Showing posts with label From the shop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label From the shop. Show all posts
Monday, 30 November 2015
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
DRAGONRIDGE GOES SUPERNOVA
With a fizz and a whizz and a bang Dragonridge launched its first bubbly called SUPERNOVA at the first wedding of the summer season. This was alongside CAPELLA which besides being a faraway star, is our newly bottled unwoooded Chenin. The wedding team and guests pronounced both to be delicious and Johan has had a silly grin on his face for days.
MA is neither a SPARKLING WINE nor a CAP CLASSIQUE (MCC). The first is a carbonated wine while the second involves making a base wine to which sugar and yeast are added. This provokes a second fermentation in bottle producing bubbles and extra alcohol. The process can be controlled by how much sugar and yeast are added.
Methode Ancestrale, unlike MCC adds nothing to the fermentation in the bottle using only its own sugars and wild yeasts. This makes the process more difficult to control as evidenced by the explosion in our cellar which lost us 10% of our bubbly.
For both MCC and MA the next steps in the process, called riddling and disgorgement, are quite ingenious. After fermentation has ended the bottles are set on the slant and rotated over a period of weeks. The sediment of resultant dead yeast ends up in the neck of the bottle which is then frozen. Now the cap is removed and the sediment explodes out of the bottle. The bottles are topped up and corked. These last processes are done professionally off the farm (yes to minimize explosions).
Despite the fact that this method makes bubbly expensive to make, it fulfils Johan’s winemaking ethos of minimal interference and his joy in producing a wine which expresses a particular time and a place.
He is already plotting to increase the quantity fourfold over the next years so that he can leave the bottles `on the lees’ (sediment) for as much as three years - which he says will add flavour and depth.
This year we made 660 bottles of Supernova.
Contact us on Tel: +27 (0)22 487 1153 or info@fynbosestate.co.za
SUPERNOVA: METHODE ANCESTRALE
This method is exactly as it is named – an ancestral way of making `champagne’ which existed in France 200 years ago. Apropos this history, Charlie Grosman a young French champagne maker happened to volunteer here while we were making SUPERNOVA. `Encroyable!’ he exclaimed, waving his hands in great perplexity `What for you making such methode? We have come far ago from this 200 years’ |
| Clockwise from left: 1) Charlie Grosman making Supernova; 2) Corking professionally done; 3) Disgorging process. |
WHAT IS METHODE, ANCESTRALE?
MA is neither a SPARKLING WINE nor a CAP CLASSIQUE (MCC). The first is a carbonated wine while the second involves making a base wine to which sugar and yeast are added. This provokes a second fermentation in bottle producing bubbles and extra alcohol. The process can be controlled by how much sugar and yeast are added.
Methode Ancestrale, unlike MCC adds nothing to the fermentation in the bottle using only its own sugars and wild yeasts. This makes the process more difficult to control as evidenced by the explosion in our cellar which lost us 10% of our bubbly.
For both MCC and MA the next steps in the process, called riddling and disgorgement, are quite ingenious. After fermentation has ended the bottles are set on the slant and rotated over a period of weeks. The sediment of resultant dead yeast ends up in the neck of the bottle which is then frozen. Now the cap is removed and the sediment explodes out of the bottle. The bottles are topped up and corked. These last processes are done professionally off the farm (yes to minimize explosions).
Despite the fact that this method makes bubbly expensive to make, it fulfils Johan’s winemaking ethos of minimal interference and his joy in producing a wine which expresses a particular time and a place.
He is already plotting to increase the quantity fourfold over the next years so that he can leave the bottles `on the lees’ (sediment) for as much as three years - which he says will add flavour and depth.
This year we made 660 bottles of Supernova.
 |
| Clockwise form top left: 1) Toasting Supernova; 2) Dido and Marna toasting Supernova; 3) Dido, Sheri (winemkaer), Shiraz Limbada and Johan toast Capella |
CAPELLA
From time to time we have made an unnamed Chenin. This year we made 1000 bottles and named it CAPELLA Cappella is an easy drinking white which tastes of pears, apple and stone fruits against a slight warm woodiness which comes from 10% light wood in the Chenin Blanc.
