When thinking food and drink pairings, our minds tend to race to cheese and wine. But in Cape Town there lies a wealth of other pairings to uncover.
How about Cheesecake and Wine pairing? Cheesecake is very hard to not like. What’s better than a freshly baked sweet velvety cheesecake? A rich savoury one! Think savoury cheesecakes that are made with 4 different types of cheese, including cream cheese, parmesan, mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
Vondeling Wines is situated in the Voor-Paardeberg about 45 minutes from Cape Town. They hosted their first Savoury Cheesecake and Wine Pairing in April and it was such a huge success that they decided to repeat it due to popular demand.
Four different savoury cheesecakes are paired with 4 of Vondeling’s most well-loved wines, including their signature white blend, Babiana, and signature red blend, Monsonia. The cheesecakes are rich, flavoursome and very filling. The portions are generous – one thing is for sure that you won’t leave hungry at all!
Hannes and Eckhardt (Father and Son) from Biltong and Deli at Eden, are the master brains behjnd these famous yet popular Cheesecakes.
On arrival we were welcomed with a glass of delicious Vondeling Rosé on the outside patio whilst waiting for the other guests to arrive.
Possessing a delightful rose gold colour, the Vondeling Rosé shows an exceptional, rich bouquet bursting with a massive range of aromas: red currant, raspberry, rose petal, citrus, tropical fruit, cloves and cinnamon. The palate is marvellously fresh and lively, exhibiting red berry and candied citrus flavours with underpinnings of floral notes, leading to a crisp aftertaste.
FIRST CHEESECAKE
Chicken and Peppadew Cheesecake paired with Vondeling Sauvignon Blanc.
Chicken and cheesecake, not exactly two words you would use in one concept. The chicken lends itself brilliantly to the bold flavours of the sweet yet spicy piquanté peppers. The peppadew is crisp, tangy and sweet and the richness of the cheesecake brings the flavours together.
The Vondeling Sauvignon Blanc is pale straw in colour with a hint of green along the edge. The bouquet has flint and floral aromas along with fig and granadilla, supported by kiwi fruit and red pepper. The palate is fruit-forward, containing the same notes as the nose, with delicate zest and some flinty notes. I had the opportunity to taste this wine in the beginning of the year when it still needed to settle and to taste it again, it reveals a wine that is refreshing with delicious granadilla flavours.
SECOND CHEESECAKE
Salmon and Spinach Cheesecake paired with Vondeling Babiana.
This Smoked Salmon Cheesecake is amazing and was my favourite of the day. The fresh and vibrant flavours uplift the cheesecake and the cream cheese adds balance to the wonderful smoky flavours of the salmon. No better wine to pair it with than Vondeling Babiana – a complexed wine that is multi-layered and pairs beautifully with this cheesecake.
Vondeling’s Babiana is a white blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne. A pale straw yellow in colour, it reveals a complex nose that is subtle at first, but with time becomes more expressive, showing peach blossoms, wild honey, toasted cashew nuts and pineapple. The palate is marvellously dense with flavours of white pepper and rose petals, softened by honeyed pears. The presence of oak is well incorporated and the mid-palate creamy and elegant. Named in honour of Babiana Noctiflora, which is a rare species of fynbos found only on the Paardeberg Mountain.
THIRD CHEESECAKE
Biltong Cheesecake paired with Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz.
Biltong and cheese cheesecake? Gone are the days where cheesecakes are only for the sweet-toothed. This savoury cheesecake has a very recognisable South African flair. It is both unusual and delicious and will definitely make your tastebuds sing with joy. Four cheeses blended with biltong in one smooth, decadent, round of delight.
The Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz is a medium-bodied wine, with a “savoury” character. The bouquet displays blue and red fruit, spicy cinnamon and liquorice plus dashes of wood smoke. The nose is also highly perfumed with violet floral notes. Expect some weight on the palate and flavours of delicate pepper, exotic spices and dark fruit.
FOUTH CHEESECAKE
Salami Cheesecake paired with Vondeling Monsonia.
Salami and cheese is quite possibly the best combination ever. Superb marbling of fat throughout the meat allows for a rich, full texture and complex flavour. When it is mixed with delicious cheese it is simply a match made in heaven. A delicious combination and complemented the Vondeling Monsonia.
This luxurious, dark red-purple wine has a nose rich with sweet blackcurrants and ripe plums, intertwined with dashes of spicy nutmeg, coriander seeds and cloves. On the full-bodied palate, the wine feels viscous and weighty with powdery tannins. Black pepper and spice flavours abound, leading to a lingering aftertaste. This wine is named in honour of Monsonia speciosa, is a rare and highly endangered flower indigenous to the Paardeberg. This is a blend made from Shiraz, Mourvédre, Carignan and Grenache.
The Savoury Cheesecake and Wine events are always popular and fully booked way in advance, so make sure you don’t miss out on the last one for 2019 on Saturday 1 November. Book with Mariaan via info@vondelingwines.co.za / 021 869 8339
FUTURE EVENTS FOR 2019
15 September – Turkish Delights at Vondeling for Heritage month
Legendary Cape Town Chef, Tayfun Aras (ex-owner of Anatoli restaurant) teamed up with Vondeling Wines to bring a Turkish twist to South Africa’s favourute meal, celebrating September as both Heritage month and “braai day”.
For more information and bookings, contact Mariaan Harris at info@vondelingwines.co.za or 021 869 8339.
12 October – International Pinotage Day
#PaardebergCountry Pinotage Festival Celebrates International Pinotage Day with Wine, Food and Live Music
INTERNATIONAL Pinotage Day is the perfect reason to pile family and friends into the car and explore the off-the-beaten-track Paardeberg countryside to join the area’s wineries at Vondeling Wines for the #PaardebergCountry Pinotage Festival on Saturday 12 October.
The Paardeberg Country Pinotage Festival takes place from 11:00-17:00 at Vondeling Wines, Voor-Paardeberg Road, Paarl, on Saturday, 12 October. Tickets at R150 from Quicket include a tasting glass, tasting of all wines on show and live music. No BYO food or drinks allowed. Children under 18 enter free of charge.
Tickets available here from Quicket >> https://www.facebook.com/events/810409012686353/
Categories: Event, Vondeling Wines
