of these pictures, please email me at swartlandrevolution@gmail.com

A post revolution post!

Swartland Revolution, the departure point, not the destination!

The inaugural Swartland Revolution took place in the small town of Riebeek Kasteel over the weekend of 12 -13 November 2010. Just over 150 revolutionaries rocked up to celebrate and enjoy the unique wines, food and atmosphere of the Swartland and its people.

Opening the event was Riebeek locals Chris and Andrea Mullineux who conducted a tasting with French winemaker, Stephane Ogier, who guided attendees through 8 of his acclaimed Northern Rhone wines, with a focus on the special terroir that goes into them.

The wines were:

1. 1. Saint Joseph Blanc 2008 (100% Marsanne)
2. 2. Condrieu "La combe de Malleval" 2009 (100% Viognier)
3. 3. L'Ame Sœur 2007 (100% Syrah)
4. 4. Côte-Rôtie 2007 (100% Syrah)
5. 5. Côte-Rôtie "Lancement" 2007 (100% Syrah)
6. 6. Côte-Rôtie "Belle Hélène" 2007 (100% Syrah)
7. 7. Côte-Rôtie 1999
8. 8. Roussanne 2005

Guests then made their way to the “Ou Pastorie” at Kloovenburg, where celeb chef Reuben Riffel and his team was already braaiing up a storm.

The menu included 5 glorious salads, mielies and potatoes on the braai and a variety of lamb, beef and chicken delicacies as well as pork belly that melted away in your mouth and organic Namibian patties that were a big hit. Pair that with some of the Swartland’s best wines flowing freely and the sounds of the Kitchen Jamming Blues band in the background and it is easy to understand why the party carried on well into the night.

Saturday morning, after Babbelaas burgers (a local favourite) and some strong Origin coffee it was time for The Eben and Adi Show, moderated by a very entertaining Tim James. Eben Sadie opened the show with a cartwheel (the result of a bet he lost after a few glasses of wine the night before) and showcased the different components of his acclaimed Columella, Syrah from granite, clay and slate soil, as well as a blend, all from the 2010 vintage.

Adi Badenhorst then showed seven components of his Badenhorst white blend, focussing again on the soil and terrior where the vines grow.

Then, with complementary Riedel glass and some Bollinger bubbly in hand Michael Fridjhon launched the Swartland Independent and the SA Sommelier of the Year award.

For lunch the team at Bar Bar Black Sheep prepared a feast that had guest mesmerised. The menu featured everything from super salads to vine wrapped garlic butter sardines, lamb on the spit, a selection of homemade breads, preserves and cheese to basil pesto pasta and white chocolate cheesecake for desert.

After lunch it was time to auction off some rare items donated by the various wineries involved. Proceeds will go to a Swartland based NGO (tbc).

• One Case of “OUWINGERDREEKS” by The Sadie Family Wines sold for R5000.
• One lucky couple bought an intimate dinner for two in the Mullineux wine vault (wines included) with a wine hamper to take home compliments of Mullineux Wines and Bar Bar Black Sheep for R4000.
• 5L of 2007 AA Badenhorst Red Wine was auctioned for R4500.
• 3L of 2009 AA Badenhorst White Wine sold for R3800.
• A 500l Saury barrel went for R10 000.
• And a 600l concrete egg, filled with Sadie and Badenhorst Chenin for R40 000.

Eager guests placed bookings for all 600l of the wine from the buyer. You can follow this world first initiative on Twitter @silwervis.

And then we spread the joy with the Real Men (and women) Ferment Wild open tasting. At R50 per person this element of the programme was more accessible, and with 22 local producers showcasing their natural wines it attracted a lot of attention. An estimated 600 people attended the lively tasting in the Short Street Square.

With the raging success of the inaugural Swartland Revolution and the overwhelming positive feedback from guests; organisers are already looking forward to a bigger, better 2011 edition.

Feedback from the Revolution~

We realise it must have been a heavy hand that reached into the pocket for R1750 of your hard earned cash months ago. It is therefore a real pleasure to receive so many notes of thanks and congratulations after the event. We are delighted to hear that you not only enjoyed our event but really felt that you received value for your money.

Here is some feedback form guests who started the revolution with us this weekend.

See you all in Riebeek in 2011!

