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coquillagean · 4 years

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gendies! (pt. 1)

Genderheyst: a gender that is autumnal, bright, airy, and crisp like the autumn mornings in October. it is connected to crunchy leaves on a forest floor, pumpkin scented candles, and cozy couches. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Faroese: heyst - autumn

Gendersugis: a gender that is autumnal, dreary, vague, and wet like the rainy autumn afternoons in October. it is connected to rain-covered leaves on a forest floor, cinnamon scented candles, and cozy cabins. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Estonian: sugis - autumn

Genderautuno: a gender that is autumnal, warm, bright, airy, content, and cozy like the early autumn evenings in September. it is connected to slowly falling leaves, landing on a forest floor, candles, and campfires. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Esperanto: autuno - autumn

Genderherfst: a gender that is autumnal, fiery, warm, and crisp like the early autumn nights in September. it is connected to warm leaves on a forest floor, warm windowpanes, and cozy living rooms. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Dutch: herfst - autumn

Genderefterar: a gender that is autumnal, toasty, dark, and cool like the autumnal midnights in October. it is connected to crunchy leaves on a forest floor, a full moon at night, and cozy blankets. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Danish: efterar - autumn

Genderautun: a gender that is autumnal, bright, airy, and cold like late autumn mornings in November. it is connected to wet leaves on an empty forest floor, warm candlelight, and cozy blankets while it is snowing outside. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Dalmatian: autun - autumn

Genderpodzim: a gender that is autumnal, cozy, thin, and warm like the autumn afternoons in October. it is connected to crunchy leaves on a forest floor, evergreen scented candles, and cozy couches. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Czech: podzim - autumn

Genderkynnyav: a gender that is autumnal, bright, hot, and toasty like the autumn noons in late August. it is connected to crunchy leaves on a forest floor, late summer scented candles, and ice cubes. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Cornish: kynnyav - autumn

Gendertardor: a gender that is autumnal, dull, thick, and boring like early autumn mornings. it is connected to crunchy leaves on a forest floor, apple scented candles, and cozy blankets. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Catalan: tardor - autumn

Genderudazken: a gender that is autumnal, dark, vague, and unknown like autumn nights in November. it is connected to crunchy leaves flying across a cobblestone trail, cherry merlot scented candles, and warm fireplaces. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Basque: udazken - autumn

Genderherfs: a gender that is autumnal, bright, airy, and rustic like a cabin in a grassy meadow. it is connected to wheat flowing in the wind, the smell of a bakery, and cozy cabins and villas.. A part of the Genderstajon System (autumnal subsystem). Afrikaans: herfs - autumn

Genderancikar: a gender that is night-like, bright, airy, and magical like a fairy-covered wood. it is connected to purple flowers, the smell of a bakery, and the moon high above inside a forest. A part of the Genderstajon System (night subsystem). Ainu: ancikar - night

Genderkhuen: a gender that is night-like, dark, vague, and mysterious like an owl at night. it is connected to indigo, the sounds of the forest at midnight, and the moon high above inside a forest. A part of the Genderstajon System (night subsystem). Ahom: khuen - night

Gendernag: a gender that is night-like, bright, airy, and lively like a large forest full of animals at night. it is connected to winter snow, evergreens at night, and the moon high above inside a forest. A part of the Genderstajon System (night subsystem). Afrikaans: nag - night

Genderudaberri: a gender that is springy, bright, airy, and brand new like a sprout poking from the earth. it is connected to flowers, the smell of a dewy morning, and the sun high above a green meadow. A part of the Genderstajon System (spring subsystem). Basque: udaberri - spring

Genderprimuveara: a gender that is springlike, bright, colorful, and flowery like a grassy meadow. it is connected to flower gardens, the smell of petrichor, and the sun high in the sky. A part of the Genderstajon System (spring subsystem). Aromanian: primuveara - spring

Genderpranvere: a gender that is flowery, bright, airy, and magical like a flower and vine covered cobblestone wall. it is connected to flowers and vines, the smell of cookies, and the spring showers floating in and out. A part of the Genderstajon System (spring subsystem). Albanian: pranvere - spring

Genderloar: a gender that is round, bright, and vibrant. it is connected to the moon, the tides, stars, and forests at night. It also feels like rain of a tin roof at night, with dreams drifting in and out. Breton: loar - moon. A part of the Genderstajon system.

