Hillcrest Blog

What we are eating in May

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:36:00 GMT

What better way can there be to spend a cold winter’s evening than cooking a good steak and enjoying it with a fine bottle of wine. This Mediterranean Stuffed Sirloin recipe can be adapted to suit your mood, so before you even start cooking, open a bottle of Hillcrest Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and see where it takes you:

Mediterranean Stuffed Sirloin

Ingredients
Sirloin (Trimmed) 2 x 250g

Filling
Onion (Finely Chopped and slightly fried) 100g
Feta 80g
Hillcrest Kalamata Olives (Halved) 50g
Yellow pepper (Finely Chopped and slightly fried) 50g
Basil (Finely Chopped) 10g
Sun-dried Tomato (Finely Chopped) 30g
Black Pepper 2g
Hillcrest Extra Virgin Olive Oil 20ml

Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together
Make a horizontal slice through the center of the steak, parallel to the surface of the meat, about 1cm from each side.
Cut to, but not through, the opposite side. Spoon the stuffing into the pocket, spreading evenly. Secure the opening with toothpicks. Heat a pan with 15ml hillcrest olive oil and fry on both sites for 3-5 minutes (depends on how you like your steak). Take the toothpicks out before serving and enjoy with your next bottle of Hillcrest Cabernet Sauvignon 2008.

If you’re a pudding fan, then try this malva recipe which is a firm favourite in the Hillcrest Restaurant:

Ingredients
6 eggs
2 cups castor sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
3 TBLSP smooth apricot jam melted in the microwave for 10 seconds
3 cups flour
1 TBLSP bicarb
Pinch of salt
375 ml milk
100g butter, melted

Method
Beat sugars and eggs till pale & puffy, beat in the jam
Fold in the milk and cooled butter
Sift the dry ingredients onto the egg mixture & gently fold in
Bake at 180 C for 20-30 minutes

Sauce
1 litre milk
1 cup castor sugar
1 TBLSP vanilla essence
100g butter

Method
Heat up all the ingredients till the sugar is dissolved
Prick the whole pudding with a fork before pouring the hot sauce slowly over the hot pudding

What we are giving away in May

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:31:00 GMT

Hillcrest is giving away a two pack with our 4.5 star Hornfels 2008 + 4 star wine Hornfels 2009 this month to a lucky reader.

Question: What festival will Hillcrest Estate be hosting on the 2/3 June 2012?

Please email your answers and contact details to functions@hillcrestfarm.co.za

Good Luck

To read more about the wines click here!

What we are doing in May

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:24:00 GMT

To chase away any winter blues, Hillcrest is raising the temperatures with a variety of events and there is sure to be something that will be to your taste. Whether you fancy yourself as a bit of a sokkie jol legend, a soup connoisseur or are just looking for a great day out with the family, look no further.

On 26 May, Hillcrest will be holding a langarm evening in the quarry. There are tables of 10 and only 150 seats available so get your friends together and book your table today-R60 per ticket. The evening kicks off at 7pm with a cash bar, wine sales and Fairview will be selling cheese platters. A lucky draw will take place during the course of the evening so stay till we close our doors at midnight. Please note that no alcohol will be permitted upon entry.

If you’re a food and wine fundi, then the Soup Sip & Bread Festival is the place for you to be on the weekend of 2 & 3 June.
Each wine farm in the Durbanville Wine Valley will be creating their own soup, chowder or gumbo and pairing it with their fine wines. Join Hillcrest and sample our winter fare of soups, quiches, breads. pies & curries.

Take the opportunity to discover what South Africa’s number one Merlot tastes like and discover what foods it can be paired with or simply enjoy it’s fine flavours on its own. There will be plenty of Hillcrest wine on sale to enjoy with your hearty winter soup and as always; there is live music to keep everyone entertained.

For more information, please visit http://www.durbanvillewine.co.za/festivals/soup-sip-and-bread

How the 2012 harvest is going in May

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:30:00 GMT

While we wait for the grapes to do their thing, our assistant winemaker, Arno, has been doing his own experimentation…

To keep up with trends and what other winemakers are doing, Arno regularly attends a wine tasting group called the R44 which consist of 12 young winemakers/assistant winemakers who are eager to learn everything there is to learn about wine. They don’t claim to be experts but they’re certainly a group to watched for the future of winemaking in South Africa. This month, the club did a blind Bordeux Blend tasting. Below is the line-up and the final result. No surprise that Hillcrest Hornfels 2008 did exceptionally well with its “lovely fruit flavours on the nose and on the pallet. It has well balanced acidity and intergraded wood flavours. Definitely a must have.”

Rating Wine Score:

1     Ernie Els Signature ( stellenbosch) 16.25
2     Hillcrest Hornfels 2008 ( Durbanville) 15.875
3     Spier creative Block 5 ( stellenbosh) 15.75
“     Saronsberg Seismic 2007 (Tulbach) 15.75
“     Kanonkop paul Sauer 2007 ( stellenbosch) 15.75
4     Meerlust rubicon 2007 (stellenbosch) 15.125
5     Domaine de la Solitude 2009 ( Bordeaux France) 15
6     Laibach Friedrich Founders Blend 2008 (stellenbosch) 14.75
“     Boschkloof Conclusion 2005 (Stellenbosch) 14.75
7     Glen Carlou Grand Classique 2004 ( stellenbosch) 14.06
8     De grendel Rubaiyat 2008 (stellenbosch) 14
9     Chateau La roche Pressac 2006 ( Bordeaux France) 12.25

Our Wine May

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:07:00 GMT

We were recently visited by the team from Classic Wine at Classic FM. They wanted to find out what the secret behind Hillcrest’s award winning wines is and what makes our esteemed winemaker blend the grapes the way he does. The article appeared in the April/May issue (Thanks and credit to Claire Hu & team).

