Monthly Archives: August 2009

Val de Vie is thrilled to be hosting one of the world's hottest bands: The Killers! As part of their South African tour, this multi-award winning, alternative rock band will be playing on 06 December at Val de Vie, and it's sure to be an experience that rocks. The Killers have sold millions of albums across the world, with their latest album Day and Age including the hit single, Human. Besides the incredible sales figures, The Killers have received seven nods from The Grammy’s and won a variety of MTV, BRIT and NME Awards. They have headlined some of the biggest festivals in the world including Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds and Pukkelpop, and have sold out prestigious venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York.

The tour is presented by Heineken® and supported by regional radio stations 94.7 Highveld Stereo and 94.5 Kfm. To book your ticket for this must-see event, visit Computicket's website.

The John Platter South African Wine Guide is regarded as one of the top wine resources in South Africa, packed with information about hundred of wineries and their wines. Val de Vie Wines are highly rated in this popular publication, here are the 2009 Platter Guide results:

• 4½ stars - Val de Vie flagship wine 2006
• 4 stars – Shiraz 2006
• 4 stars – GVC 2007
• 3½ stars – Mourvèdre ; Shiraz-Mourvèdre and Polo Club wines
• 3 stars - Viognier

For more information about this must-have guide, visit John Platter's website.

Image courtesy of Platteronline.com

This spacious north-facing stand overlooks paddocks, green pastures and the imposing Groot Drakenstein mountains.

Plot number: 233
Size: 1000sqm
Price: R1.95m

For further information, kindly email us or phone +27(0)861 63 63 63.

There are few moments that are as romantic and unforgettable as the marriage proposal. Dominic and Aretha are going to celebrate their special day at Val de Vie, but Dominic first had a very special request: to officially propose to Aretha at Val de Vie, with a horse. The estate is an incredible setting for special moments, and Val de Vie is more than happy to help you create the perfect proposal and make your wedding dreams come true.

Dominic had a very particular idea of what he wanted for the proposal, and it was our pleasure to play a part in this magical moment. As he says, "I'm not a horse rider myself, but was always fascinated with the classical idea of a 'knight on white horse' sort of proposal. I also know that Aretha (my fiancé) absolutely adores horses. This was when I decided to seek the help of the Val de Vie team and boy, did they oblige. I think they might even have been more excited for the proposal than I was!"

John Lister, polo manager, stepped in as the role of the knight, and the scene was set for the perfect proposal. Dominic remembers it fondly: "obviously (unfortunately) I could not be the knight myself, but a note was delivered by a charming, very sophisticated knight (Joanna's husband). The horse was well prepared and looked stunning, almost royal. Our knight gently eased towards us and delivered a 'will you marry me' note to my non-suspecting girlfriend (who thought we were visiting the estate for a wine tasting. Right then, she turned around and I was on my knees whilst a compilation of our favorite love songs softly started playing in the background. I then asked her to marry me."

Both Dominic and Aretha cherished this very special occasion. "I just want to thank Joanna Lister, Petra, Simone and the rest of the team at Val De Vie for their help with realizing my dream proposal. Together we managed to knock my then-girlfriend, now fiancé, off her feet! When we finally dealt with our tears, she found a breath to say yes and suddenly we were surrounded with the rest of the team, who brought us flowers and Champagne. This all took place at the centre of the polo field, during an autumn sunset. It was MAGICAL - a day we will NEVER forget."

Val de Vie boasts an enviable location in the Cape winelands, surrounded by vineyards, mountains and picturesque countryside. Residents are also close to both Paarl and Franschhoek, two historic towns that have a lot to offer. Whether you're in the mood for fine dining, retail therapy or some fun family activities, you're certainly spoilt for choice. Find out more about Paarl at the official town website, or discover the charms of Franschhoek at the town's tourism website.

Tune in to Top Billing tonight to see one of the most spectacular weddings of the season, hosted at our beautiful estate! Visit Top Billing's website for more details, and don't forget to watch the show at 19:30 on SABC 3.

We're always on the lookout for interesting polo news, and Britney Spear's latest music video is no exception! The video for her latest hit, Radar, has got a glamourous polo theme. According to director Dave Meyers, the video is all about “the romance of high-end society and the guys that circulate around there.”

The exciting new video was filmed on location in Santa Barbara at a private estate, complete with its own polo field and horse ranch. It traces how Britney visits her wealthy boyfriend at his mansion, where she watches an elegant polo match. Of course, things get a bit more steamy when she meets a rather dashing polo player!

You might not know it, but Britney is no stranger to polo. Her family sponsor a polo team known as the "Spears Family" which she has watched in action at charity events.

Read more about the video at MTV's website or this Britney fansite.

Image courtesy of OK Magazine

Do you know your Cinsaut from your Carignan? Val de Vie produces Rhône-style wines that consist of several unique varietals. The terroir of the estate is perfectly suited to their cultivation, due to the rocky formations that are remarkably similar to those in the Rhône Valley. Visit Val de Vie Wines' website for a comprehensive guide to all the different varietals that go into our award-winning wines.

Image courtesy of Flickr

It might be the last month of Winter, but the weather is still quite chilly! Take inspiration from the season to jazz up your dinner party or function. For a fun welcoming drink, serve hot chocolate as a decadent and warming treat. Piping hot shots of soup are a fun starter, while spicy flavours are guaranteed to add some heat.

Of course, the decor is important too. A roaring fire creates a wonderful ambience, perfect for cosy dinner parties and lunches. Use richly coloured table linen (shades of burgundy can look gorgeous) and light a few candles to create a welcoming golden light. If you're planning a wedding, consider luxurious pashminas as a practical gift for the ladies.

Image courtesy of Flickr

The Val de Vie Flagship is an elegant wine that consists of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Shiraz, 7% Carignan, 7% Grenache noir and 6% Cinsaut. It is deep garnet in colour, and boasts fresh, big, sweet cassis berry with some floral nuances, mulberry and plummy fruit flavours, all complemented by rich, aromatic new oak. The palate is lush, soft and silky, making it an example of Southern Rhone style meeting New World flair.

This wine is excellently suited to hearty dishes like casseroles, cassoulets and baked dishes incorporating beef, lamb, pork, goose, duck, beans and lentils. But our favourite pairing so far has to be with veal sweet breads with pancetta and Jerusalem artichokes! Be sure to decant before serving.

Whether you're hosting a cocktail party or would like to serve a snack during pre-dinner drinks, canapés are an absolute necessity. These delectable mouthfuls offer a wonderful opportunity to be creative. One of the latest trends is to serve miniature versions of your favourite dishes, deconstructed into a petite mouthful. Imagine shots of hot butternut soup, or bite-size portions of fillet with a horseradish sauce.

It's also great to serve a selection of sushi, or to offer bowls of succulent prawns with a dipping sauce. Have a few choices available for your guests so that all tastes are catered for, and ensure that there are more than enough to go around!

Get in touch with the Events Team to find out more about delectable entertaining ideas.

Photograph courtesy of Flickr