Leopard’s Leap is situated in one of South Africa’s most celebrated wine regions, Franschhoek Valley. Surrounded by mountain vistas and lush vineyards, this renowned winery offers a blend of innovation and a passion for crafting exceptional wines.
Their wide range of wines are distributed worldwide, making it easy to find your favourite bottle in many of your favourite cities. Whether you’re fortunate enough to travel or simply exploring intriguing food and wine pairings at home, Leopard’s Leap encourages you to broaden your cultural horisons.
Maputo, the vibrant capital of Mozambique, offers a unique blend of cultures, and its cuisine showcase a rich tapestry of flavours. The local cuisine is strongly influenced by the wonderful seafood from the Maputo coastline as well as its rich Portuguese heritage.
Pairing wine with spicy dishes can be quite daunting, but it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your favourite wines alongside the bold and vibrant flavours of Mozambican cuisine. Peri-peri, a spicy chili sauce integral to Mozambican dishes, can create exciting and delicious combinations when paired with the right wines. Spicy foods can often overpower the palate, making it seem tricky to find a wine that complements rather than clashes. The heat from the chilies can intensify the perception of alcohol, acidity and tannins in wine, which might seem like an obstacle. However, with a thoughtful approach, wine can actually enhance and balance these fiery flavours.
The Leopard’s Leap wines are renowned for their balance and approachability, offering a versatile option for pairing with the diverse flavours of Maputo’s cuisine. The versatile range of Leopard’s Leap wines is particularly well-suited to catering for these spicy pairings. Their balanced profiles and carefully crafted flavours make them ideal companions for the heat and complexity of peri-peri dishes.
Leopard’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc 2024
This wine with its herbaceous notes and aromas of passion fruit is zesty and refreshing. The wine’s vibrant acidity cuts through the heat of peri-peri sauces, while its tropical fruit flavours provide a refreshing contrast to the spice. This combination enhances the flavors of peri-peri prawns or grilled fish, making each bite and sip a delightful experience.
Leopard’s Leap Chenin Blanc 2024
This wine opens with aromas of ripe pear and white peach. On the palate it’s delightfully crisp and fresh, featuring flavours of tropical fruits like pineapple and guava, complemented by a subtle minerality and a touch of citrus zest. When paired with a Mozambican Peri-Peri sauce, the Leopard’s Leap Chenin Blanc excels in balancing the spicy heat. The wine’s acidity and fresh fruit flavours cut through the intensity of the peri-peri, enhancing the dish without overpowering it. It showcases the Chenin Blanc’s versatility, making it a perfect match for the bold, vibrant flavours of Mozambican cuisine.
Leopard ‘s Leap Culinaria Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2023
This rosé from their Culinaria collection delights the senses with its radiant rose gold hue, inviting you into a world of vibrant aromas and flavours. On the nose, it offers a delicate bouquet of summer berries mingling with a hint of rose petals. The palate is crisp and refreshing, bursting with red fruit flavours, complemented by a subtle minerality and a touch of citrus zest.
What sets this rosé apart is its remarkable ability to pair beautifully with a wide variety of peri-peri sauces. Whether you’re indulging in the fiery heat of a traditional peri-peri chicken or enjoying the nuanced spice of a mild lemon peri-peri, it enhances the flavours and provides a refreshing contrast. Its bright acidity cuts through the richness of the sauces, while its fruit-forward profile complements the spiciness, and creates a delightful experience.
Leopard ‘s Leap Culinaria Chenin Blanc 2023
The grapes originate from old dryland bush vines and spent time in French oak barrels to create a wine with complexity. This wine reveals a well-defined ripe fruit character, with enchanting aromas of tropical fruit and yellow peach that dance on the nose. Balancing this richness are refreshing notes of white fruit, adds depth and complexity to the bouquet. A subtle hint of sweet spice adds an intriguing charm to the aroma profile. On the palate, this Chenin Blanc dazzles with its vibrant acidity creating a lively and refreshing experience.
Pairing this Chenin Blanc with Mozambican Garlic and Lemon Peri-peri sauce is a match made in culinary heaven. The wine’s tropical fruit notes complement the zesty flavours of the peri-peri sauce, while its vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of the garlic, creating a harmonious balance on the palate. The elegant oak nuances add depth to the pairing, which makes this wine very versatile to enjoy.
Leopard’s Leap Lookout Cape Leopard Mountain Semi Sweet 2023
A blend of Chenin Blanc, Muscat, Columbar and Sauvignon Blanc, offers a semi-sweet profile with fragrant floral notes akin to flower petals. On the palate, delicate apple blossom flavors mingle with subtle citrus undertones. This wine’s sweetness is harmoniously balanced by its natural acidity, resulting in a lively and zesty burst of flavour.
Pairing this semi-sweet wine with peri-peri sauce creates a delightful contrast. The wine’s floral and fruity notes complement the tangy and spicy flavours of any mild or spicy peri-peri dish.
Leopard’s Leap Special Edition Pinotage 2022
This wine presents a nose filled with bursts of mixed berry compote aromas, alongside gentle hints of oak and vanilla that weave through juicy red fruit flavours, adding depth and length to the wine. Soft tannins contribute to a smooth texture, leading to an elegant finish.
Pairing this Pinotage with a Mozambican Garlic & Lemon Sauce is a delightful match. The wine’s rich berry and oak notes complement the sauce’s tangy garlic and citrus flavours, creating a harmonious balance on the palate. The soft tannins and elegant finish making it a perfect accompaniment to dishes seasoned with this flavourful sauce.
Leopard’s Leap Family Collection Heritage Blend 2022
A blend of Shiraz, Grenache Noir and Cinsault. The wine shows fragrances of spicy oak vanilla notes, with rich dark fruity flavours of plum and blackberries. A vibrant purple colour with deep red hues. The wine shows fragrances of spicy oak vanilla notes, with rich dark fruity flavours of plum and blackberries. Perfume nuances of lavender supported by soft oak tannins. The palate is refined and elegant, with prominent mulberry and mix spice flavours supported by well-defined tannins, leaving a lingering finish.
When I think about this wine, then a juicy chicken burger with a Prego sauce comes to mind. The wine’s spicy oak and dark fruit notes complement the robust flavours of the sauce, enhancing its savoury profile. The soft oak tannins and elegant palate of the wine marries with the boldness of the Prego sauce, creating a delicious pairing.
One of the joys of food and wine pairing is discovering how different combinations can elevate a meal. When it comes to spicy sauces like peri-peri, it’s important not to shy away from wine pairings. Leopard’s Leap wines, with their versatility and balanced profiles, offer an ideal match for the bold flavours of Maputo’s cuisine.
Minnies range of hot peri-peri and Mozambican sauces are available from Checkers. Exploring Portuguese cuisine in Maputo is an adventure in flavours. Don’t be afraid to experiment and discover the perfect balance between spicy and smooth, heat and harmony.
Contact details
Reservations: reservations@leopardsleap.co.za
General enquiries: info@leopardsleap.co.za
Tel: +27 (0)21 876 8002
Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards, R45, Main Road
Franschhoek
Categories: Leopard’s Leap Wines