Hillcrest Estate in Durbanville may be small, but it’s been punching above its weight in recent years. Last year it won best Merlot in the Old Mutual awards and Classic Wine judges placed it in the top three for its Hornfels 2008 Bordeaux blend, described as being beautifully wrought with ‘bright, clean fruit, elegance and a great line of acidity’.
It was the maiden Hornfels vintage for winemaker Dr Graeme Read, a biologist who in 2002 persuaded the owners of Hillcrest to start their own cellar and make wine using estate grapes, which at the time were being sold on to other wineries. A farm shed was converted, one-ton fermenters purchased and the following year the first Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes were pressed and vinified.

Graeme says what motivated him to sell his successful software business and try his hand at boutique winemaking was the fabulous potential offered by the Hillcrest site, nestled in the rocky Tygerberg Hills with views of Table Mountain and cooling breezes from the ocean. ‘It was the terroir that attracted me’, recalls Graeme. ‘Being a biologist, I’m very in tune with nature and the native soils, the different aspects, altitude and micro-terroirs really excited me.’

He had always dreamed of making a Bordeaux-style wine, and set about planting the missing components which were Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Durbanville has the capability to move beyond Sauvignon Blanc, he believes, with reds that are in a more elegant and fresher style than say Stellenbosch or Paarl. Graeme explains: ‘Our style is different here. I’m looking for elegant, medium-bodied and fresh and fruity wines and aiming for 13.5% alcohol. There is a tendency nowadays to let fruit hang on the vines too long, which can produce rich and opulent, award-winning wines, but I don’t know how long they will last.’

Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot thrive at Hillcrest, says Graeme, and make up a relatively large proportion of the Hornfels blend at 21% and 14% in 2008, while for the 2011 vintage Cabernet Franc will overtake Cabernet Sauvignon as the main component. The individual wines and blend spend 18 months in new and second-fill oak. But he does not follow a formula, instead changing the blend every year according to how well the varieties have done and using Bruwer Raats as a consultant. ‘I haven’t got a fancy palate, but give me good grapes and I’ll make a good wine’, says Graeme in typical down-to-earth manner.

As a biologist by trade, he takes a scientific approach but balances this with a desire to express the true character of each vintage in the wines. What he does insist on are correct pH levels, for which he is willing to sacrifice high sugar levels, and this is evident in the lovely, refreshing acidity in Hornfels. ‘Everything has to be in balance and I’m very conscious of pH’, he says. ‘People can be tempted to let their grapes hang in order to get higher sugars. I feel the right pH captures the brilliance and freshness of the fruit in a more pure state than jammy wines.’

Graeme believes South Africa’s unique calling card for Bordeaux-style blends could be a more significant use of Petit Verdot compared to France. ‘The French battle to ripen it and just use a very small percentage’, he says. ‘Here in South Africa it can make a massive contribution – it has such dense colours and intense flavours. I do feel our style is more fruity than savoury, compared to France, and we can produce a variety of styles from opulent to elegant as long as we express the terroir.’
FROM CLASSIC WINE, APRIL/MAY 2012 ISSUE: Triumvirate of Bordeaux-style blends by Claire Hu

4.5 Stars Hillcrest Hornfels 2008
A small operation perharps but it has certainly commanded attention over the last few years and this wine is no exception. Hornfels displays a touch of the distinctive and refreshing green character often associated with wines from the cool-climate Durbanville ward yet it also offers seductive aromas of juicy blackcurrant fruit lifted with graphite scents. Palate has appealing berry and cocoa flavours showing the same bright, clean fruit; impress with elegance and a great line of acidity. Supportive tannins come from 100% new oak maturation. Beautifully wrought.
Cellar price R250.00

4 Stars Hillcrest Hornfels 2009
Kudos to Hillcrest for consistency and for securing top ratings for two consecutive vintages of the Hornfels! The 2009 is in the same mould as the 2008 but showing more youthful character and the need for time to ease the frame of tannins that will guarantee a good lifespan. Same attractive herbal note, cherry fruit and cocoa charm and finishes with a line of cedary oak.
Cellar price R250.00

Doing it for the rhino’s

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:04:00 GMT

This weekend, 5 & 6 May, Hillcrest will be doing its part to support one of South Africa’s (and the world’s!) last remnants of the dinosaur era: the rhino. “Rocking for Rhinos” is a fundraising & awareness concert for everyone who enjoys good music, Hillcrest’s award winning wines, a great day out and doing their bit for the animals at the same time.

This year’s concert is raising funds for one particular rhino, Higgins, who lost 80% of his eyesight in a poaching attack and who the team are hoping to rehabilitate. The hope is that the “Rocking for Rhinos” concert will become an annual event and the team has pledged to raise funds for a different rhino recipient each year.

Both concerts will kickoff at midday day and the “Rocking for Rhinos” team have put together a fantastic line-up of live bands that promises to keep you dancing away any winter chills that might have been creeping into Cape Town this week.