BUYING OUR WINES
If you would like to order any of our wines, costs are as follows. We deliver free of charge in the CT area.
Capella (Chenin)* R60 bottle R320/6 bottles
Cosmos 2014 (Pinotage Rose) R60 bottle R320/6 bottles
Jack’s Red 2008 (Cape red blend) R80 bottle R430/6 bottles
Sangiovese 2009 (Red) R160 bottle R860/6 bottles
Sangiovese 2013 (Red) R100 bottle R480/6 bottles bottles
Supernova 2014 (Methode Ancestrale)* R180 bottle R900/6 bottles
Galaxy, Mourvedre and Port are out of stock
* Awaiting certification
Contact us on Tel: +27 (0)22 487 1153 or info@fynbosestate.co.za
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Buy Dragonridge Wines and Products Online
Our online shop is up and ready for business.
Browse our store at: www.dragonridge-winery.myshopify.com
Thursday, 24 November 2011
BREAK OUT YOUR PIGGY BANK FOR FYNBOS PRODUCTS!
Fynbos now has a small shop selling our wares and those of people in the area. Already we have had steady sales as we near Christmas,
Fynbos Products include:
- Dragonridge wines (of course),
- Fynbos olive oil ( European style and peppery – much in demand)
- Fynbos Red wine vinegar(Took days to reduce on the kitchen stove all the while releasing dizzying vapours)
- Dragonridge Limoncello Highly alcoholic so great for hot days when you don’t have to drive
- Oak stave candle arcs made from our barrels. Very `IN’ we are told.
Products made by friends and neighbours include:
- Fynbos Fine Food Chilli products made by our cousins (and friends) Rozelle and Julian Abramson who live nearby. Everyone knows their products are completely delicious and are to be in gourmet delis countrywide. For more about them and their products visit www.fynbosfoods.com
- Hand crafted cards by Pat Bronner. Made with love and care.
- Earrings by Cape Town’s Sharon Boonsaaier. These are unusual, beautiful and wonderfully light to wear. Contact her at sharonb@realitycomix.com
- 6 delicious varieties of Gouda’ Cheese made by Lizelle Basson at the dairy farm down the road.
All these products are of course available here (so if you visit, best break out your piggy bank before you come). If you would like to order, we will deliver 6 or more bottles of wine plus assorted products to anywhere in the Cape Town area. Our price list is below:
DRAGONRIDGE WINES
Sangiovese 2009 | R95/bottle, R510/6 |
Galaxy 2010 | R70/bottle, R380/6 |
Cosmos 2010 | SOLD OUT |
Jack’s Red 2008 | R65/bottle, R330/6 |
Rigel (vine dried Chenin Blanc) | R 110 per half bottle |
Dragonridge Limoncello Makes 30 or more drinks | 750ml R220 |
Dragonridge Olive Oil | 500ml R65 250ml R35 |
Dragonridge Red Wine Vinegar: | 250ml R25 |
Lizelle's Gouda cheeses Greek, herb, Italian, green pepper, stinging nettle | R50 |
FYNBOS FINE FOODS 2011
PEPPER JAM | 340g R30 |
CHILLI AND GINGER JAM | 340g R30 |
PASTA SAUCE | 420g R30 |
MARINATED SWEET PEPPERS | 420g R30 |
CHILLI DREAM SAUCE | 250ml R30 |
HABANERO SAUCE | 125ml R20 |
DRIED TOMS & P/DROPS SAVOURINGS | 230g R30 |
DRIED TOMS & AUBERGINES | 230g R 30 |
FYNBOS OAK CRAFTS
Candle arcs (full stave) | R150 |
(medium stave) | R100 |
(3 lights) | R 80 |
These come in dark oak, teak stained, natural and barrel marked. | |
Round oak boards without handles | R220 |
With silver handles | R280 |
Half barrel planters Varnished & bands painted | R350 |
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