Posted by admin on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 , Posted in News , No Comments »
The time of waiting has begun!
In August last year we started pruning the vines specifically to get manipulate a lovely harvest.
We then started anxiously waiting for budding to start on the vines – the period of new growth is always worth keeping track of.
When the winds picked up and late rain came, it was very important to create an environment in the vines that fight diseases.
Then came summer and we needed to ensure the vines do not stress by not having enough water, and especially in the heat wave, we have to protect the grapes from sunburn by giving the canopy enough water.
At this point in time the vines are healthy, they have been watered, the canopy is managed to provide an optimum ripening environment…
… and now we wait…
And wait for the grapes to ripen
And harvest to begin!
Posted by jp on Friday, January 27th, 2012 , Posted in News , No Comments »
The time of waiting has begun!
In August last year we started pruning the vines specifically to get manipulate a lovely harvest.
We then started anxiously waiting for budding to start on the vines – the period of new growth is always worth keeping track of.
When the winds picked up and late rain came, it was very important to create an environment in the vines that fight diseases.
Then came summer and we needed to ensure the vines do not stress by not having enough water, and especially in the heat wave, we have to protect the grapes from sunburn by giving the canopy enough water.
At this point in time the vines are healthy, they have been watered, the canopy is managed to provide an optimum ripening environment…
… and now we wait…
And wait for the grapes to ripen
And harvest to begin!
Posted by jp on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 , Posted in News , No Comments »
The Restaurant @ Clos Malverne, styling in the heart of the Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch, hits all the right notes to get you in the mood for love with a sumptuous five course
Valentines Evening Dinner on Tuesday, 14 February.
This Valentines evening is one of sheer gastronomic delight and is ideal for food and wine lovers who enjoy a value for money, unhurried dining experience and includes a glass of matching Clos Malverne wine with each course.
The menu of this 5-star feast includes a Franchhoek salmon trout mouse; Mushroom experience with truffle shavings; Roasted rack of lamb; a dreamy Camembert phyllo roll, and strawberry and dark chocolate tiramisu. Each paired with a unique glass of Clos Malverne wine.
The Clos Malverne Valentines Dinner costs R298 per head and includes wine with all five courses as well as a welcome drink of Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc Brut on arrival.
Bookings are essential. For more information on The Restaurant @ Clos Malverne or the reserve your table, contact the restaurant at Tel: (+27)21 865 2022 or send an email to info@closmalverne.co.za.
Posted by jp on Monday, December 5th, 2011 , Posted in News , No Comments »
This was my first harvest working with Clos Malverne grapes, and needless to say… also Clos Malverne Sauvignon blanc grapes. My philosophy about Sauvignon blanc is that it should reflect your terroir. Why try to make a greener style of Sauvignon when you are situated in a warm wine area? Why not bring out the flavours that your climate naturally favours?
That is was I wanted to achieve with our Sauvignon blanc in 2011. We are situated in Stellenbosch, categorized as a warm region for growing grapes. Besides that, we did choose cool slopes for our Sauvignon in order to slow down the ripening period and not have the sun burn away all the natural flavours. Our Sauvignon is also planted next to a large dam to allow for cool breezes from the precipitation.
Another point which I am passionate about is to try and make a Sauvignon which still has legs after a year or so later. This can be achieved by not rushing your wine into the bottle, but keeping it as long as possible on the lees.
I believe by harvesting our grapes at full ripeness, we achieved a Sauvignon with ripe, tropical fruit like litchi’s and melon. Flavours of green fig and asparagus are secondary, but provide a lovely finish to our wines. What’s great, is that I managed to keep the wine on the lees for 6 months giving it tremendous mouth feel and longevity.
And in 2012 I will do it the same way, because our 2011 Sauvignon blanc, both the Clos Malverne as well as the Silver Leaf were awarded. The Clos Malverne Sauvingon blanc received a top10 out of 169 SA Sauvignons, while the Silver Leaf received a Best Value award from Wine Magazine and Ultra Liquors.
Suzanne Coetzee, winenmaker
Posted by jp on Wednesday, November 16th, 2011 , Posted in News , No Comments »
Clos Malverne Estate is making waves with its single best seller, Sauvignon Blanc, with the latest 2011 vintage rated amongst the crème de la crème of the country at the 5th annual FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition.
This year the highly contested competition previously hosted by Wine Magazine, was held under the auspices of the producer organisation known as the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG), with First National Bank as headline sponsor, and saw no less than 169 entrants aiming for Top 10 glory.