Saturdays’ line-up has a definite rock feel while things will slow down a bit on Sunday with a host of Cape Town’s well known blues bands. For the full band line-up for Saturday and Sunday, please visit the “Rocking for Rhinos” facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/340761755965946/

Tickets are available through Computicket and at the gate on the day: R100 donation on Saturday and R50 on Sunday.

What we are giving away Ticket Winner

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:18:00 GMT

Congratulations to Ilze Nel for winning 2 tickets to the Vanfokkingtasties concert.

Congratulations again Ilze and see you tomorrow night!
From the Hillcrest Team

Vanfokkingtasties!

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:42:00 GMT

To many this might just be another typically South African expression: Van-fokking-tasties. And what a wonderful expression it is; full of expression and emotion and a true representation of South Africa.

To those born before 1980, it’s probably an expression you know from the good old days but what you might not know, is that it is the amalgamated name given to 4 of South Africa’s best bands: VAN COKE KARTEL, FOKOFPOLISIEKAR, aKING and DIE HEUWELS FANTASTIES.

Hillcrest invites you to kickoff the Freedom Day celebrations in true South African style on the 26th of April at 8pm when Hillcrest will be hosting Vanfokkingtasties’ Acoustic Album Launch. This is a touring concept which has been developed to incorporate the four bands of VAN COKE KARTEL, FOKOFPOLISIEKAR, aKING and DIE HEUWELS FANTASTIES. Each band is legendary in it’s own right which makes this event a true spectacular. The evening promises to be an expression of the current South African music scene and is an evening not to be missed. Tickets are already selling fast so make sure you visit webtickets to buy yours today.

Tickets cost R150 and are available at webtickets. The gates will open at 6pm and the first band will kick off at 8pm. For more information, please visit these links:
http://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=379391400
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/vanfokkingtasties

What we're eating in April

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:51:00 GMT

Hillcrest’s Rose is the perfect accompaniment to a late summer lunch. Made from 100% Cab Sav grapes, the wine has a beautiful light pink salmon colour and is a perfect contrast to the Caprese Quiche currently being served in the Hillcrest Restaurant.

The Hillcrest restaurant will be hosting a special Easter Sunday Lunch with a host of special menu items for the occasion. It’s the perfect opportunity to indulge all your senses: a full selection of Hillcrest wines to choose from to pair with your meal and the added benefit of live music duo, Benji & Craig playing while you eat.

If you’re heading out of Cape Town for the Easter break, make sure you pick up a bottle or 2 of Hillcrest’s Rose to pair with this fantastic recipe prepared especially for you by the team at the Hillcrest restaurant
Caprese Quiche
The first step is to open a bottle of ice cold Hillcrest Rose and pour a glass to enjoy while you cook!

Pastry
750ml Cake flour
5ml Salt
250g Full fat margarine
250ml Ice cold water

Place the flour, salt and butter into a food processor and pulse until you see a crumbly texture forming.
Slowly add the water till a soft pliable dough forms (you will not need all the water). Leave to rest for 20 minutes and then roll out on a floured surface and line a 32cm loose bottom quiche tin with the pastry. Place in the fridge for a further 15 minutes to allow the pastry to firm up.
Remove from the fridge and place 2 layers of grease proof paper on the pastry. Pour rice or sugar beans on top to weigh it down as this stops the pastry from rising. Bake at 180C for 15 minutes. The bottom of the pastry will still be a little raw, remember it is going back in the oven.

Filling
800g Tomatoes (Coarsely chopped)
150 g Mozzarella (Coarsely chopped)
30g Basil (Coarsely chopped)
Salt and Pepper to taste
8 Eggs
125ml Mayonnaise
250ml Cream
Mix the tomato, basil, mozzarella and salt and pepper in a bowl and spread mixture evenly over the base.
Beat the eggs and mayo till well combined and then add the cream. Pour mixture over the filling and bake at 180 C for 45 minutes or till the tip of the knife comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the quiche

Well done! As a reward for your efforts, you can open the next bottle of Hillcrest Rose! Happy cooking and have a blessed Easter.

Our Wine April

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:39:00 GMT

With the Harvest almost behind us, the real art of wine making starts to take hold.

Although starting later than last year, the harvest at Hillcrest is almost complete. We have taken off all our Sauvignon Blanc from 3 different blocks and at different times which hopefully will add complexity to the final wine.

To celebrate Curly’s 10 years of wine making at Hillcrest, a maiden vintage Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon will be produced from vines planted 3 years ago. This is very exciting, as a special label has been designed to highlight the occasion. The juice has finished fermenting and Curly is very happy with the final result. Thus in addition to the Hillcrest Sauvignon Blanc we will have our first Bordeaux white: a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon to compliment the Hornfels and Quarry in the Metamorphic Range. The composition of the blend has not yet been decided but it could contain as much as 15% Semillon. The Sauvignon Blancs this year will be relatively low alcohol, between 12.5% and 13%, lively and fresh with a spectrum of lime, grapefruit and passion fruit flavours.

