DRIEHOEK NEWS

3 December 2011

DRIEHOEK WINES: Different competitions and judges, same winner!

Vines were first planted on Driehoek in 2006. The first wines, a 2009 Shiraz and 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, were released in 2010 and did quite well.

The third release was the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc and the awards and reaction by the market were quite amazing. It started with a gold medal at the Veritas competition and four stars in the 2012 Platters Wine Guide. Next it was selected to be served on SAA first class international flights in 2012. At the function where all the SAA winners were honoured it then won the White wine of the year award. The next award was inclusion in the 2011 Bartho Eksteen Top 10 Sauvignon Blancs. The top 10 wines from South Africa then competed with Sauvignon Blancs from five other countries. The Driehoek 2011 Sauvignon Blanc was judged Top Sauvignon Blanc amongst the South African competitors. In the international competition it came second only to Te Mata from New Zealand (it is those All Blacks again - next time we will beat them 6 - 0!).

All credit to the team on Driehoek and winemaker David Nieuwoudt from neighbouring Cederberg Cellars.

The 2010 Shiraz will (DV) be released in 2012 and the first Pinot Noir will also be harvested in 2012.

See below for wine boutiques where Driehoek wines are stocked.

DRIEHOEK WYNE: Verskillende kompetisies, verskillende beoordeelaars, selfde wenner!

Wingerd is die eerste maal op Driehoek geplant in 2006. Die eerste wyne, 'n 2009 Shiraz en 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, is in 2010 vrygestel en het baie goed gevaar.

Die derde vrystelling was die 2011 Sauvignon Blanc en die reaksie van die mark en die resultate sover was fantasties. Dit het 'n goue medalje by die Veritas kompetisie gewen en vier sterre in die 2012 Platters Wine Guide. Daarna is dit gekies om op SAL eerste klas buitelandse vlugte in 2012 bedien te word. By die funksie waar al die SAL wenners vereer is, het dit toe die Wit wyn van die jaar toekenning gekry. Die volgende toekenning was insluiting in die Bartho Eksteen 2011 Top 10 Sauvignon Blancs. Die top 10 wyne van Suid Afrika het daarna kompeteer met Sauvignon Blancs van vyf ander lande. Die Driehoek 2011 Sauvignon Blanc is as Top Sauvignon Blanc onder die Suid Afrikaanse deelnemers aangewys. In die internasionale kompetsie het dit tweede gekom na Te Mata van New Zealand (dis weer daai All Blacks - volgende keer gee ons hulle 6 - 0 pak!).

Alle krediet aan die span op Driehoek en David Nieuwoudt van Cederberg Kelders op die buurplaas.

Die 2010 Shiraz sal (DV) in 2012 vrygestel word en die eerste Pinot Noir word ook in 2012 geoes.

Driehoek wines can be bought at Driehoek and are also stocked by the following wine boutiques:
- Norman Goodfellows in Johannesburg
- Carolines Fine Wines stores in Strand Street and the V&A Waterfront
- Vaughan Johnson Wine Shop V&A Waterfront
- Manuka Cafe & Wine Boutique in Somerset West
- Vinolentia in Welgemoed
- Wine & Company Hermanus
- Wine Village Hermanus
- SPAR Clanwilliam
- Citrusdal Wijnhuis
- Langebaan Wijnhuis

September 2011

Driehoek's wines entering the market with a bang!

Vines were first planted on Driehoek in 2006. Together with neighbouring Dwarsrivier the Driehoek vineyards are part of the highest lying vineyards in South Africa. The first harvest, a 2009 Shiraz, was awarded four and a half stars in the 2011 Platters Wine Guide and also obtained a gold medal at the recent International Concours Mondial Awards in Belgium. The first white harvest, a 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, was awarded three and a half stars in the Platters Wine Guide and obtained silver medals at the Veritas, Michelangelo and Classic Wine Trophy competitions. These wines can be bought at Driehoek and are also stocked amongst other places in Cape Town by Carolines Fine Wines stores in Strand Street and the V&A Waterfront (www.carolineswine.com) as well as by Manuka Cafe & Wine Boutique (www.manuka.co.za) in Somerset West. It is also available at SPAR in Clanwilliam and Norman Goodfellows (www.ngf.co.za) in Johannesburg.

Internet connections on Driehoek

Driehoek is not a place that one identifies with computers and office work and the fact that there is no cell phone reception adds to the breakaway experience. At the request of some of our regular visitors we are glad to report that internet connections are now available in the Groothuis and Kothuis. This is therefore an ideal opportunity for those who want to get away from the City but still need to be connected to work to stay in the Groothuis or Kothuis during the week or outside school holidays for a relaxed working experience.