Clos Malverne’s prized Sauvignon blanc vineyards lie low in the belly of the Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch and enjoy a cool microclimate owing to precipitation from the dam next to this old block of vines, which winemaker Suzanne Coetzee fondly refers to as ‘Old Mr Reliable’, for consistently producing high quality grapes.
“Our 2011 vintage shows exceptional complexity and bursts with a revitalising spectrum of flavour and ripeness while it embraces a tropical style with more voluptuous, fruitier notes than green and grassy nuances,” explains Suzanne.
The Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc 2011 was kept on the lees for a further six months after fermentation which gives this easy drinking summer sip, a creamy and long mouthfeel and great longevity. Flaunting exceptional fruit layers, this tangy dry white reveals sun-kissed flavours of ripe pineapple and litchi, perked up with slivers of asparagus on the palate, lingering with a good, firm finish.
Enjoy the Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc 2011 slightly chilled on its own or serve it with tempura prawns on a bed of rocket and coriander, salmon gravlax or your favourite line fish.
Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc 2011 is available from R76 per bottle, directly from the cellar or at leading wine outlets nationwide.
Posted by jp on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 , Posted in News, Restaurant , No Comments »
25th of November’s Gourmet Evening Menu
R245 Per Person (incl wine per course)
Welcoming drink Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc 2011
(2011 SA Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc Awarded)
Franschhoek trout and prawn salad
With pickled lemon, baby leaves and a aioli dressing, topped with crispy onions
Served with Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc
Crispy fried oriental pork belly
With micro herbs and sweet and sour vermicelly noodles
Served with Clos Malverne Cabernet/ shiraz
Apple and mint sorbet
Beef Wellington
With crispy bacon creamed spinach, red wine jus and a hint of truffle oil
Served with Clos Malverne Pinotage reseve
Brie cheese fondant
Served with strawberry and ginger compote and crispy parma ham
Served with Clos Malverne Auret
White chocolate and raspberry cheese cake
With crispy honeycomb and mint syrup
Served with Clos Malverne La Cafe
Please Note:
10% Service Charge will be added to your bill for tables of 6 and more
We Regret – No split bills
Posted by jp on Monday, October 3rd, 2011 , Posted in News , No Comments »
With the mercury rising, Clos Malverne, nestled in the Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch, turns its pairing thoughts to that favourite summer staple, homemade ice cream, paired with wines as a refreshing summer tasting offer from October till the end of February 2012.
For just R45, you can stay cool with sips and scoops of four delicious ice cream and wine pairing sensations in the tasting lounge for sheer indulgence on spectacular summer days in the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands.
The Clos Malverne Wine and Ice Cream Tastings create melt-in-your-mouth magic from Tuesdays till Saturdays between 10h00 and 16h00. Pre-bookings are required.
Posted by jp on Monday, September 12th, 2011 , Posted in News , No Comments »
My first day working at Clos Malverne, I was greeted by a Yellow rose (my favourite colour rose) at the gate as I walked into the yard.
It was the time of year after pruning and where all the hard work starts in the vineyard and one is really preparing the harvest to come with every action in the vineyards.
It was the time when seemingly dead wood would burst into luscious fluffs of green promise.
This morning, I walked to work only to find that the yellow roses are in bloom again…reminding me of the rising opportunity I have to create a great wine in the vineyard once again.
Posted by admin on Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 , Posted in News , No Comments »
JP Quickelberge visited Rian in studio at Jacaranda 94.2fm recently on the Clos Malverne Jo’burg visit and had a awesome time.
The Clos Malverne le Cafe on Rian van Heerden’s “That Show” on 94.2 Jacaranda FM
Posted by admin on Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 , Posted in News , No Comments »
Clos Malverne, known for its classic flagship Cape Blends, celebrates 25 years of quality winemaking in the heart of the picturesque Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch, with the appointment of a new winemaker, Suzanne Coetzee.
Dynamite comes in small packages certainly rings true to this enthused, multi-talented blonde, who has found her destiny at this prized cellar, owned by Seymour Pritchard, who made the first wine under the Clos Malverne label – a mere 800 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon – way back in 1986.
Today Clos Malverne is very much a family affair with Seymour and wife Sophia overseeing the entire operation and daughter Belinda, ensuring that the visitors are well looked after and pampered at the day spa on this tranquil Winelands jewel. Seymour’s brother, Mervyn, is enrolled as the sous chef at their contemporary restaurant run by the Executive Chef Nadia Louw. It is therefore no wonder that the new winemaker appointment was ‘kept in the family’ as Suzanne’s predecessor was none other than her husband, Charl Coetzee.
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The time of waiting has begun!