Looking at the reds, two blocks of Merlot and some Malbec have also been harvested. A vintage characteristic this year is that the grapes are achieving full ripeness at a relatively low sugar concentration which will translate to a lower alcohol much too everybody’s benefit. To let the grapes hang, in the hope of achieving higher sugar levels to obtain a fuller mouth feel, will be a mistake in our opinion. This would result in an increase in pH and a reduction in acid or flabby which will leas to jammy wine which, as you know, is not Hillcrest’s style.

What we're doing in April

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:59:00 GMT

Summer may be slipping away but that’s no excuse to go into typical Capetonian hibernation just yet! There are so many public holidays in April and Hillcrest is going to give you an event for each day.

Whether it’s “langarm” you prefer or something a little more upbeat, Hillcrest Estate will be hosting a number of exciting music events to suit your taste.

Benji & Craig will be rocking you through your Easter Sunday lunch on 8 April with classics like Johnny Cash and The Beatles to the more modern sounds of U2, Coldplay and many more. A fine way to treat all the senses: good food, vibey music, a relaxed atmosphere and wine as smooth as the music.

On the 26th of April at 8pm, Hillcrest will be hosting Vanfokkingtasties’ Acoustic Album Launch.
This is a touring concept developed to incorporate the four bands of VAN COKE KARTEL, FOKOFPOLISIEKAR, aKING and DIE HEUWELS FANTASTIES.
Tickets cost R150 and are available at webtickets.
For more information, please visit these links:
http://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=379391400
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/vanfokkingtasties

And while we’re all enjoying ourselves, why not help out one of SA’s most endangered, the rhino.
On 5 May, Hillcrest will be hosting “Rocking for Rhinos” which is raising funds for a rhino called Higgins who lost 80% of his eyesight in a poaching attack. There will be a huge line up of bands so please visit https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/340761755965946/ for updates.
Tickets will be sold through Computicket for R100.00.

What we are giving away in April

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:56:00 GMT

2 Tickets too Vanfokkingtasties

Just answer the simple question below and send your answers to functions@hillcrestfarm.co.za and put April Give away in the subject line:

Who are the 4 bands playing at Hillcrest Estate on the 26th April?

Vanfokkingtasties - Acoustic Album Launch 26th April

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:01:00 GMT

Four of South Africa’s most well-known bands are coming together to deliver the VanFokKingTasties Acoustic album. Van Coke Kartel, Fokofpolisiekar, aKING and Die Heuwels Fantasties are each creating two acoustic versions of old favourites and will also introduce a brand new track each on the album. The album will be released by Supra Familias at the end of April or the very beginning of May.

The guys will take to the road to launch this album. VanFokKingTasties presents a rare opportunity for the whole family to enjoy the album and the shows together. aKING, Die Heuwels Fantasties and Van Coke Kartel have been nominated for SAMA Awards this year. aKING and Van Coke Kartel received nominations in the ‘Best Rock Album’ category and Die Heuwels Fantasties was nominated in the ‘Best Alternative Album’ category. The bands had the following to say about the CD:

VAN COKE KARTEL
Voor ons stof word: “This was the biggest single from the ‘Skop, Skiet en Donner’ album. It is a mellower version of the original track.”
Buitenkant II: “A dark and melancholy version with violin and cello.”
Almal is bang – new track: “This is VCK’s new hit. The tune has an old school rock feeling, but can also remind you of the grunge era. Who’s afraid? Everyone is afraid.”

FOKOFPOLISIEKAR
Vasbeslote Korporasie Deel 1: “This is a lekker hard song from the album ‘Swanesang’. We thought that it would be interesting to make this song mellow. We are going to keep this track simple and eerie.”
Dagdronk – new track: “A new happy song. It is the first time in four years that we are writing a song together, so it will be different from the other songs. Maybe like ‘Vasbeslote Korporasie Deel 2’ or ‘’ ‘Íllusie van Veiligheid’.”
The third Fokofpolisiekar song is still cloaked in mystery and will be announced at a later stage.

aKING
Facebrick Constellations: “This was an older song that always had the potential to be a nice folk-rock song. It turned out like a story-telling cowboy song. Pierre-Arnold Theron and Jacques du Plessis from ‘Mr Cat and the Jackal’ joined us on percussion and piano.”
In the twilight: “We have only released this song online. It was cool to re-work this song without the choir and to bring it back to our band’s sound. Jacques and Pierre from ‘Mr Cat and the Jackal’ added texture on percussion and garden saw.”
Dead End Ave. – new song: “This is a song that I (Laudo) wrote over the holidays. It is a feel-good folk song about two lovers who are at a crossroad in their lives.”

DIE HEUWELS FANTASTIES
In en Uit: “We approached this song in a ‘Shins’ manner, with a bit of a swing.”
Nare Kaskenades: “This song was originally written on acoustic guitar and then it became a hard dance number on our first album. We like the song in its original format and other people may enjoy it that way too.”
Tyd (working title) – new track: “It’s not completely finished yet, but Hunter will sing on this song. It’s our new song!”

After all this comes the fun part, the tour.
Catch them live at Hillcrest Quarry on the 26th April.
Tickets are R150.00 and available at WebTickets
http://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=379391400
https://www.facebook.com/events/#!/events/125352414261735/

Definitely not an ordinary Sunday ride…

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:35:00 GMT

This Sunday, 25 March, is the ninth edition of the Absa Cape Epic and promises to be as adrenalin filled as ever. Whether you’re a mountain bike junkie, someone who enjoys to head out on the less serious trails or if you just like to stand and watch men in tight shorts (!), join us as this year’s Cape Epic riders head through Hillcrest Wine Estate on the 27 kilometer prologue.

