Following the successful hosting of the ‘La Vendemmia‘ Harvest Festival in early March 2011, which was attended by 550 people, including a large number of families from the Cape Italian community, the Bottega family, producers of Idiom wines, have once again teamed up with the Italian Consulate in Cape Town, La Dante (Italian Cultural Society/Italian School) and the Fogolar Furlan (the Friuli Society) to arrange two days of Italian-themed festivities at their Da Capo Vineyards property located in the Helderberg basin near Somerset West, about 40 minutes drive from central Cape Town.

ITALIA IN CAMPAGNA…A TASTE OF ITALY IN THE CAPE WINELANDS

La Vendemmia 2012 will form part of a bigger festival called ‘Italia in Campagna ‘(Italy in the Countryside) and will be a two-day celebration of Italian food, wine and lifestyle. The date for the festival is the last weekend of February (Sat 25th/Sun26 Feb 2012) and a range of activities for adults and children is planned for both days. Grape picking and stomping, live music featuring jazz and Italian music, 5-a-side calcetto, bocce, climbing the cuccagna grease pole, tractor and pony rides, farm animals, scarecrow making and water slides are just some of the activities and entertainment provided on both days, while the more serious can visit the many Italian stalls and indulge in the variety of gastronomic temptations and wine workshops that will be on offer. For the more energetic, guided mountain walks to take in the fynbos and the spectacular views are also possible. A full timetable of events will be released on www.idiom.co.za closer to the event.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME

This year, the event will be open to the public for the first time and a limited number of tickets for the two-day festival will be sold on www.webtickets.co.za. Paid up members of the Fogolar Furlan and La Dante will still be able to get guaranteed tickets directly at preferential prices from their respective societies but these bookings will close one week in advance (Fri 17th Feb 2012). Club Idiom members will also be able to book directly with the farm on 021-852 3590 until this date. Thereafter all ticket sales will be handled online through the Webtickets platform.

INSPIRED BY ITALIA IN PIAZZA AT MONTECASINO

The festival has drawn some of its inspiration from the Italia in Piazza festival held at the outdoor piazza at Montecasino in June 2011. Organised by the Italian Consulate in Johannesburg, the event was themed Italia 150, a celebration of 150 years of Italian unification. Many of the same ingredients have been incorporated to make this a true celebration of all things Italian, including elements from the typical medieval village and mountain festivals that take place in Italy such as long tables out in the vineyards.

EXHIBITORS OF MADE IN ITALY PRODUCTS

The event will also provide producers and distributors of goods ‘Made in Italy’ to showcase these items to a receptive target market. Top brands of Italian motor vehicles, bikes, scooters, bicycles, toys, outdoor furniture, appliances, mineral water, foodstuffs, coffee machines, clothing, shoes and sporting apparel amongst others will be on display in the marquee village on the newly-prepared outdoor campo. The tents will be laid out in a u-shape to create a piazza feel. Exhibitors who would like to participate can contact Roberto Bottega on wine@idiom.co.za or 083 678 2094 by Tuesday 31st January 2011. More information is available on a separate exhibitor document.

ITALIAN COUNTRY FOOD AND FRESH PRODUCE MARKET

This year several Italian restaurants have been invited to Da Capo to cater for the 1000 people a day or more expected to visit the festival. The intention is to keep as much of the food as authentically Italian as possible. Tastings of finely sliced Prosciutto di San Daniele, Tortellini with prosciutto, Italian Salsiccia and Lamb Chops Scottaditto are just some of the mouthwatering dishes that will be served. The venue, which will become the site of the new Idiom Wines tasting area later in 2012 or early 2013, provides a wonderful mountain and vineyard setting offering spectacular views of the Cape Peninsula across nearby False Bay. The hugely popular Italian fresh produce market introduced at the 2011 La Vendemmia festival will now operate both days from early morning until the middle of the afternoon. Here a wide selection of locally made and imported salumi, formaggi (cheeses), olive oils, coffees, biscotti and other delicacies can be sampled and purchased to be washed down with a choice of prosecco, vino and grappa. Of course the festival is taking place in summer, so a special mention has to be made of the delicious selection of real gelato ice creams that will be on offer for those who have returned from the excursion into the vineyards.

