A Neethlingshof Event: Red Cello Landscapes – Carol Thorns

Any plans for Saturday the 10th of September? Join us in our Red Wine Cellar for a very unique concert. The Red Cello, featuring Carol Thorns. Tickets are R100 and include a glass of our Flagship Caracal Blend.

Date: 10th of September
Time: 18:30 for 19:00
Venue: Neethlingshof Wine Tasting Centre
Cost: R100 per person
Includes: A glass of wine

More about the event:

A Cum Laude Bachelor of Music graduate from Rhodes University in South Africa, Carol Thorns has a background in cello performance and entertainment PR. Her passion for taking electric strings into unchartered territory lead her to initiate and build popular brands such as Muse String Quartet, Sterling Electric Quartet and CODA.

Together with visualist and architect Alastair Thorns, Carol presents the cello in an interesting multi-media context. Audiences are carried through a series of musical landscapes incorporating aspects of World Music and Ambient Electronica.

Red Cello Landscapes is based on Carol’s album ‘Fireflies in the Rain’, which received a South African music award nomination for ‘Best Instrumental Album 2010′. During the live performance, the visuals are manipulated in response to the music and showcase expansive landscapes, animation and audio-sensitive layer effects. Red Cello made its successful debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010, the largest arts festival in the world, achieving a 4-star rating and an enthusiastic reception by audiences from around the world.

Carol has been performing for over a decade: solo, together with singer/songwriter Louise Carver and in her own band CODA, which blends electric strings with jazz sax, African vocals and a house DJ. She has shared the stage with many of South Africa’s top musicians including Arno Carstens and the Soweto String Quartet.

Thorns has also appeared at many of South Africa’s top events, including numerous charity celebrity galas (Elton John Charity Ball), fashion shows (SA Fashion Week) and major concerts (Kirstenbosch Summer Concert Series), and comes to the festival fresh from a stage appearance with America’s Got Talent finalists, Nuttin’ but Stringz.

For more info visit : neethlingshof.co.za

Nederburg Auction Wine: Neethlingshof Lord Neethling Pinotage 2001

The Neethlingshof Lord Neethling Pinotage 2001 will be one of our excellent wines at this year’s Nederburg Auction.

Tasting notes: A deep red wine with a bouquet that is a bit shy on the nose, but aromas of raspberry and cherries are evident. Full-bodied with cherries, vanilla and oak spices. Read more about this auction wine

Spaghetti Alla Fantastica

Pasta dishes can sometimes be so predictable and boring. So think outside the box and  try new variations. Here is a mouthwatering Red Wine Tomato and Steak Pasta dish. I call it Pasta alla Fantastica .
 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 2 cans petite diced tomatoes (400g), undrained
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 350g uncooked thin spaghetti
• 1 -100gblock mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Toppings: chopped fresh basil, freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups thinly sliced cooked steak

Preparation

• Sauté garlic in hot oil in a large skillet over medium heat 1 minute or until lightly browned. Carefully stir in wine and next 5 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes or until thickened.
• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Stir together hot pasta, mozzarella cheese, and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in a large serving bowl, tossing to coat until cheeses start to melt. Pour tomato sauce over pasta mixture, and toss to combine. Serve immediately with desired toppings.
• Red Wine-Tomato-and-Steak Pasta: Prepare sauce as directed. Stir 2 cups thinly sliced cooked steak into tomato mixture before simmering. Simmer 20 minutes or until thickened.

Recommended Wine: The Neethlingshof Malbec will make this meal even more fantastic.

Source:  myrecipes.com

Our adopted caracal

As promised a pic of our adopted caracal at the Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre in Northern Natal. A little camera shy, but gorgeous nonetheless.

Neethlingshof- The Owl Post Pinotage 2006: One of this year’s auction wines

Neethlingshof have a few excellent wines/lots on this year’s prestigious Nederburg Auction.

One of the wines is the Neethlingshof The Owl Post Pinotage 2006 (lot#75)

Here are the tasting notes of Anthony Barne MW.

Ruby colour, full to edge. A very well mannered nose with some bright fruit and well deployed oak. Ripe tobacco characters on the palate with a touch of oak but also some very attractive pepper and chocolate flavours. Good length with a little grip of tannin on the finish.

For more info visit nederburgauction.co.za

Neethlingshof’s 2011 Gewurztraminer wins judges’ favour

The 2011 vintage of Neethlingshof’s Gewürztraminer wowed the judges at the 2011 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards and was declared a national winner and top performer in its class.

An aromatic but off-dry wine with notes of rose petal, Turkish delight and spice, it was its true portrayal of the Stellenbosch wine-growing area that won the panellists over.

Neethlingshof’s south-facing Gewürztraminer vines, 27 years’ old at the time of picking, were cooled by False Bay summer sea breezes. “We are very lucky to have such well-located vines. Gewürztraminer needs relatively cool conditions to show its best and tame its exotic aromas in favour of subtlety.”

Winemaker De Wet Viljoen says what makes the wine so special is that it is sweet on the nose but not on the palate. “Its vibrant acidity offsets the floral character and it’s great with food, especially Asian dishes with a hint of spice.”

The growing interest in aromatic cultivars makes it an exciting alternative to the mainstream varietal wines, he believes.

The wine is available from chosen stockists nationally and is expected to sell for around R50 a bottle.

Pairing Recipe: Neethlingshof Caracal Meets Lamb Curry

A South African classic, this moderately spiced lamb curry is just what you need to cheer up on a chilly winter evening.  Best served with basmati rice or a crusty bread. Pair it with Neethlingshof’s Caracal – a full-bodied red blend – and you’ll find a match made in heaven.

You will need:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1.2 kg leg of lamb, cut into cubes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 carrot, peeled and cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch pieces

1 leek, cut in slices

½ celery bunch, chopped

2 cups beef or vegetable stock

2 medium potatoes, cut into cubes

30 grams Rajah medium curry powder

½ teaspoon red curry paste

1 cup beef broth

1 tablespoon tomato paste

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
The Method:

Pour the olive oil into a hot cassarole

Add the meat and braise until sealed

Add the cut vegetables, but not the potatoes

Add curry powder and tomato paste, then braise for a few minutes

Add the stock and allow the mixture to come to a simmer

Add seasoning and cover the casserole

Turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes

Add the potato cubes, and simmer until the meat is soft

Source: winetimes.co.za