The cyclists are leaving from Meerendal at 6:45am and will head through Contermandskloof, Kliprug, Hillcrest and then Nitida. This prologue will provide the seeding for the first stage which should make it a fast and competitive event. Hillcrest provides the perfect setting to start your Sunday off to support these riders on their first day on the course.

As usual, Hillcrest will be putting on a fine show for us spectators with the restaurant opening up early as well as there being food stalls, beer stalls, cool drinks and coffee on the go. Mike Finch, who is the editor of Both Bicycling & Runner’s World Magazines, will be our own MC and should provide a fantastic insight into the background of the event and participants, not to mention a chuckle here and there.

And a trip to Hillcrest just wouldn’t be the same without some good Hillcrest wine so there will also be wine tasting-just to calm our nerves! And nothing goes better with a glass of wine then some music. Rustenberg Girls High Marimba Band will kick off the festivities and this will be followed by Benji & Craig, a superb band who will have you up and dancing even if you’re the designated driver.

We look forward to seeing you bright and early this Sunday, 25 March at Hillcrest.

Feast of the grape and so many more Epic events!!!

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:33:00 GMT

A harvest is always much anticipated for so much more than we initially think. As much as one can’t wait to reap the fruits of one’s hours of labour under the African sun, there is equal excitement in what the harvest will ultimately yield: good grapes for wine!

And this year is no exception. The grapes are in excellent nick and this bodes well for yet another year of superb wines from Graeme. To celebrate the harvest, Hillcrest Wine Estate is joining the rest of the Durbanville Valley on Wednesday, 21 March, in a feast single to none. We will be donning our berets and celebrating in true French Flair with a live band, Bengi & Craig, to keep us entertained and plenty of French fair to get through the day.

And while we all enjoy a day out in the winelands, eating French cuisine and listening to good music, the real reason we love such feasts is because of the grape! And this festival is all about good wine and the journey to get there. Make sure you come in well worn attire as there will be plenty of grape stomping on the go and even the opportunity to bottle and label the fruits of your own labour!

Not forgetting the little ones, there will be face painting, a jumping castle, slip n slide, temporary tattoos and to keep with the French theme, some boulle. There will also be boerie rolls and hamburgers for sale should their pallets not yet have acquired a French cuisine appreciation.

If you’re less inclined to the laid back lifestyle of wine and French music to soothe the soul, and more into the heart thumping downhill jostling on a mountain bike, join us as we host the Cape Epic on Sunday, 25 March.
The action starts early, 7am, so make sure you don’t have too many bottles of Hillcrest’s good wine on Saturday evening. As usual, Hillcrest will be putting on a fine spread with stalls selling bacon & egg rolls, muffins and coffee stations to help you cheer on some of the best mountain bike riders in the world. To keep up with the action along the course, there will be TV’s with SuperSport coverage.

We will also have our own MC Mike Finch to give you the low down on who’s who as the riders come through Hillcrest Estate as well as tell you where on the teams are on the trail.
Hillcrest’s commitment to the good things in life makes for some memorable days for us all to enjoy on the farm, no matter whether you’re more of a wine and food fundi, an active outdoor enthusiast or both!

What we're giving away...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:01:00 GMT

Stand a chance of winning a case of Hillcrest Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011!

Win a case of Sauvignon Blanc by answering the following question:
Which festival will the Durbanville Wine Valley and Hillcrest Estate be celebrating on the 21st March at the Quarry?

Email your answers to functions@hillcrestfarm.co.za before the 19th March to stand a chance of winning a case of Sauvignon Blanc 2011.

What we are doing...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:52:00 GMT

Hillcrest Estate is always a hive of activity and the next few months are no exception. For the active & fit wine-lovers (physically or mentally!), or for those that just love to watch sport, join Hillcrest in welcoming the Cape Epic to our vineyards…

If you aren’t quite at your fitness peak, but you love mountain biking and are an avid spectator of sport, join us on Sunday, 25 March as the Absa Cape Epic makes its way across Hillcrest Farm. This has become one of the most elite, anticipated, challenging and most spectated mountain bike endurance event and Hillcrest offers one of the best vantage points on the tour.

We will also be joining the Durbanville Valley and celebrating our annual harvest on 21 March. Falling on Human Rights Day, it’s the perfect excuse to head to the valley for some grape-stomping, gastronomic delight, live music and of course good Hillcrest Wines. It also marks the arrival of autumn which is celebrated the world over with a one-day feast. Look out for more information in our blog next week.

How the 2012 Harvest is going...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:02:00 GMT

After a winter and spring slumber action begins in summer when the grapes start ripening. This happens earlier in the warmer areas like Paarl and Robertson but here in the Durbanville Valley, because of the cooler conditions harvesting starts in February.

At Hillcrest the lower blocks of Sauvignon Blanc are the first grapes to ripen around the middle of February.

Harvesting at the right time is crucial to the production of good wine. Harvest grapes too early and the wine will be green with a rasping acidity and too late it will taste flat and flabby.

A few days either way can have a great influence on the taste of the resultant wine. This accounts for the lake of mediocre wine out there. To make a great wine you have to be spot on. Criteria like taste, changes in the physical appearance of the berries and the grapes chemical composition indicate the extent of the ripening process.