ITALIAN VARIETAL WINES - TRY THE CAPE IDIOM…

The Bottega Family will have their award winning and limited edition Idiom Italian varietal wines (made from Sangiovese, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Primitivo grapes) as well as their new Rosso and Super Rosso di Stellenbosch wines available for tasting, and purchasing by the glass or by the bottle. All these Italian grapes are grown on Da Capo Vineyards where the first plantings took place in 1999. Visitors will also get a chance to visit the vineyards and help out with the harvest. As usual, repeat visitors will be able to purchase a case of La Vendemmia wine made from the grapes they picked and stomped the previous year. This year, other local producers of Italian wines have also been invited to the festival to add variety to the event.

…OR THE DOC ITALIAN VERSIONS IMPORTED BY VINOTRIA

Without a doubt, the highlight of the 2012 event will be the presence of visiting top Italian wine producers who will be on hand to guide visitors to explain what makes Italian wines so special and unique. Their presence is due to the fact that Bottega Family Wines (producer of Idiom) have started a new project called VINOTRIA, which is a collaboration with fellow their Italian importer and fellow Italian producer Belbon Hills. Currently Vinotria imports and distributes a selection of top wines from leading producers in Italy. Many form part of the prestigious Wine Spectator Top 100 list. Producers in the portfolio include Donnafugata (Sicily), Feudi di San Gregorio (Campania), Masciarelli (Abruzzo), Chianti Classico producer Badia a Coltibuono and Brunello producer Fattoria dei Barbi (Tuscany), Sardus Pater (Sardinia), Bellenda (prosecco), Ripassa and Amarone producer Zenato (Veneto) , Castello di Cigognola (Lombardy), top Barbera producers ‘Braida’ di Giacomo Bologna and Coppo, Barolo producer Vietti and top grappa producer Berta (all from Piedmont). After this year’s edition of Vinitaly, new producers will be added from Friuli and other regions. This newly available range of wines from Vinotria include many of the Italian wineries’ most famous wines as well as their best value products to ensure that there is a selection of wines available for all pockets.

SPECIAL EVENING EVENT: SAT 25th FEB 18h00 - REGIONAL FOOD AND WINE JOURNEY THROUGH ITALY

A special Italian food and wine pairing evening featuring a serving of typical regional dishes accompanied by a talk and tasting of wines hosted by the visiting Italian producers from that region, is being offered for lovers of Italian fare on Saturday evening 25th Feb from 18h00, when it will be a bit cooler and the ambience will be perfect to gain some insight into the world of Italian wines. A separate booking will be required for this event which will cover the cost of the meal and wines served at the event. The special wine tasting ticket will also act as a weekend pass for those who want to arrive early to enjoy the festivities during the day on Saturday or who want to return on Sunday. The menu will be published closer to the event and the cost for the dinner will be R350 per person.

BOOKLETS OF ‘OLD LIRE’ FOOD AND WINE COUPONS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

In order to enjoy samplings of the different offerings at the festival, visitors will be required to purchase R50 or R100 booklets containing food and wine tickets denominated in Old Lire (Vecchie Lire). The tickets can be redeemed for tasting portions at the various food and wine stands making up the restaurant area and the country food market. The currency for the festival, which has not necessarily been reintroduced as a result of the current crisis facing the Euro, but rather to facilitate transactions on the day, will be available for purchase either from ticket vendors at the festival or alternatively can be bought prior to the event through the Webtickets.co.za portal at a discount of 5%. Left over vouchers, which are only valid for the two days of the festival cannot be redeemed for cash, however they can be used to purchase bottles of wine to take away.