Genderlluna: a gender that is flowery, related to the moon, the stars, and other celestial bodies. It is also connected to a winter night, snow falling, and the sound of crunchy snow. Basque: lluna - moon. A part of the Genderstajon system.

Genderloor: a flowing, calm, moon-aligned gender that is connected to the moon, flowers (particularly petunias and morning glory flowers), toasty autumn nights, and the feeling of soft blankets. Cornish: loor - moon A part of the Genderstajon system.

Genderloina: a gender that is calming, connected to the dark side of the moon, stars, and unknown/mysterious things. it is also somewhat connected to rainy nights, the moon peaking through clouds, and summer. Dalmatian: loina - moon. A part of the Genderstajon system.

Genderimaq: an expansive, large, and pangender-like gender that is connected to the ocean, sandy shores, deep sea creatures, and summertime. It feels like the ocean on a warm summer day, salty sea air, and exotic fruit. Greenlandic: imaq - ocean. A part of the Genderstajon System

Genderuceanu: a gender that is oceanic, tropical, and humid. it is connected to tropical ocean waters, islands, and the feeling of the wind blowing from the ocean. Sicilian: uceanu - ocean. A part of the Genderstajon System

Genderwinterzeit: a cold, frosty, and glassy/icy gender that is connected to wintertime, cold snowy nights, hot cocoa, and icicles on a house. it feels like a refreshingly cold morning in December, and the crunchy snow below, floating around in the wind. German: Winterzeit - wintertime. A part of the Genderstajon System

Gendercotonneux: a gender that is cottony, soft, warm, and comforting. it is connected to sheep, grassy meadows, cotton, wool, and summer. French: cotonneux - cottony. A part of the Genderstajon system.

Genderlaineux: a gender that is related to Gendercotonneux. it is connected to winter, wool clothing, sheep, blankets, and cold weather. It is soft, comforting, and woolly. French: laineux - woolly. A part of the Genderstajon system.

Gendernocturnus: a gender that appears mostly at night, but sometimes at other times of the day. It is connected to bats, autumn, winter, rainy nights, and moonlight. Latin: nocturnus - nocturnal. A part of the Genderstajon System.

Genderdiurnus: a gender that appears mostly at day, but sometimes at other times of the night. It is connected to oceans, summer, spring, sunny days, and sunlight. Latin: diurnus - diurnal. A part of the Genderstajon System.

Genderhodiernus: a gender that appears only once a day, but appears everyday. It is connected to flowers blooming at day, spring, summer, rainy afternoons, and sunflowers. Latin: hodiernus - today. A part of the Genderstajon System.

Gendercrastinus: a gender that appears every other day, but sometimes at other times (only partially). It is connected to icicles, cold weather, winter, rainy nights, and snowfall. Latin: crastinus - yesterday. A part of the Genderstajon System.

Genderhesturnus: a gender that appears every other day, but sometimes at other times (fully). It is connected to the harvest, autumn, winter, rainy days, wheat fields, and sunlight. Latin: hesturnus - tomorrow. A part of the Genderstajon System.

Genderassanis: a gender that is lively, colorful, and produces dozens of other small genders. It is connected to autumn, the harvest, gardens, large fields and meadows, and cold weather. Old Prussian: assanis - autumn. A part of the Genderstajon system.

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bloglinespe-blog · 6 years

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Vlog 325 Waar Was Jy – The Daily Vlogger in Afrikaans [2018]

#WaarWasJy ons het nog n lekker vlog in afrikaans en waar is julle ons het die trein na Uitenhage to gery en weer terug Port Elizabeth toe die lewe is n lied #WatMaakJy – The Daily Vlogger in Afrikaans [2018]

#WatMaakJy #WaarWasJy #TrainPortElizabeth

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wineanddinosaur · 3 years

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Wine 101: South Africa

This episode of “Wine 101” is sponsored by E. & J. Gallo Winery. At Gallo, we exist to serve enjoyment in moments that matter. The hallmark of our company has always been an unwavering commitment to making quality wine and spirits. Whether it’s getting Barefoot and having a great time, making every day sparkle with La Marca Prosecco, or continuing our legacy with Louis Martini in Napa, we want to welcome new friends to wine and sharing all of life’s moments. Cheers, and all the best.

