GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — For the first time, the Karoo Wine Club hosted a gin and wine tasting - and it will certainly not be the last.
Tamboerskloof wines are known to some local wine lovers but the Bossieveld gin is new to the area and a great introduction to the Karoo town of Graaff Reinet.
Stellenbosch's Kleinood wine Farm had Marisca van Zyl pouring her Tamboerskloof range of wines after the Great Karoo Spirit representatives, Louise and Amanda, made two very different and funky gin cocktails after a neat tasting of their brand new Karoo Bossie infused gins.
In the planning, many recipes were discussed and thoughts exchanged.
Eventually, it was concluded that all the food would be gin-infused, one way or another. Resident wine club chef, Gordon Wright, came up with some superb ideas such as wild Scottish Salmon gravlax with a gin and egg sauce, a gin and juniper steeped venison terrine, grilled chicken strips with a gin and lemon basting and to end it off, a gin and tonic sorbet!
The Kleinood way of farming, winemaking and the production of their own "de Boerin" Extra Virgin Olive Oil is really true to old school principals but utilising modern methodology.
They have a state-of-the-art cellar but only use their own grapes, and soil tests are done regularly to ensure that the terroir remains what the grapes need to thrive. They also go out of their way to employ as many people as possible so all labeling is done by hand by a team of well-trained ladies.
Tamboerskloof wines are by no means mass-produced: they are made as naturally as possible, with the grape remaining the hero of the vintage.
Their production attitude dictates that they only make as many litres of wine as their own grapes will yield and they never buy in extra grapes, as is the practice with so many other producers.
"It is really fabulous to see the true value of our very own and venerable little Karoo bush being recognised in a very different way" enthused chairperson Rose Wright.
Louise van der Walt is a pharmacist by trade, who had been distilling various Karoo plants for their medicinal properties for natural healing purposes when the idea came to her to try to distil our famous Karoo bush and infuse it in her own gin. Thus was born The Great Karoo Spirit Company and their very Karoo "Bossieveld" gin range.
The evening was a great success. If anyone is interested in joining the Karoo Wine Club or acquiring any of these products, they may contact the club by emailing karoowineclub@gmail.com
The next wine tasting is the big annual event, Stoep Tasting Wine Weekend to be held on 25 and 26 May this year.
A gin and wine tasting was much enjoyed by all who attended it.
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