Magaliesburg - This winter the Mount Grace Country House & Spa invite you to slow down and relax in their beautiful rural surroundings over good food and great wine with their annual Gourmet Calendar Weekends.
Leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind you and head for the hills at the Mount Grace where fresh country breezes and magnificent views of the valleys and mountains help you to relax and unwind whilst enjoying exclusive dining experiences. Executive Chef Vasti Wilson at the Mount Grace’s signature restaurant, the Rambling Vine, has compiled a series of dinners showcasing some of South Africa’s finest wines and winemakers, paired with his unique country-style cuisine.
Starting the series with a fizz, pop and a bang April 26 is Bonnievale winery and Cap Classique specialists, Weltevrede. Owner and winemaker Philip Jonker’s range of bubblies cover the whole gamut from fresh and fruity to rich and intensely savoury and they are wonderful partners for all kinds of food. Philip’s wines are often terroir-specific so expect a fascinating evening tasting the different soils and climates and how they show themselves in the wines.
From the cool, coastal terroir of Stanford comes Raka Wines May24 . Celebrating not only their tenth anniversary of winemaking, but also two five star Awards in the Platter Wine Guide, fisherman father Piet and new winemaking son Josef have plenty to celebrate with you this year! Let them guide you through their wonderfully-named wines whilst Chef Vasti makes inspired winter pairings to warm the cockles of your heart.
Organic food and wine is a growing segment in today’s markets but how many of you have heard of ‘biodynamic’ wine? If not, then make sure you join the Mount Grace June 16 when one of South Africa’s leading proponents of biodynamism, Johnathan Grieve from Avondale explains his philosophy and illustrates it with his fabulous, award-winning wines. Biodynamism is all about harnessing the powers of nature and the natural beauty of Magaliesburg provides the perfect setting for this special dinner.
July 26 sees the return of one of the stars of last year’s Gourmet Calendar – Andrew Gunn from Iona Vineyards. Iona is one of the highest vineyards in Africa, producing grapes which hang on the vines for an extra long time creating complexity and length. There are some new wines in the Iona portfolio this year so expect some exciting and creative matches from Chef Vasti!
Rounding off the series August 30 is red-wine specialist winery Mont du Toit. The farm is in Wellington, a perfect spot to grow black grapes, and owner Stephan du Toit has achieved great success with his wines, both as single varietals and as blends. Shake off the last chills of winter with Mont du Toit and some hearty, comforting classic dishes!
The Gourmet Evenings at Rambling Vine Restaurant are priced at R450 per person including a stellar wine pairing. Why not overnight and a make a weekend of it? Mount Grace Gourmet Weekend accommodation packages are also available and can be viewed at www.mountgrace.co.za
For further Mount Grace Country House & Spa enquiries call direct on 014 577 5600, email [email protected] or go to www.mountgrace.co.za for more information.