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Delheim Newsletter
October 2016
The final quarter of the year is upon us and we are gearing up for a busy season! We would like to take a breather and reflect on some happenings of the last few months:
•          Winter Buzz- Hospitality Update
•          Nora in Germany and Switzerland
•          Harvest Update
•          Wine Awards
•          Our Stellenbosch Farm Worker of the Year
•          Upcoming Events
Winter Buzz
Winter came and went in blur here at Delheim.
With a complimentary glass of glühwein in hand, the cooler weather was no match for our visitors who came to experience true Delheim hospitality.
We welcomed the rain and cold with our Mushroom Forages, always very popular and in high demand and soon after got our feet tapping with the Jazz and Cheese Fondues. First time visitors as well as regulars were not disappointed as they indulged in the soul and belly-warming fare.
Nora in Germany & Switzerland
A report back from Nora from her trip to Germany and Switzerland earlier this month:
I arrived in Zurich with a quick transfer to Basel to attend the Savinis open days- where the weather outside was 31 degrees but did not deter wine-lovers who came to taste only South African wines.
After the open days, I headed up to Frankfurt to start the WOSA wine tasting. 52 exhibitors from South Africa presented their wines. Was great to see Ntsiki Biyela presenting her first solo wine, Aslina, to the German market. I remember the days when we worked together in our tasting room while she was studying for winemaking (She went on to become the first female black winemaker in South Africa) and made me feel really proud to see her take the big leap to start her own brand. Well done, Ntsiki!
I presented some our wines with a couple of other German wineries at the Theaterhaus in Stuttgart. I met some new wonderful winemakers and loved the Karl May wines; I hope to visit them some time when next in Germany.
Whilst in Stuttgart, I met up with our cousin Imke Sperling who lives there and had a moment to see the new UNESCO World Heritage site in Stuttgart, Corbusier village. The museum is about the modernist Weissenhof-Siedlung Estate in semi-detached houses designed by Le Corbusier.
Thereafter, I travelled down south to Kressbronn where Weinkellerei Steinhauser sells our wine to the Bodensee hotels and restaurants. We got stuck in the traffic for the annual Viehsheid in Oberstaufen – when the cows are brought down from the Alps for their winter back to the Cowsheds. It looked more like a beer festival and Dirndl dress up for 1000’s of people! Great excuse for a party and dress up for the cows.
I spent the last day in Germany visiting many old clients and meeting new ones. The Bodensee is where our father comes from and Tettnang was his hometown. It was an emotional journey finding all the old letters he had sent from the Winchester Castle ship to South Africa after arriving in Cape Town in 1951 relating to his first weeks on Delheim, at the time known as Driesprongh. 
Harvest / Vineyard Update
Winter began with a lot of promise regarding much-needed rain to fill the levels of many empty dams but July made history as the hottest month in a decade. Looking back, there was not a single week where it rained consistently. Mother Earth soaked up the rain to quench her thirst and we had warm days straight after rainy ones; spring came suddenly and the colours of spring decorated the landscape. The pace of the season is picking up as we approach summer with the vineyards already changing the landscape to green rolling hills.
We tasted the red wines of 2016 and are pleasantly surprised with the structure of the wines as they have improved and the fruit intensity deepened since our last tasting. We are finalizing the blend of the Chenin Blanc Wild Ferment 2016 and the Vera Cruz Pinotage 2015 and the vineyard team is monitoring the season closely as it progresses.
Winemaker Altus Treurnicht says, “I have to dust off my walking shoes and walk in the vineyards to know the cultivars and the terroir better this year. I’ve learned in my one year in the Simonsberg ward that there is a lot of potential for producing fine wine, but one needs to get acquainted with the unique factors shaping the vineyards in this area.”
Wine Awards
We constantly strive to produce quality wines and it is always an honour when our efforts are recognized and awarded.
Delheim was recently awarded with an IWSC (International Wine and Spirits Competition) Gold Outstanding for our Edelspatz 2015 and an IWSC Silver for our Grand Reserve 2013.
We are also pleased to announce our high-scoring wines from the Tim Aktin Report 2016:
Edelspatz 2015: 93 points
Vera Cruz Pinotage 2013: 93 points
Vera Cruz Shiraz 2013: 92 points
Grand Reserve 2013: 92 points
Pinotage 2014: 91 points
Merlot 2013: 90 points
* We hope you already have the Edelspatz 2015 in your cellar as it was a popular buy and unfortunately no longer available.
In keeping with the award-winning streak, our Sauvignon Blanc 2016 won gold at the Michelangelo Awards, a prestigious title we are thrilled with, whilst our Chardonnay Sur Lie 2014 was awarded a silver medal at this month's Veritas Awards.
You can purchase these awarding-winning wines and more by clicking here 
Stellenbosch Farm Worker of the Year- Nelson Buthelezi
On Thursday 22 September, we beamed with pride as Nelson Buthelezi, our assistant winemaker, was announced the Stellenbosch Wine Worker of the Year 2016 in the category of middle management.
The Farm Worker of the Year Competition is co-sponsored by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Shoprite.
The competition had its origin in the Hex River Valley and over 6000 agriculture employees have entered the competition since its inception. Winners are chosen from 10 categories including, administration, irrigation specialist, junior management and middle management.
Producers were asked to select persons they feel are the best in the 10 categories.  The entrants were then interviewed and from the interviews, various category winners were selected.
All the winners were announced at a prestigious gala award ceremony which is the biggest gala event hosted by the Western Cape Province.
Nelson was entered amongst other Delheim staff members- Rebecca Pietersen, Sydwell Jako, Patrick Nkophe, Ella Hendriks, Frikkie Nassau, Michelle Abrahams. Michelle and Ella were finalists in their categories.
Nelson will be participating in the provincial competition on 12 October 2016. We wish him all the best!
Upcoming Events
Restaurant Week
This year Delheim is delighted to participate in the Spring edition of Restaurant Week to celebrate the fresh, fun flavours of spring!
For one week, top restaurants throughout South Africa offer a special set price menu of only R150 for a 2-course lunch and R250 for a 3-course dinner.
Date: 20 – 30 October 2016
Lunch booking is essential, please visit www.restaurantweek.co.za
Riverside Picnics
Our Riverside Picnics are back and we look forward to welcoming you for memorable days spent on the luscious bank of the Klip River. Kick off your shoes, relax under shaded trees and enjoy a generous basket of delicious food and wine.
 Date: 1 October 2016 – 30 April 2017
Cost: R460 per basket (serves 2 adults) | R100 per child
Bookings essential. E: restaurant@delheim.com | T: 021 888 4607
Harvest Festival
Our much-anticipated Harvest Festival will take place on 28 and 29 January 2017. We are looking forward to celebrating as this year’s event was cancelled due to the fires.
Line up and activities to be finalised, look out for updates on our website and Facebook page.
Date: 28 – 29 January 2017
Time: 12:00 – 17:00
Cost: R100 per adult, R80 per child
A very heart-felt thank you to you, whose support is always valued and appreciated as we continue to make great strides in the wine industry.
The Sperling Family and Delheim Team
T: +27 (0) 21 888 4600 E: info@delheim.com
Knorhoek Rd - R44 | PO Box 210, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 7599
www.delheim.com

 
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Knorhoek Road R44
Stellenbosch, Western Cape | 7600 ZA
 
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