Nature conservation - Leopards and eagles



Photo reproduced with the kind permission of Quinton Martins from the Cape Leopard Trust

For a number of years now Driehoek has been supporting the work of the Cape Leopard Trust and acted as a base for monitoring the leopards. Amongst other conservation efforts, Driehoek has committed to protecting the leopards and has "employed" an Anatolian shepherd dog to guard its farm animals in a leopard friendly manner. The Cape Leopard Trust has just finalised another month long project of catching and collaring leopards. To learn more about this project, go to www.capeleopard.org.za

In collaboration with the Cape Leopard Trust and the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town, Megan Murgatroyd has just launched a project which will assess the stability of the Black eagle populations in the Cederberg Mountains and the adjacent Sandveld. The unique project will use GPS technology, motion sensing cameras and extensive surveys to look at their diet, habitat use and hunting habitats in the contrasting areas to reveal the effects of land use and to help direct conservation efforts. You can assist by 1) report any sightings or nest locations (date & time, location, behaviour, your name & contact), 2) act as a volunteer or 3) by sponsoring an eagle. For more information contact Megan at blackeagle@capeleopard.org.za

Indigenous fish

The old "mud" dam between the Groothuis and Kothuis has been cleaned. The idea is to populate it with indigenous fish and to add a fishing experience to the activities of visitors to Driehoek.

DRIEHOEK NUUS

Toptoekennings vir Driehoek se eerste wyne!

Wingerd is die eerste maal op Driehoek geplant in 2006. Saam met die buurplaas, Dwarsrivier, is hierdie wingerd deel van die hoogsliggendste wingerde in Suid Afrika.

Die eerste oes, 'n 2009 Shiraz, het 'n toekenning van vier en 'n half sterre in die 2011 Platters Wine Guide ontvang asook 'n goue medalje by die onlangse International Concours Mondial Awards in België. Die eerste wit wyn, 'n 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, het drie en 'n half sterre ontvang in die Platters Wine Guide asook silwer medaljes by die Veritas, Michelangelo en Classic Wine Trophy kompetisies. Hierdie wyne is verkrygbaar op Driehoek en ook onder andere beskikbaar , in Kaapstad by Carolines Fine Wines winkels in Strandstraat en die V&A Waterfront (www.carolineswine.com) sowel as by Manuka Cafe & Wine Boutique (www.manuka.co.za) in Somerset Wes. Dit is ook beskikbaar by SPAR in Clanwilliam en Norman Goodfellows (www.ngf.co.za) in Johannesburg.

Internet konneksie op Driehoek

Driehoek is nie 'n plek wat mens met rekenaars en kantoorwerk vereenselwig nie en die feit dat daar nie selfoon ontvangs is nie, dra by tot die wegbreek ervaring. Op versoek van sommige van die gereelde besoekers is ons egter bly om te rapporteer dat daar nou internet konneksie in die Groothuis en Kothuis is. Dit is daarom 'n ideale geleentheid vir persone wat wil wegkom uit die stad, maar nog steeds in verbinding met die werk moet bly om die Groothuis of Kothuis te bespreek gedurende die week of buite skoolvakansies.

Natuurbewaring - Luiperds en arende

Vir die afgelope paar jaar reeds ondersteun Driehoek die werk van die Cape Leopard Trust en word Driehoek gebruik as 'n basis om luiperds te monitor. Ter ondersteuning van die projek het Driehoek onder andere 'n Anatoliese skaaphond "in diens geneem" om sy plaasdiere op 'n luiperd vriendelike basis te beskerm. Die Cape Leopard Trust het sopas weer 'n maandlange projek van luiperds-opspoor voltooi. Vir meer inligting hieroor gaan na www.capeleopard.org.za

In samewerking met die Cape Leopard Trust en die Universiteit van Kaapstad het Megan Murgatroyd sopas 'n projek begin om die status van die witkruisarend bevolking in die Cederberg en aangrensende Sandveld te bepaal. Die unieke projek sal gebruik maak van GPS tegnologie, kameras en opnames om hulle diëet, habitat benutting en jagpatrone in die verskillende gebiede vas te stel ten einde die invloed van grondgebruik vas te stel en dan voorstelle vir hul voortbestaan en bewaring te maak. U kan 'n bydrae maak deur 1) enige waarneming van witkruisarende of hul neste te raporteer (datum en tyd, plek, gedrag, u naam en kontak), 2) as vrywillige deel te neem of 3) deur 'n witkruisarend te borg. Vir meer inligting kontak Megan by blackeagle@capeleopard.org.za

Inheemse vis

Die ou "modderdam" tussen die Groothuis en Kothuis is skoon en dieper gemaak. Die idee is om inheemse vis daarin te plaas sodat besoekers in die toekoms ook visvang by hul lys van aktiwiteite op Driehoek kan voeg.

Ons hoop om u gou terug op Driehoek te sien!!