Visitors are encouraged to purchase the combination day entry and lire ticket online which will allow them admission and a booklet of lire to use at the festival which be given to them at the door.

ENQUIRIES
Bottega Family Wines 021 852 3590

TICKET PRICES

PLEASE BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE AS NUMBERS ARE LIMITED AND THE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME! UNFORTUNATELY IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESERVE A PARTICULAR TABLE OR AREA DUE TO THE NUMBERS.

ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF ENTRY TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE GATE IF TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD OUT. PLEASE CHECK WEB www.idiom.co.za or www.webtickets.co.za for UPDATES

ONLINE PREBOOKING www.webtickets.co.za

(Discount applies on pre-booking for combination entry/lire vouchers until Wed 22 Feb 2012 - therafter full admission price applies)

ADMISSION ONLY

Sat 25th : Adults R100; Children 4-12 R50; Kids under 4 Free

Sun 26h : Adults R100; Children 4-12 R50; Kids under 4 Free

COMBINATION ADMISSION + LIRE FOOD/WINE VOUCHERS

Sat 25th: Adults R175 (includes R100 lire); Children 4-12 R75 (includes R50 lire); Kids under 4 free

Sun 26th: Adults R175 (includes R100 lire); Children 4-12 R75 (includes R50 lire); Kids under 4 free

DINNER EVENT (LIMITED NUMBERS OF TICKETS)

Sat 25th: from 18h00 including sundowner – Special Evening Event.

Regional Tasting Dinner hosted by visiting producers from Italy – R350 per person including Food and Wine

This ticket for the dinner also allows entry to the festival on Sunday.

MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT!

The organisers recommend making a weekend of the festival by attending the dinner on Saturday evening and then staying over in one of the many guesthouses, bed and breakfasts or country hotels in nearby Somerset West or Stellenbosch for the Saturday night. A shuttle service (available at extra cost) will also be on hand to take guests to their guesthouses on Saturday night after the dinner allowing them to leave their cars at the festival parking should they not want to drive.

SEE YOU ALL AT DA CAPO VINEYARDS – HOME OF IDIOM WINES - ON THE 25th AND 26th FEBRUARY 2012!

On the 27^th of January, Idiom Wines, in union with City Grill Steakhouse, will be hosting an Idiom Steak & Blends evening at the City Grill Steakhouse at the V&A Waterfront.

Guests will delight in a selection of five fine meat cuts, paired with three top Idiom blends, resulting in fifteen different taste sensations.

Seating is limited and there for booking is essential.

Please RSVP to: info@citygrill.co.za

For further details, please contact either the City Grill at 021 421 9820 or Idiom Wines at 021 852 3590

On the 23rd and 22nd of December 2011, the Bottega Family Wine launched the release of their new Whalehaven label at The Marine in Hermanus.

The evenings were hosted within the casual surroundings of The Marine’s Sun Lounge as guests were treated to a sensory journey, with a selection of Whalehaven wines being masterfully paired, by head-chef Loran Livesey, with a variety of delicious canapé. Notable sensations were the twice baked cheese soufflé’s, paired with the lightly wooded Chardonnay and the beef slice with Yorkshire pudding and horse-radish sauce, which complimented the elegant Pinot Noir excellently.

All were in high spirits as they shared in celebrating the unveiling of the vibrant and fresh Whalehaven label.

Idiom was proud to be included in the impressive local and international selection of grand reserves and fine champagnes. The Idiom magnums are 1.5litre collector’s items. Named Idiom Sommelier Series, the rare magnum bottles showcase the expressions of various sensory specialists including perfumers, chocolatiers and wine sommeliers. The exclusive range was launched to connoisseurs and collectors alike at The Big Bottle Festival for the first time.