The harvest has just started at Hillcrest – 5 days later than last year – which already suggests that we can expect different flavour profiles compared to the previous year. We have harvested 6 ons of a maiden vintage Sauvignon Blanc (Weerstasie clone which differs from others on the flora) which hopefully will broaden our Sauvignon flavour profile. Usually maiden vintages produce excellent quality grapes because the leaf area to grape ratio is naturally in balance and ours seem to be heading that way.

Only time will tell!!!!

What we're eating...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:52:00 GMT

Our Hillcrest Restaurant’s menu has just had a revamp, with a host of new dishes being added. Once again, it was mentioned in the 2012 Eat Out Restaurant Guide where the Chicken Pie took centre stage!

‘It is our privilege to be “Passionate about your food” and our desire to be of “Service to you” ’, a motto like that is every foodie’s dream: fantastic food and even better service, what a winning combination!

For those early morning active folk who come out to Hillcrest Estate for a mountain bike ride, run through the vineyards or just to soak up the sweeping views across to Table Mountain at sunrise, the restaurant team has developed a new vegetarian Breakfast Pita, which has been an absolute hit.

If you’re out tasting some of Hillcrest’s award winning wines, you’ll find that you can’t just walk away from the cellar but feel drawn to the restaurant to enjoy a bottle of fine wine over lunch. The Chicken Pie is still an old favourite and as the beef burger and chips climbs the ranks, the team have developed a homemade Lamb burger to the mix. If it’s just a snack platter you’re after, Hillcrest has a wonderful
biltong and cold meat platter that is definitely worth a try. It’s served with fresh farm-baked bread and goes very well with our Metamorphic range of wines http://www.hillcrestfarm.co.za/wine.

Our wine

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:38:00 GMT

The heat is on and while we may all be wilting from the high temperatures, our team is busy finalising the 2011 Metamorphic range’s composition.

After a great tasting late last week with our wine consultant, Bruwer Raats, the final composition for the Hornfels and Quarry wines have been decided. Once again our Merlot grapes have been exceptional and the Quarry 2011 will be made up of 100% Merlot. The final blend and has gone back into barrels to mature for a further nine months. The Hornfels 2011 final blend is made up of 37.5% Cabernet Franc, 25% Malbec, 12.5% Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Hornfels has blend has also gone back into barrel to mature for another nine months. Six new French Oak barrels and two 2nd fill French Oak barrels have been used.

Many people ask how the heat affects the grapes so close to harvest and we’re happy to report that it has very little effect as our grapes are going through verasion. Those not familiar with viticulture may be asking what verasion is. In simple terms, it’s the start of increased ripening (sugar accumulation) when green grapes start turning red in the case of red varieties and a subtle yellowish colour in white wine grapes.

Don’t forget that you can have fine Hillcrest wines delivered to your door (in the Cape Town area) at no extra cost. Please fill in the order form on the website http://www.hillcrestfarm.co.za/contact and one of our team will get back to you to confirm your order and delivery.

Rock 4 Rhino - 4/5th May 2012

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:04:00 GMT

Wine and art auction followed by concert
443 Rhinos were killed in South Africa in 2011 alone, far surpassing the already depressing total of 333 in 2010. Rhinos are on the verge of extinction with some subspecies already extinct. The end of 2011 saw an increase in awareness for this more than worthy cause, sadly it took the deaths of 443 rhinos for the country to sit up and take notice.

With that in mind the “Rocking for Rhinos” team wants to create awareness, and to raise funds for the Higgins project by hosting a wine and art auction on the 4th of May at the Vineyards Estate, Protea Hotel followed by a concert at Hillcrest Wine Estate on the 5th of May for about 2000 people.
The auction is aimed at the corporate sector and collectors with only exclusive and rare wines available for bidding.

The concert is aimed at everyone with a heart and all proceeds thereof will go to the transport, operation and rehabilitation of a male rhino named Higgins. Higgins lost 80% of his eyesight in a poaching attack at Fairy Glen Reserve near Cape Town and needs to be transported to Mpumalanga for the procedure. Palala Rhino Sanctuary, who has offered to Higgins a home while recuperating, has also been included as a beneficiary for any additional funds raised.

The event will be named “Rocking For Rhinos” and the team has pledged to make it an annual event with a different recipient each year.

Watch this space for more information and band-line up for the concert.
For donations please contact Mara Louw on maara6306@gmail.com.

https://www.facebook.com/events/340761755965946/#!/events/340761755965946/

Absa Cape Epic - Prologue Spectator Point!

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:49:00 GMT

Hillcrest Estate is proud to announce to be a spectator point at the Absa Cape Epic Prologue.
The start of any Absa Cape Epic involves a heady cocktail of excitement, nerves and celebration, as riders set off on their 781km journey towards achieving what is, for many, a lifetime goal. Nestled in the Durbanville winelands, Meerendal Wine Estate is ready to host an auspicious event with Hillcrest Estate and Nitida being spectator points for the prologue of the 2012 event.

Feast of the Grape - French Affair

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:38:00 GMT

Bonjour Madame Monsieur
Come join Hillcrest Estate in celebrating our Harvest Day situated in our quarry with FULL FRENCH FLAIR the 21st March 2012. Hillcrest will be joining the Mountain View Academy Shool for a fundraiser. All proceeds on the day will go to the school!