Hats off to you for this amazing event - it was very well put together and most importantly it was great fun. My wife asked me how it was this morning when I got back, and I said that it was like 'Woodstock.. but without the sex'. - Raffi Gabeyan (French Importer) 


Just a quick email to say that the organisation of The Swartland Revolution was absolutely brilliant!  Thank you to all the organisers for a truly amazing event. Where do we sign up for 2011? - Donna Christie Gibbon

I had a fabulous time at the Swartland Revolution and thought you all did an awesome job with the organising, logistics, food and of course the wine. Thanks again and I will tell all my wine-loving friends about it for next year. -Mary-Lyn

CONGRATULATIONS and a big thanks for a great weekend. I had a FANTASTIC time. 

Thanks a million. - Jörg Pfützner

A short word of thanks and also a big “Well Done!!” I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Revolution and you did a fantastic job organizing it. All the best with taking this even further. - Andre Morgenthal 

A quick note to join the many I’m sure you’ve received to congratulate you on the best wine event that I have ever attended. A perfect mix of serious tasting of seriously good wines, with a good measure of fun and festivity. The food was simply superb, the venues and layout spot on, the speech from Michael in particular absolutely brilliant. Honestly I feel sorry for those who thought they should miss this one. Bring on 2011 – and count me in! - Erica Meles-Liebenberg

Thanks for inviting us with the weekend. It was fantastic and a HUGE privilege for me to be part of something so special. You’ve done a fantastic job, something that’s organised, but still driven by 100% soul.

- Pieter Walser

Congrats on a superb weekend – can’t wait for the next one! - Sue Pugh

Thank you guys for a wonderful weekend. Well done! It was very well organized and the quality of the stuff (from people involved to wine, bubbly, etc) was excellent. - Billy Hughes

Thank you all so much for a wonderful feast of fine wine, delicious food, knowledge, opinions and /passion/. I thought you guys pulled off a world class performance from the very start right through until the end (I hope I didn’t miss too much in the ‘Real _winemakers_ ferment wild!’ (Respect Andrea), but I don’t need any convincing that wild is the way forward). I liked what Mr Fridjhon had to say and feel that there was a message in there that all of us can take home: winemakers are the gatekeepers to terroir true wines and natural winemaking is how we can all recognize the nuances of our respective terroirs and the cultivars that can work in them.

I’m happy to be back in Claret country and about to tuck into a lovely Cab Merlot, but with an even greater respect for your region and your honest wines. I wish some more of my neighbours could have been there to see what positive energy and mutual respect can achieve!

Salt of the Earth,
Alex & Caryn Starey
Keermont Vineyards

SAVE THIS DATE, or miss out~

AA Badenhorst Family Wines, Mullineux Family Wines, Porcelain Mountain Wines, Sequillo Cellars and The Sadie Family Wines

would like to invite you to the first annual Swartland Revolution Weekend.

When: 12 – 13 November 2010

Where: Riebeek Kasteel

Price: Weekend package is R1750 per person - ONLY 150 tickets!!

What do I get for my R1750?

* A Swartland style welcome hamper.

* A fantastic in-depth sit down seminar and tasting and tasting of 8 world class wines from Stephane Ogier of Cote Rotie.

* A truly gatskop Braai by Reuben Riffel, including wine and Jukskei lessons.

* Breakfast and coffee on Saturday morning.

* An insightful sit down seminar & tasting of the experiences and next level Swartland experiments of the AA Badenhorst and Sadie Families, moderated by Tim James.

* A presentation by Michael Fridjhon on the Independent character and spirit of the Swartland.

* Saturday Lunch at the World famous Bar Bar Blacksheep, including wine.

* Entry to the Real Men Ferment Wild tasting where you get to taste over 50 wines from more than 16 wineries, convened by Neil Pendock.

* The chance to tell your grandchildren that you were there!

(view the entire programme of events here)

To only attend the Real Men Ferment Wild Tasting on Saturday afternoon is R50 pp.

Bookings: Mail info@dnaevents.co.za
or call the ladies at DNA Events: Ann (082 909 1116) or Darielle (084 207 3820) to avoid dissapointment - ONLY 150 TICKETS AVAILABLE>

The event will also host the launch of the Swartland Independent, a forum for all independent wineries in the area to work together.

The Swartland is producing some of South Africa’s most exciting wines, with its old bush vines expressing a lot of intensity of fruit. Winemakers such as Eben Sadie and Adi Badenhorst have made their names in this incredible region with unique terroir and wine making styles. – Under the influence, June 2010

So, tired of fashonista cuvees, head out to Malmesbury to embrace the zeitgeist of zef wine – Neil Pendock, May 2010

There is unqualified respect for the area’s terroir and the wines it produces. In its favour are ancient soils, old bush vines and interesting grapes – from Chenin Blanc, red and white Grenache to Clairette Blanche and Shiraz. - WOSA