Silvana Bottega, who represents the Bottega Family Wine Portfolio that Idiom falls part of, noted “Bottling wine in large formats should be a rarity and generally done to showcase an outstanding vintage or mark a winery’s anniversary. As such, sixty bottles of each of our master blends have been bottled, bringing the total to one hundred and eighty magnum sized formats containing the 2007 vintage. 9 has always been a special number for our family and as such we have tended to keep some division of that number.”

Whilst the Idiom magnums were on show during the Walk Around tasting, the festival also included an extraordinary Blanc de Blanc Champagne tasting, aimed at devoted lovers of bubbly. The tasting gave the love-stricken admirers of the large format an opportunity to taste ten rare Blanc de Blanc Champagnes including Salon Le Mesnil, Larmandier Bernier and Ruinart, naming but a few. In keeping with the theme of the festival, the staggering collection of MC’s were served from bottles ranging from Magnum to Jéroboam’s, the latter being widely regarded as the paramount sized Champagne bottle.
Executive Chef, Peter Templehoff hosted a unique Fine Wine Tasting at his Greenhouse Restaurant, where his menu was aimed at complimenting esteemed wines from influential areas the world over. From Burgundy to Bordeaux and the Swartland to Barossa, wines were served from an assortment of large bottle formats.

Ending the festival on the highest note, the Gourmet Champagne Breakfast, yet again, allowed Chef Peter Templehoff to tantalize guest’s taste buds. A supply of scarce Champagnes, including Pol Roger, Drappier and Billecart-Salmon, renowned names from small houses that are rarely found in South Africa, were paired with Templehoff’s gourmet breakfast.

The wine is described as: ” A stylish wine with a tantalising nose and complex mouth-feel. Rich red and sour cherry aromas are enhanced by savoury notes and spicy flavours of tobacco and tar. A great balance between tannin and fruit make this a grand Sangiovese for the connoisseur.”

The results for the category highlighted two of the rare and distinctive Sangiovese’s made in the Cape: -

BEST SANGIOVESE
78 B Idiom Sangiovese 2007
72 B Anthonij Rupert Terra Del Capo Sangiovese 2008

Sangiovese is and has always been the dominant grape of red wines in Central Italy and it is most famous as the main component of the blend Chianti, Carmignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Morellino di Scansano. It is also used to make prestigious varietal wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino or Sangiovese di Romagna, as well as modern ‘Super Tuscan’ wines like Tignanello. A key characteristic of Sangiovese within the vineyard is that it can vary quite considerably, very much like Pinot Noir, in that it is very sensitive to where it is planted and that it ripens fairly late.
Idiom’s Sangiovese has a good concentration of colour and flavour and it is the flavour of Sangiovese that often proves to be quite elusive but we feel we have harnessed a good balance between savoury notes of cinnamon and tobacco and more fruity components of mulberries and blackcurrant.
Very few producers in South Africa make a single varietal wine from Sangiovese but with the strong Italian heritage in the Bottega family we nurture the idea that Sangiovese is to Chianti was Cabernet Sauvignon is to Bordeaux – a grape with its own stylistic personality of elegance and complexity.

For the full results, visit: http://www.winemag.co.za/article/old-mutual-trophy-wine-show-2011-the-results-2011-05-27

CAPE. THE IDIOM CAPE BLEND 2006

Double Gold at Michelangelo, Gold at Veritas, Diamond at the Investec Winemakers Choice and 4 stars by wine magazine: the flagship wine of the collection for this vintage! Abundant aromas of deep red cherry fruit, sweet caramel and fragrant cigar smoke. Opulent and long lingering.

BORDEAUX. THE IDIOM BORDEAUX BLEND 2006

Double Trophy Winner. Regional Trophy winner at the 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards in London for Best South African Bordeaux Blend and 2010 Trophy winner for SA Wine-of-the-Month Club’s much coveted Best Bordeaux of the Year category. A full bodied blend of Cabernet sauvignon (43%), Merlot (31%) and Cabernet franc (25%). Inviting aromas of cassis, hazelnuts and marzipan spills over into subtle dark fruit, with tannins and a complex long lingering finish.

