BLOG

Top Chefs and Winemakers announced for Inaugural Franschhoek Food & Wine Festival

Montecasino hosts the Franschhoek Food & Wine Festival from 28th -30th August 2015. The festival will showcase top chefs and fine wine producers from the Franschhoek Wine Valley that will entice even the most discerning foodies. This, together with the sounds of the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra as its soundtrack, the Franschhoek Food & Wine Festival is set to become a highly anticipated annual event. 

Franschhoek Wine Valley CEO, Jenny Prinsloo says that a large number of visitors come from Gauteng and therefore the time felt right to bring a uniquely Franschhoek experience to them.

“Gautengers aspire to having the best in life and the Franschhoek Food and Wine Festival at Montecasino is the perfect opportunity for our vignerons and top chefs, as well as our artisan food producers, to showcase their offerings,” says Prinsloo.

The chefs for the Franschhoek Food and Wine Festival are:

Neil Jewell – Executive Chef at Bread & Wine Vineyard Restaurant. Also known as the “Charcuterie King”, Neil’s passion lies in his homemade charcuterie that he prepares with mountains of patience and bucket loads of love.

Chris Erasmus – Executive Chef at Foliage restaurant celebrates organic food from farm and forest to plate.

Michelle Theron  – Executive Chef at Pierneef à La Motte. She will showcase the unique food styles and diverse flavours that have been inspired by centuries of cooking, spiced by influences from across the globe, forming the precious ingredients of Cape Winelands Cuisine.

Christiaan Campbell – Executive Chef at Boschendal The Werf promises fragrant fermented breads and slow-roasted meats sourced from the Boschendal farm.

Darren Badenhorst – Executive Chef at Grande Provence is going to push the boundaries of cuisine to take the visitors on a culinary journey of food and wine.

Melissa Bird – Executive Chef at Paulina’s Restaurant at Rickety Bridge believes in using fresh seasonal ingredients, and letting them speak for themselves. Watch this space for vegetarian delights.

The participating Franschhoek wineries that will be on hand to share their premium wines with visitors are:

Anthonij Rupert Wyne – There are five ranges in the Anthonij Rupert Wyne portfolio, of which Anthonij Rupert is the flagship. L’Ormarins has always been the home of Anthonij Rupert Wyne and lends its name to the L'Ormarins MCC wine too.

Black Elephant Vintners – Black Elephant Vintners is a new independent wine company operating from the heart of the majestic Franschhoek Wine Valley. They source and produce wines from grapes grown solely in this picturesque corner of South Africa.

Boekenhoutskloof Winery – Established in 1776, Boekenhoutskloof is a magical little wine farm. The winemaking team are responsible for producing four much-loved brands: Boekenhoutskloof, The Chocolate Block, Porcupine Ridge and The Wolftrap.

Boschendal is situated in the Drakenstein Valley surrounded by majestic mountain landscapes, lush gardens and vines. Today, Boschendal is a 330-year old Cape Winelands icon and a cherished winery.

Chamonix Wines – Cape Chamonix Wine Farm produces a range of premium wines that capture the essence and splendour of the estate. Boasting some of the highest planted vines in the Cape Winelands, Chamonix has around 50 hectares under vineyard, of which their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are internationally recognised.

GlenWood is a very special place located in the little-known valley of Robertsvlei, a few kilometres from Franschhoek village, where the farm is surrounded by aspects of outstanding natural beauty. Using only the best materials and sustainable viticultural practices, the winemaking team has developed the farm over the past 27 years, winning numerous awards for their Chardonnay and Shiraz hand-crafted wines.

Grande Provence Estate is a destination in its own right, offering award-winning wines, gourmet cuisine, South African Art and boutique accommodation in The Owner’s Cottage and La Provençale.

Haute Cabrière – the home of Pierre Jourdan – Comprising of two farms, situated on opposite ends of the breathtaking Franschhoek Wine Valley, Haute Cabrière is something extraordinary. A rich history, a whimsical setting, a seductive approach to wine and a magnetic proprietor ensure that it is a decadent affair for any visitor.

La Bri – Since its establishment in the late 17th century, when land in the Franschhoek valley was first allocated to Huguenots, La Bri has been a source of fine wines. Their range includes: The Affinity Blend (Bordeaux blend), a barrel fermented Chardonnay, Shiraz-Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon and award-winning Merlot.

La Motte – The estate is synonymous with the highest quality in wines. To carry the La Motte label, each wine has to reflect the greatest expertise in viticulture, combined with experience, passion and a creative flair for wine-making.

Lynx Wines – A boutique wine estate in the Franschhoek Valley producing less than 7000 cases per annum, the farm is reknowned for their passion-filled wines, produced in the traditional style.  Lynx Wines produces a Shiraz, Carbanet Sauvignon, Granache and the award-winning Viognier, to name but a few.

Morena (Franschhoek Pass Winery) – Franschhoek Pass Winery is a family-owned boutique vineyard situated on the cool slopes of the Franschhoek Pass.  The Morena Cap Classique is widely-acclaimed as their signature wine style, and is produced in the traditional French method with second fermentation taking place in the bottle.

Môreson – is a little slice of magic, a place where every minute of every day is spent either making, working on or dreaming about wine. It is this energy that ensures that their award winning Môreson wine and Méthode Cap Classique is top of mind with most consumers. 

Rickety Bridge Winery – The flagship range, Paulina’s Reserve, proudly bears the name of original owner, Paulina de Villiers. Their distinctive South African wines have received several accolades at South African wine shows and around the world.

Stony Brook – This boutique wine farm produces an array of different wines in relatively small quantities in an environmentally friendly manner to minimise their carbon footprint.

In addition to the chefs, wineries and winemakers being on site, French cheese importer Lodine Maske from Fromages de France will also be offering French cheese platters, as well as cheese and wine pairing tips. For those with a sweet tooth, Huguenot Fine Chocolates will be offering the world’s finest Belgian chocolate to tease visitors’ tastebuds with ripe red strawberries, fine macadamia nougat and marshmallows, all dipped in melted milk chocolate.

Log on to facebook/franschhoekfoodandwinefestival and @FHKFoodWineFest for regular updates. For more information and bookings visit www.franschhoekfoodandwinefestivalco.za or www.itickets.co.za. Festival tickets are priced at R150.

Festival Times

Friday 28th August: 18h00 – 22h00
Saturday 29th August: 12h30 – 16h30; 18h00 – 22h00
Sunday 30th August: 12h30 – 16h30

Related Posts