In this episode of “Wine 101,” VinePair tastings director Keith Beavers discusses all things South African wine. Beavers explains that South African wine has roots dating back to the 17th century, and is generating growing excitement among in-the-know oenophiles today.

Listeners will learn about the big moments that have impacted South Africa throughout its wine-growing history, such as an outbreak of the vine-eating phylloxera louse, the formation of a government-led cooperative that regulated wine, and the creation of a grape called Pinotage. You will also learn about the distinct differences between the most important wine regions in South Africa.

Tune in to become an expert on the wines of South Africa.

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Or Check out the Conversation Here

Keith Beavers: My name is Keith Beavers, and I’ve been abstaining from peanut butter for almost two months now. It’s fine, I’m fine!

What’s going on, wine lovers? Welcome to Episode 10 of VinePair’s “Wine 101” podcast, Season 2. My name is Keith Beavers. I am the tasting director of VinePair, and how are you?

South Africa. It’s a major player in the wine scene in the world. What’s going on there? What are they growing? What are they making? What can you find from South Africa? South Africa is happening on our market now. Let’s get into it and understand it.

Back in 2003 I wasn’t even into wine yet. Wine wasn’t even a thing I was thinking about, and I had another job. Well, part of the job is we had to work this thing called the Fancy Food Show. It’s this big food convention that happens over a weekend at the Javits Center in Manhattan. It’s a huge convention center, one of the largest you have ever seen. I took a break from the booth I was working in. You just walk around and try food samples, swag, and all this craziness. All the way in the back of one of these big, big rooms, and these rooms are like a football field, there was a wine section. In that wine section, there was a big banner that said “South African wine.” I’ll never forget that. I was like, “What does that mean?” It stuck with me. It never went away.

Later, I think it was in 2005 or 2004, I was at a wine bar in Park Slope in Brooklyn, and this wine bar had a South African wine. I was like, “Oh, cool, let me try that. Wow, OK, so South Africa makes wine. This is cool.” I didn’t know what was going on. Fast-forward to 2007, when we opened up our wine shop in the East Village and we started buying wines for the initial inventory. I said we need to taste as many South African wines as we can and we, sure enough, did. It was just fascinating. It’s so crazy and cool what South Africa is doing.

When we talked about Australia, there is not intensity, but there’s this hunger. Australian winemakers have a hunger there. They’re the original, the flying winemakers that we talked about in that episode, where they finish the harvest down in their hemisphere, and they go to another hemisphere to start another harvest, because they just need to learn more. South Africa is on that level of innovation and experimentation and trying to find things that really jive with their terroir. Like in Australia and New Zealand, in South Africa, we have a loosely controlled appellation system. Like those other two countries we talked about previously, are still planting vines and finding what works in what areas. There’s a lot of successes with a lot of different varieties all over South Africa. It’s not just “this place does this, this place does that.”

We’re going to do another one of these overviews because there are so many wine regions in South Africa today that it’s impossible to go all through all of them. The good news is, even though all of South Africa is not on our market, there is a good amount of South Africa on our market that you can find, and it’s not hard. That’s really cool. I don’t know if you’re getting a sense of this yet, but these newer wine regions like Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, not Europe, you can get a sense that even to this day, they’re still experimenting.

Even in the United States, in a place like Sonoma, winemakers are still exploring. In South Africa, where the wine culture is new, they’re just trying whatever works. I think it’s very exciting because it’s fun. Diversity is great. If multiple varieties thrive in one place, that’s cool. A place doesn’t always have to be known for one grape. That’s also cool when it is, but it doesn’t have to be. We can celebrate places that aren’t known for just one grape, as well as places that are known for one grape, like Napa Cab. In Australia, we know pretty well because of the Shiraz trend back in the day. We’re pretty familiar with New Zealand because of the Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, but there’s not one of those things happening in South Africa.

Let’s talk about where the Republic of South Africa is on the continent of Africa. The Republic of South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent, with about 59 million people. The country is bordered on the west and south by almost 1600 miles of coastline. In the north of South Africa are the countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. On the eastern border of this country are Mozambique and Eswatini. What’s really unique is there’s actually a country within the borders of South Africa called Lesotho. There are only two others in the world like this, and they’re both in Italy: the Vatican and San Marino. It’s pretty wild stuff.