RHONE. THE IDIOM VIOGNIER 2009

A golden wine with a striking bouquet of candied fruit, honey, nougat and cloves. The opulent mouth feel reveals a melange of clear stone fruit and fresh citrus flavours. An exceptional wine with remarkable consistency and continuity of aromas and flavours.

TUSCANY. THE IDIOM SANGIOVESE 2007

A stylish wine with a tantalising nose and complex mouth-feel. Rich red and sour cherry aromas are enhanced by savoury notes and spicy flavours of tobacco and tar. A great balance between tannin and fruit make this a grand Sangiovese for the connoisseur.

A unique degustation menu is being developed by Chef Dario De Angeli of Cube Tasting Kitchen that will be paired with Idiom wines for a charity event that is being hosted to support South African chefs by the Feast Food & Wine Club.

Established in April 2009 FEAST is a proudly South African food and wine club that celebrates the joys of food, wine and wonderful people. The Wine Club holds regular events for 50-150 people where lovers of the culinary arts gather to explore new restaurants and wine and celebrate life. Through the regular events the Feast Club serves as a platform for exquisite restaurants and culinary sensations, wine farms and entertainers. Here they get to showcase their talents, network and share their knowledge of food and wine.

The Feast Food & Wine Club is run by Franck Deroche, Daria Higgins and Christophe Jouet who couple this with the ability to contribute to the hospitality industry by ploughing all the money raised through our events back into the culinary arts by giving the underprivileged the means to pursue an education and career in this rewarding industry, through the Dr Bill Gallagher Young Chefs Study Assistance Fund. In this way the unique talent and passion needed to succeed in the hospitality industry can be nurtured and encouraged.

For this event, Feast will be working with Cube Tasting Kitchen and the Idiom Collection of Fine wines to create a unique tasting experience that is unexpected, exciting and unconventional: much like the two businesses they are bringing together by fusing experimental cuisine with rare varietals and bold blends.

Inspired by the innovative cuisine of master chefs Heston Blumenthal of The Fat Duck (UK) and Ferran Adria of El Bulli (Spain), the Cube Tasting Kitchen is a fine dining establishment that challenges the senses. The menu excites diners with 20 starter-sized amuse bouches with an emphasis on flavour combination, texture and visual presentation. From culinary favourites like pork belly through to rare speciality dishes like Alaskan Crab, chef Dario De Angeli takes the palate on a journey in search of the undiscovered, the unconventional and the unexpected.

CUBE MENU for the evening:

SOUP. Butternut. Nutmeg. Feta. (V)

CURRY. Crab. Orange. Coriander. (V: Lentil)

PASTA. Prawn. Chorizo. Caraway. Pomegranate.

PIE. Chicken. Mushroom. Leek (V: No Chicken)

CARAMEL POPCORN Foie Gras. Apple.

RISOTTO. Peperonata (V)

LAMB. Parsnip. Olive. Pepper. Onion. (V: Pumpkin)

CAULIFLOWER. Parmesan. Prosciutto. (V: No Prosciutto)

JELLY & CUSTARD. Gruyere. Noble Late.

CHOCOLATE. Biscuit. Liquid. Custard.

MALVA. Toffee. Ginger. Lemon Verbena.

De Angeli has been named a 5 star chef in Wine Magazine’s Top 100 restaurant guide and the Eat Out Chef of the year in 2003. Prior to opening Cube Tasting Kitchen, De Angeli owned and managed Yum in Greenside,Yum Nostalgia in Rivonia and was the Executive Chef at the Westcliff Hotel.

