Excitement ... it is here! With the FIFA World Cup Tournament finally here, Franschhoek, Cape Town, South Africa and the world are buzzing with excitement and Ubuntu! We are welcoming visitors from all over, eager to taste and see what our beautiful country has to offer. At La Motte, specifically, we have a lot to show. We're only months away from launching a number of new experiences on the farm, adding immense value to a visit to La Motte. An imposing new sculpture now graces the estate entrance, affording visitors a welcome that's warmer than ever. More about this new attraction later in the letter. We are also in the final planning stages of our Shiraz Experience, an expression of just how passionate we are about this varietal in general ... not only about our own. So far, 2010 has really been a memorable year and the months ahead hold even more promise. We are indeed proud and are keen to share the excitement with you. So, whenever you are in the vicinity, please don't drive past! Wishing you a wonderful winter, well stocked with palatable La Motte reds to add warmth!

Shiraz Experience to celebrate varietal passion

At the end of August we will be hosting our second Shiraz Experience here at La Motte. The event was introduced in 2007 and we're excited about offering an even greater experience the second time around.

We have chosen a select group of local and international wine writers and media representatives as guests to La Motte. The theme will be "Trends of Shiraz styles" and top wines from Rhone, California, Australia and, of course, South Africa's own top Shiraz wines will be on show.

One of the international speakers whose presence has been confirmed is the highly respected Australian-born Geoff Merrill. Geoff is the worthy recipient of an astounding 23 international wine trophies for his Geoff Merrill own-brand wines, most notably his Shiraz, and has thorough experience in Africa, Europe and Australia behind him. He will, no doubt, be able to share some invaluable insights with other Shiraz Experience attendees.

Tickets for the Shiraz Experience can be obtained from 16 July 2010. More information about the event is available on the La Motte website www.la-motte.com .

The Wine Bearer: a graceful welcome

"The Wine Bearer: still, serene, quite a gentle presence with an inner strength. Her wine cup overflows with water, suggesting an abundant flow of wine at La Motte." So says its creator Toby Megaw when discussing the 560 kg, four metre high statue now gracing the visitor entrance to La Motte.

With the influx of redevelopment at La Motte Estate, CEO Hein Koegelenberg envisaged a landmark that would suit the La Motte family culture and catch the eye of visitors driving up the La Motte entrance way - a profile fitted perfectly by The Wine Bearer.

The statue was recently erected, overlooking the main driveway to the La Motte Manor House and outbuildings and serves as a special welcome to visitors. "We are exceptionally pleased with the statue that Toby has crafted and erected in the La Motte vineyards. The Wine Bearer seems as if she has always been here," commented Hein.

The Wine Bearer also has a Biblical connotation. Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." [1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 4:13-14

New ingredient for La Motte cuisine

With the appointment of Chris Erasmus as its Executive Chef, La Motte's new restaurant, to be launched during the first week of September, has the perfect ingredient to live up to a credo of "cuisine of excellence". Chris will be joining La Motte from his position as Executive Chef at Ginja restaurant in Cape Town and is brimming with enthusiasm to create exceptional culinary art for the enjoyment of foodies visiting Franschhoek.

His global experience has taught Middelburg-born Chris discipline, respect and passion for many different styles of cuisine, but it is being part of a new food awakening in Africa that truly excites him. It is this passion for home-cooked farm-style food that has taken Chris around the world and which attracted him to La Motte in the first place.

Always in search of a fresh taste, Chris's Karoo-gourmet style blends seamlessly with the vision of the new culinary destination. "At our new restaurant, to be launched in September, our cuisine will be fresh and exciting, but dishes will immediately remind one that their home is the Cape Winelands", says La Motte CEO Hein Koegelenberg.

La Motte is proud to have Chris on board and wish him everything of the best in spicing up our new restaurant into being the talk of the town when it comes to dining out.

Two days of Bastille festivities!

Being the French corner of South Africa, Franschhoek is the traditional venue for celebrating Bastille Day. The French have their celebrations on 14 February, but here at Franschhoek we devote two full days to this celebration of freedom - Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July. After all, festivities always go down better over a weekend!

Highlights of the Bastille Festival include a Food & Wine Marquee, a French Film Festival, the Chefs & Waiters Race, Boules, the Barrel Rolling competition and lots more!

For more information the Festival Organisers can be contacted at 021 876 2861 or visit the Franschhoek website www.franschhoek.org.za

To celebrate Bastille Day, La Motte will host a special French Baroque Concert on Saturday 17 July

This programme will consist of a selection of French Baroque works seldom, if ever, heard in South African concert venues. Making use of period instruments, such as the baroque flute and viola da gamba, the music is fully representative of this genre.

In terms of musical interpretation it is attempted to understand the style elements, technique and original context of the compositions, while the equal temperament of modern playing is replaced by baroque tuning to suit the instruments.

The musicians are South Africans who go to great lengths to perfect their presentation of French creations.

Bookings for the La Motte French Baroque Concert: Angela at 021 876 8801 or at the La Motte tasting venue. www.la-motte.com

Station Panels at full steam to Stellenbosch

Soon, the famous Pierneef Station Panels will start their journey from Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape down to the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch, where they will be exhibited from the end of August.



La Motte's affinity for the great Jacob Hendrik Pierneef (1886 – 1957) is well known, as witnessed by his art featuring on the back labels of all Pierneef Collection wines, as well as the extensive collection of Pierneef art owned by the Rupert family.

The Station Panels, among Pierneef's most famous works, were created in 1929 when Pierneef was commissioned to create 32 panels for the interior of the new Johannesburg station – a task that took until 1932 to complete. The giant panels depict South African scenery and history and are regarded by many as the artist's best work ever.

Historically, Graaff-Reinet is home to these massive pieces of art and it is a great coup for the Rupert Museum to be able to afford art lovers down at the Cape the opportunity of admiring Pierneef's greatness close to home.

The exhibition opens towards the end of August. For more information please contact the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch on 021 888 3344 or visit the Rupert Museum’s website www.rupertmuseum.org Rupert Museum hours: Mon to Fri 09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 16:00. Sat 10:00 - 13:00.

Wholesome winter warmer

La Motte's Tasting Room Manager, Werner Briedenhann, also proves to be a man of taste in his own kitchen. Here he shares a hearty soup secret with readers:

Chick-pea & chorizo tomato soup
(Serves 4)

Ingredients

1 can of chick-peas
2 cans of whole tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
400 g chorizo sausages, chopped into bite-size pieces
Olive oil
2 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
4 - 6 zucchini (courgettes), thinly sliced
1/2 onion, finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic, crushed and finely chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
900 ml chicken stock
Salt and pepper
4 spinach leaves, coarsely shredded
(Optional - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese)

Method

• Heat a heavy-bottom soup casserole and dry-fry the sausage pieces (chorizo is quite fatty and shouldn't need extra oil).
• When sausage pieces are almost crispy, add leeks, zucchini and onion and fry for about five minutes, stirring as you go along. 
• Add garlic and fry for 30 seconds, then add tomatoes and tomato paste, stock and the chick-peas. 
• Bring to the boil and simmer for about six minutes, then add the spinach and bring back to the boil for two minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil to taste. 
• Garnish with grated Parmesan, if desired.
• Serve immediately, complemented by 2007 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon and crusty farm-style bread.

   

For more information about La Motte please visit our website at www.la-motte.com