Also, like New Zealand, South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. I’m sure we all are pretty familiar with the history of South Africa and the struggles and the triumphs of the people in South Africa. We’re not going to go into the political, socioeconomic stuff, although it does affect the history of wine. I want to talk to you about where it began, some things that were important, and then get to where we are today. Again, like other new wine regions, I think today is what’s very invigorating and awesome about South Africa. We are going to see more and more South African wine on our market. It’s just going to happen. Let’s talk about what we can see now.

The history of wine in South Africa begins in the 17th century. It involves the massive Dutch trade system of the time. Towards the southern part of the western coastline of South Africa is the Cape of Good Hope. It juts out into the ocean. On that cape is what is now called Constantia, which is a very famous winery. It’s very historical. That right there is where the wine industry of South Africa began.

In the mid-17th century, the Dutch installed a 33-year-old surgeon by the name of Jan van Riebeeck onto the Cape of Good hope to set up a big garden and put a market around it. This was to help fight scurvy for the sailors that were going back and forth on these trade routes. Of course, a vineyard was part of this big garden. In 1652, Riebeeck recorded in his journal that they pressed the first grapes from harvest, and that is basically what began the wine industry of South Africa. Now, that moment was how grapes got to South Africa from France. The wine that was being made in Constantia on the Cape of Good Hope was a mostly sweet wine. We have an episode coming up this season on fortified wine. These are the wines that could actually survive a trip from South Africa to England.

For a long time, the wines of Constantia in South Africa were some of the most popular wines in the wine-drinking world at the time. It wasn’t until the 19th century that this area became kind of irrelevant. I only say that because of the political stuff that was happening between France, England, and Spain — which has been going on forever — at some point, there is a shift in power, tariffs, and taxes. The British are now able to get wine from France without taxation, so they leave South Africa behind. It’s just easier to get wine from across the English Channel than from all the way down in South Africa. I have this idea that, if it wasn’t for that moment that Bordeaux happened, I wonder what would have happened if that political moment never occurred or occurred later in South Africa. I don’t know, it’s conjecture. That’s a big historical moment.

From the moment that the Dutch colony of Constantia was formed to the 19th century, wine had a presence in this country. Another big moment, like a lot of moments in the wine world, which we’re going to get to, I promise, is phylloxera. Oh, my God, Keith, you keep on bringing up phylloxera. It happened, guys. It was a big deal. When it hit South Africa, it took the country almost 20 years to recuperate from that moment or that horrible scourge, which we’ll get to.

In doing so, they flooded the system. They flooded the land with high-production grapes. They were just getting nervous. They just flooded the zone, and we had a quality issue. This was supposed to be fixed by this huge cooperative company that was created called the Cooperative Wine Growers Association, or KWV in Afrikaans. What’s interesting about this entity is that at one time, it was connected to the government, and it controlled how wine was made and sold in South Africa. At some point, it breaks apart and becomes a company. To this day, it’s still around but it’s not a regulatory body. It’s more of a company supporting cooperatives.

These are big general moments in South African wine history. One that is not as devastating as these is the creation of the grape Pinotage. If you’re in Virginia and you drink red wine, there’s a chance you’ve tried Pinotage. For some reason, it’s happening in Virginia and doing well. But Pinotage is a native South African variety. It was developed by a human, but kind of not really. This is a cool story. Inland from the Cape of Good Hope is a major, major town called Stellenbosch. In that town is a very important university. In 1925, they had just started their viticultural department, and they hired Abraham Izak Perold to be the first professor of their department at the university. In the garden of the university that was set up for him, he actually pollinated Pinot Noir with a grape called Cinsault, which is a variety from southern France and usually used the Provence region for rosé. It was open-air pollination. He just put the plants in the same vicinity, and at some point they cross-pollinated on their own. Then he planted four of those seeds.

In 1927, he left to go work for KWV, which is really wild. A lecturer from the university that knew about those four seeds took the four seeds, brought them to another college. They propagated those seeds, grew some grapes, and chose the best one to use going forward to propagate and make wine from. This was a grape that pollinated from Pinot Noir and a grape called Cinsault.