The Idiom Collection is an award-winning range of premium wines from the Bottega Family’s Da Capo Vineyards. Alberto Bottega studied nuclear physics prior to entering the world of finance and this experimental nature retained from his youth has resulted in concentrated wines that are unique expressions of rare varietals and bold blends with various American, French and Hungarian oak treatments.The Idiom range consists of 14 different varietals and has the potential to provide a unique and direct comparison between the famous wines of Bordeaux, the Rhone, Tuscany and Piemonte, but expressed in the Cape terroir. His son, Roberto Bottega, is developing a tasting centre and personally champions the rarest wines in the Collection: The Idiom 900 Series, which are 900 bottles or less. Idiom has recently pushed sensory boundaries by creating a unique, limited edition liquid Parfum du Vin of a haute gamme that was sold in Harrods & a solid Parfum du Vin (Viognier).

DATE: 13th June 2011
VENUE: Cube Tasting Kitchen, 17 4th Avenue, Parktown North
RSVP: feastfwc@gmail.com, FRANCK 073 246 2214

Dear Friends and Club Idiom members

Attached please find the invite and map to the Da Capo Vineyards LA VENDEMMIA Harvest Festival, taking place on Sunday 6th March 2011.

As we expecting in the region of 400-500 people this year, the organising committee has decided to implement an EFT booking system.
Once we are full, we will be closing the bookings, so please book a.s.a.p.
Please see booking dates on invite (refund will apply for all cancellations by 4th March 2011).
Proceeds from ticket sales go to raise funds for various Italian associations in Cape Town.
Please email or call (021 852 390 - Da Capo Direct/083 678 2094 Roberto) first to check last minute availability before making payment.

Banking details for bookings for CLUB IDIOM MEMBERS and BOTTEGA FAMILY guests:
Absa a/c number - Da Capo Vineyards
4048 344 729 account number
630 710 branch code

If you are booking through the Scuola Italiana or Fogolar, please use their respective bank accounts as each group is taking their own bookings.

Please mark your payment with the following code LV + Name + adult / kids so we can identify the payments.
eg LV-Smith-4/4
would be booking for Smith 4 adults 4 kids (aged 4-12)
Kids under 4 free.

Please email wine@idiom.co.za with your name, number of guests, and copy of your proof of payment so we can see who has paid by EFT.
Tickets for meals and drinks can be collected on the morning at the entrance.

Hope to see you there for a fun-filled day.

For decades South Africans have celebrated Valentine’s Day with passion and lust, be it sending flowers, writing love poems or preparing a romantic date for their loved ones. Inspired by the ancient love story of Saint Valentine, Whalehaven has prepared something special to launch their new 2010 Pinotage Rosé.

This year, Valentine’s Day has coincided with the release of the 2010 Whalehaven Pinotage Rosé and in honor of this we have launched a special promotion, “For the love of Rosé”. A new light and refreshing Rosé, it is made of 100% Pinotage. Delightful bouquets of Turkish delight hue, raspberry, black cherry and fruit of the forest characters fill each bottle.

Plenty of love went into preparing this special wine. Once harvested, the juice drawn off the ripening grapes was stored in steel tanks at a cool temperature for 24 hours. This was followed by racking and then continued fermentation at a low temperature of 13 degrees Celsius to retain optimum fruit characteristics. At R40 per bottle, the Whalehaven Pinotage Rosé will be the ideal refreshment to include in your romantic picnic basket.

The true story about Valentine’s Day will never be known and various theories exist as three different saints by the name of Saint Valentine were martyred on February 14. A priest in the 3^rd century, who performed secret marriages after the Roman Emperor Claudius II banned marriages because he thought single soldiers would make a better army. Another love legend has it that Valentine was a prisoner who fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before being put to death he sent his first “valentine” when he wrote her a letter and signed it “Your Valentine”. Other people follow the Roman festival of “Lupercalia” where young men and women wear the name of their loved one on their sleeves. We love our Rosé, and as a tribute to this, we have put our name around the rim of a bottle neck.

Throughout history, ladies have been wooed by wine and therefore it is no surprise that a gift of wine for St. Valentine’s Day will play a starring role in a romantic seductive evening for someone special. Spoil yourselves this year with a case of Whalehaven wine, “for the love of Rosé”!