Come join us for a French affair with live music, French cuisine, entertainment for the children, grape stomping and wine tasting!

Fill up your own Sauvignon Blanc / Rose from the barrel to drink on the day for R40.00 or bottle your own Sauvignon Blanc / Rose to take home with a limited edition “funky label” for R60.00.
Buy your own Le Petite Pique Nique from our various food stalls.

No alcohol / food will be permitted onto the premises.
Hillcrest will provide a cash bar and all food stands on the day.

Come join us for a Fun French Festival!
Au Revoir

"Le vin est le professeur du goût, le libérateur de l’esprit et l’illuminateur de l’intelligence"
"Wine teaches taste, frees the spirit, and illuminates ones intelligence" — the poet Paul Claudel

For more information please contact:
Functions@hillcrestfarm.co.za
Andrea@hillcrestfarm.co.za
www.hillcrestfarm.co.za
(021) 976 1110

Date: 21st March 2012
Time: 10:00 – 17:00

Gone fishing

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:23:00 GMT

I’ve always been rather proud of the fact that since I was a youngster and used to go fishing with my dad, I’ve always managed to catch at least something for the pan.

At that young age, the proud look on my dad’s face was enough of a reward. Today, I need a little more to get me to haul out the fishing tackle, put those wriggly worms on the end of the hook and spend the day fishing. Luckily, Hillcrest is the answer to any fisherman’s prays….

Who can deny the beauty of the Durbanville Winelands? Even better, who can deny the beauty of a big quarry, filled with carp, bass, trout and babel waiting to be caught while a cold bottle of Hillcrest Sauvignon Blanc chills in the cooler next to you? It makes for the perfect weekend outing, you can pack a picnic and take the family to relax and unwind next to the quarry. The children can run around on the grass while you either fish or indulge in what the Hillcrest Wine Estate does best: produce fantastic wines.

Hillcrest Estate is open from 9am-5pm and the costs are minimal for a day’s entertainment: R75 for fishing and R25 for picnics. The restaurant is open too, serving breakfast and lunch. The most important activity is of course wine tasting. For R10 you can taste all our wines as well as try our award winning olives & olive oils. This R10 will be waivered should you purchase any wine.

So even if you don’t manage to catch anything on the day, Hillcrest’s wines will more than dull the pain and are sure to make any fisherman’s tale grow even bigger.

Put on your blue suede shoes!

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:14:00 GMT

They say that music is food for the soul. And, with the tremendous line up that the The Hillcrest GREG SMITH Hip-Shakin' Benefit Concert has lined up for you, that will certainly be true. Except, that this will actually be food for the hip…

Hillcrest will be hosting an afternoon of blues and rock music on Sunday, 12 February. If you’ve ever been to a music festival at Hillcrest, you’ll know how spectacular they are and that they shouldn’t be missed. This one has a slightly different slant as not only will it be fiscused on music, food and good fun, but will also be raising much need funds for Greg’s hip replacement.

A lifelong musician, Greg has played in bands since his teenage years and is best known to South Africans for his role in the Boulevard Blues Band. Greg is the Boulevard Blues Bands' own all-purpose bluesman, harmonica player, percussionist and backing vocalist. The gig at Hillcrest Wine Estate will bring many of the country's best blues and rock bands together for one day, to lend a hand and help out one of South Africa’s favourite Blue’s sons! Here is the current line up for what promises to be a fun day out:

2:00 GERALD CLARK

2:45 THE STUDERBAKERS

3:15 BLACK BEAR BAND

4:00 CANNON

4:45 RUPERT MELLOR AND RICHARD BLACK (A LONGER SET HERE I THINK)

6:00 JESSE JORDAN

6:45 THE STREMES (WAYNE, BENJ AND DALE COLLINS) (WITH SOME GUESTS)

7:45 BOULEVARD BLUES ALL STARS JAM (WITH SOME GUESTS)

Please join us on the 12th of Feb for a rocking day at Hillcrest. Tickets are R50 per person and kids are free. For more information lease visit https://www.facebook.com/events/370357009646050/
And of course, Hillcrest wines will be on sale to bring that extra bit of sunshine to your day!

21st Success at the Restaurant!

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:43:00 GMT

Here is a lovely thank you letter from a client who's son celebrated his 21st birthday at our restaurant Saturday the 4th February.

Thank you so so very much for everything that you did for us. The party was wonderful beyond words. It couldn’t have been more perfect. The evening was magic, with that glorious view over Cape Town, and the moon, and the music and the food. Heavenly. Everyone enjoyed themselves so much, and I thought that they were incredibly well behaved for a bunch of 21 year olds!! It will be a night that we will all remember for a very long time.

We so enjoyed seeing Neil again and it was great to have a chance to chat to him. I am so glad that he was able to join us. You should be so proud of what you have achieved there at Hillcrest Restaurant. You have a magnificent venue, and the food was absolutely outstanding. And as for the Portal Cake … well…. Words fail me. You are so clever to have replicated that cake so exactly – I am hugely impressed!!

And for me, the most special thing was to be able to have my son’s 21st with you, who have been part of our lives and our family for so many years. You are very special to all of us, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making our night such a memorable one.