Whalehaven’s Pinot Noir (2008) scored 88 points from Wine Spectator, the top wine publication that focuses on wine and wine culture. Over 15, 000 wines from around the world are blind-tasted each year by the editors of Wine Spectator and rated using a 100-point scale. This is the first time that Whalehaven has been rated by a US publication and they are currently in the process of entering the market in 2011.

The 88 rating that the Whalehaven Pinot Noir scored places this wine in the category of being a “very good wine with special qualities”. Tasted and rated by James Molesworth, Senior Editor of Wine Spectator (New York), who is responsible for new South African wines, describes the Pinot Noir as “dark, but silky and fresh, featuring delicious crushed cherry and plum fruit laced with spice and tea notes. The perfumy finish has good latent acidity to stretch it out. Drink now. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.”

Winemaker, Reino Thiart, was honoured by the high rating commenting that, “As a winemaker it’s always very rewarding to receive credit for a specific wine from one’s peers. Receiving a score of 88 in such a well-known and prestigious publication such as Wine Spectator, for a grape varietal that often provides a lot of challenges, can humble any winemaker very quickly and is a superb way to measure ones capabilities.”

Whalehaven sources its Pinot Noir grapes from the Elgin region, a cool-climate coastal area traditionally known for its apple orchards. Having a reputation for producing predominantly fruity wines, characterised by their mineral undertones and complemented by good natural acidity, Elgin is embraced in the Hottentots Holland Mountains and is a part of the Four Passes Fruit Route. Its location and cooler terroir are known for growing grapes that potentially ripen more slowly, and these have contributed to the creation of the Whalehaven Pinot Noir, a wine light ruby in colour with soft tannins, spicy oak aromas, blackcurrant and wild strawberry fruits.

]]> http://www.bottegafamilywine.co.za/press/whalehaven-pinot-noir-2008-scores-88-points-from-wine-spectator-usa/feed/ http://www.bottegafamilywine.co.za/press/idiom-opens-for-the-first-time-to-the-public-exclusively-for-the-weekend-1-5th-july/ http://www.bottegafamilywine.co.za/press/idiom-opens-for-the-first-time-to-the-public-exclusively-for-the-weekend-1-5th-july/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:23:21 +0000 admin http://www.bottegafamilywine.co.za/press/?p=87 Idiom Wines, recent Trophy winners at the 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards in London, will be opening their Da Capo Vineyards property in Sir Lowry’s Pass to the public for the first time for a football-themed weekend during this years’ Stellenbosch Wine Festival, which will take place from 1-5 July. The Bottega family, who own the vineyards, are avid football fanatics, with both owner Alberto Bottega and son, Roberto, having played top level amateur football in their youth.

A new 5-a-side football pitch has been prepared in the middle of the vineyards, which features panoramic 270 degree views of the Helderberg basin, and the whole profile of the Cape Peninsula from Table Mountain to Cape Point can be seen across nearby False Bay on a clear day. The wine farm is located about 40 minutes drive from Cape Town, and is one of the southernmost vineyards in the Wine of Origin Stellenbosch appellation. Fifteen grape varietals, including four Italian varietals, are grown on the property.

Activities at Da Capo Vineyards during the Festival include:
* 5-a-side Supporters’ Football Tournament on the football field with vineyard vistas.
* 4-4-2 Football Formation Wine-Blending Theatre
* A Taste of Italy in the Cape.
(Idiom Italian varietal wines paired with taste size dishes prepared by acclaimed chef Gianni Mariano of Mastrantonio)
* Vertical Tasting of the award winning Idiom Bordeaux Blends
* Boules Competition

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Festival Offerings & Events at da capo vineyards

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A taste of Italy in the Cape. A pairing of Idiom Italian varietal wines with Italian cuisine by celebrity chef Gianni Mariano of Mastrantonio.

Saturday 3rd July & Sunday 4th July, 11.30am - 4.00pm

To reflect their Italian heritage, the Bottega family grow 4 Italian varietals at Da Capo Vineyards, namely Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Primitivo. They have teamed up with Gianni Mariano of Mastrantonio restaurant on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival to offer taste size portions of different Italian dishes which will be prepared to match the wines.

TASTING MENU

Porcini Mille Foglie

Phyllo pastry layered with wild and porcini mushrooms sauteed in olive oil, and oven roasted red peppers

Matched with the Idiom Nebbiolo

Pasta Ortobosco

Napoletana based with baby marrow and aubergine

Matched with the Idiom Sangiovese

Seared Salmon with a citrus dressing

Minute seared with tyme, olive oil and black pepper, served with mange tout and baby carrots and a lemon and lime dressing

Matched with the Idiom Barbera

Trimmed Lamb with rosemary and a herb mash

Roasted lamb served with a sage and mint mash, topped with a rosemary jus

Matched with the Idiom Primitivo

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A vertical tasting of Idiom’s award winning Bordeaux Blend

Thursday 1 July 2010 to Monday 5 July 2010

The flagship blend of the Idiom Collection, Idiom’s 2006 Bordeaux has just won the Trophy for Best South African Bordeaux Blend in the over GBP10 category at the 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards, Idiom’s most notable accolade to date. To celebrate this award, we are allowing guests to taste three vintages of our Bordeaux-style blends. Winemaker Reino Thiart, will be on hand to guide the vertical tasting sessions of the Bordeaux blends.

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5-a-side Supporter’s - Football Tournament

Sunday 4 July 2010 & Monday 5 July 2010

The Idiom Collection of wines invites those with a passion for the beautiful game to participate in a fun 5-a-side Supporters football tournament on our newly prepared mini-pitch in the middle of our scenic vineyards in the Helderberg. Bring along your favourite national team shirt or simply come blow your vuvuzela while enjoying a glass of wine and watch the Dutch or Spanish fans take on the Italian supporter’s team or the Bafana hopefuls. For more info, visit our website. To enter a team contact Roberto on wine@idiom.co.za or call 083 678 2094 / 021 852 3590. Please try and enter early as we will only be accommodate a fixed number of teams at the tournament on Sunday and Monday.

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Four-Four-Two Football themed Blending Sessions

Thursday 1 July 2010 to Monday 5 July 2010

For those who fancy their managerial skills, there will be a chance to make up some blends that match their favourite football formations. Compare a 4-4-2 (4 parts Cabernet, 4 parts Merlot and 2 parts Shiraz for example) to a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2 and see which formation will prevail. Idiom produce wines of character and the aim of the guided session will be to help demystify the intricate world of blends by likening the characters of the different varietals to the characters of different positions on the football pitch. Cabernet Sauvignon often provides the backbone to a blend in the same way that defenders perform the same role in a team. Merlot can be liked to midfielders etc. Guests will be able to taste blends which represent the different formations.

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DIRECTIONS
To get to Da Capo Vineyards from Somerset West, turn left at the Vergelegen medi-clinic, continue along the old Sir Lowry’s Pass road past Waterkloof into Sir Lowry’s Pass Village (past the sign to the N2) and then turn left towards Wedderwill. Drive for 2km along the brick road past the sports field. At the security entrance to Knorhoek farm proceed through the boom and follow the road until you reach the entrance to Da Capo Vineyards.

From Cape Town, drive along the N2 towards Sir Lowry’s Pass. At the new Sir Lowry’s Pass/Gordon’s Bay intersection, turn left and drive through Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, cross over the railway line and then turn right. Then turn left at the Wedderwill sign and follow the instructions above.

Costs for various activities during the day differ.

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CONTACT:

Roberto Bottega, wine@idiom.co.za or Silvana Bottega, info@bottegafamilywine.co.za