Take care dear Delene

With lots of love

Ali

Sublime blending at Hillcrest

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:45:00 GMT

We all have differing opinions when it comes to deciding on what makes the perfect blend in a wine. Some say it’s the soil, some say it’s the vineyard’s proximity to the ocean while others say it’s all down to the company and occasion on which you enjoy the wine. One thing’s for sure: it’s certainly all about the grapes!

We recently made up the final blends for the 2011 Metamorphic Range with wine consultant Bruwer Raats. The merlot grapes showed an exceptional range of flavours with result that the 2011 Quarry is 100% Merlot from three different Merlot blocks and three different barrel coopers (all French coopers). After blending, the Merlot went back into barrel for a further nine months and will probably be bottled in November 2012.

The Hornfels 2011 blend is made up of 37.5% Cabernet Franc, 25% Malbec, 12.5% Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is a full rich wine which still retains as “elegance” for which Hillcrest is renowned. The increased percentage of Cabernet Franc, compared to the previous vintage is mainly responsible for this flavour characteristic. The blend will spend a further nine months in oak of which 80% is new. Only 8 barrels are made.

So while we wait for the Metamorphic range to mature, it’s all stations go with the anticipation of the 2012 harvest. There’s a huge cleaning frenzy taking our cellar, crushers, conveyor belt, de-stemmers & tanks by storm to get ready for the harvest of our grapes. We’re inviting you to join us in the celebrations and activities of our annual harvest on 21 March 2012. We’ll give you more details on this fun-filled day next week & hopefully you’ll also agree by the end of your grape crushing experience that it really is all about the grapes.

Hillcrest delivered to your door…..

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:55:00 GMT

As we near the end of the first month of 2012, you may already be looking back and trying to remember what your New Year’s resolutions were. You’re not alone on that front. A gentle reminder of some common ones: to get fit, loose weight and to spend more time with the family.

Personally, I think the best New Year’s resolution I overheard is to drink more good wine, really good wine. We have a philosophy at Hillcrest Wine Estate and we think it’s one you’ll quickly adopt: Life’s too short to drink average wine.

So how do you make sure you have a constant supply of Hillcrest’s award winning wines? Simple. Visit the hillcrest website: www.hillcrestfarm.co.za and have a look at our fine Hillcrest wines. In case you’re not familiar with the Hornfels or Metamorphic ranges, there is some info to explain what grapes they’re made from as well as the awards they’ve won. Below the wines is an easy form to complete and one of our staff will call you back and have the wine delivered to your door in Cape Town, free of charge.

I can’t think of a better way to get started on 2012 than having a constant supply of our favourite Hillcrest wines on hand to mark those special occasion or just to celebrate life on a daily basis! May 2012 be a cracking year for you all.

We’re all going on a summer holiday…

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:55:00 GMT

It’s finally that time of year when we can put on our out-of-office, kick back and relax…at last! And while there is much excitement about going on holiday or taking a break, there are also the stressful things to consider like what clothes to pack, how many books to put in and most importantly, how much wine to take along. Heaven forbid you run out while on holiday with the in-laws!

To help speed up your packing, the Hillcrest team have been working hard lately to make sure that their award-winning wines are more readily available at more convenient locations. Please visit our website www.hillcrestfarm.co.za to find your closest stockist.

If you’re a little unsure about which wines to pack, you can never go wrong with Hillcrest’s Sauvignon Blanc 2011 for a summer’s day and the Metamorphic Range will offer you some of the finest and highest award-winning wines in South Africa.

If you’re doing a “staycation” (i.e. you’re not going anywhere this festive season) make sure you use the time to visit the treasures that are on your doorstep. Plan a trip to Hillcrest Farm where there are walking trails, mountain bike routes, fishing in the dam, a fantastic cellar to taste wines, enjoy our olives and end off the outing with a meal and a bottle of wine at our restaurant.

We wish all of you a very happy and safe festive season and look forward to welcoming you to Hillcrest in the coming weeks.

If you fall down, get back up again!

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:25:00 GMT

While many of you are in full swing of festive season celebrations and may interpret this heading as referring to your behaviour at said festive season celebrations, it is quite on the contrary.

It’s that time of year when one more beer, one more mince pie or one more glass of wine is that much more acceptable as we convince ourselves that we’ll get back into shape in the New Year. To hold you to that promise, Hillcrest will be hosting an Off-road Triathlon on the 12th of Feb in conjunction with team-up challenge. There are 3 categories you can enter: individual race, team race or you can buy a corporate package.

The distances are very achievable, starting with a 300m swim in the quarry, followed by a 9km mountain bike ride around the farm and finishing with a 3km run. These legs are made much easier by the beautiful surroundings and promise of a cold glass of Hillcrest wine and a relax by the dam afterwards.
Places are limited so make sure you enter & set yourself a good goal for early next year. For more information please visit: http://www.teamup.co.za/mailers/mailer1/teamup_mailer1.html

And finally, don’t forget Carols by Candlelight on the18th of December at around 4pm. Entry is free but space is limited so make sure you get there on time, armed with a picnic blanket and basket of snacks. Hillcrest will be selling their award winning wines on the evening. For more details please contact Karlin on 021 976 1110 or drop her a mail on functions@hillcrestfarm.co.za

The winners for the free tickets to the Durbanville Beer Fest are:
Yulter Bosch
Derrick Adriaanse
Ilze Esterhuizen
Duncan Marshall
Zane Marx

Congratulations guys - see you Saturday!