At the time, in South Africa, the Cinsault grape was actually called Hermitage. The label on the vine was “Pinot Noir x Hermitage.” This is Pinotage. This is how Pinotage was created. It became an indigenous variety to South Africa through open-air pollination by a human. Very cool. To this day, Pinotage is part of the wine scene in South Africa.

Now, South Africa is doing all kinds of stuff. They’re doing Cabernet Sauvignon, they’re doing Syrah. They call it Shiraz sometimes. They’re sometimes doing Chardonnay. They’ve been doing Chenin Blanc for a very long time. They actually call it Stein. They’re doing Merlot, they’re doing Cab Franc. They’re doing everything, but Pinotage is always there. It wasn’t always popular. The Pinotage wines can have a very distinct, almost overpowering smoky aroma to them.

Nowadays, it’s a lot different. The wines being made from Pinotage, they’re being blended. They’re softer, supple, and inky. They’re really, really awesome. You should definitely check them out on the American market, because they’re here. Those are key moments in South African wine history: Constantia, phylloxera, regulatory government-led cooperative, Pinotage.

Now, where South Africa is today in wine is the most exciting time for South Africa. There are dozens of wine-growing regions in South Africa, starting all the way to the north of the country along the coast, going all the way down to the southern part of the country. Not the entire coastline, but a lot of the coastline and a bit inland, you have all these wine-growing regions and we don’t see all of them on the American market. We’re going to and it’s starting to happen. There are places that we see now that I want to tell you about so that when you’re out there in wine markets, you’ll know what you’re looking at.

The appellation system in South Africa is pretty unique. Well, it’s basically regions and subregions, but they have different terminology for them. You have geographical units, then within those geographical units, you have wine regions. Then, within those wine regions, you have districts and within those districts, you have wards. It’s wine regions, subregion, subregion, subregion, and subregion. For example, you have a geographical unit called the Western Cape. It’s the Western Cape of South Africa. Within that geographical unit, you have a region that is called Breede River Valley. Within the Breede River Valley are three districts: Breedekloof, Robertson, and Worcester. Within each of those, they have wards. Breedekloof has two wards. Robertson has nine wards. Worcester has three wards.

What we’re seeing here is terroir, right? As you get further down into subregions, this is a wine system and you need to know that there is terroir here. The soils are different, and you can see them being created, which is very cool. The Western Cape is a geographical unit. We’re going to see the majority of wines from that particular geographical unit on the American market. This large geographical unit has three regions in it that you’re going to see on the market. There are three regions in this area. I’m going to break them down but be very brief so we don’t get too convoluted here.

The Breede River Valley, which is what we just talked about, is in this geographical unit called the Western Cape with three districts. Of those three districts I talked about, Robertson is the biggest one. There are nine wards in this district, which is a lot. It’s a warm, dry area. It has a favorite ward, which is called Bonnievale. I’ve had wines from here. I’ve had Chardonnay from here — Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon. They’re all really good. This area is inland from the southern tip of South Africa.

From the Breede River, if you start going south towards the coast, you enter another wine region called Cape South Coast. Here, there are about six districts, and two of them we’re going to see on the American market. One is called Elgin, and one is called Walker Bay. These are coastal regions so they are going to be cooler climates. You’re not going to see Shiraz and Cab and stuff like that. You’re going to see more Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, because they want to get that acidity up again. Again, all kinds of things are happening in all these places, but these are the varieties you are going to see on the market right now.

Now, it’s the third region in this geographical unit that I’m saving for last because the majority of the stuff we see on the market will be from this chunk of acreage. The coastal region of South Africa has the Cape Peninsula district — this is where the Cape of Good Hope is. This is where the famous Constantia distillery/vineyard is to this day. North of that is a wine district called Darling. We’re not going to see it. We’re not seeing a lot of Darling on the American market, but I want to bring it up because I have had Syrah from Darling, and it was mind-blowing. Yes. Syrah, not Shiraz. It’s back and forth in South Africa, sometimes they call it Shiraz; sometimes to call it Syrah. I believe it’s because of the characteristics. If they’re different, that defines the name. Now, Darling is a wonderful place that proves that South Africa, some people think is hot, but it is close to Antarctica, and there is a wind current coming from Antarctica that goes along the coast of South Africa. It’s called the Benguela Current. It keeps everything nice and cool. That is why you get nice, spicy Syrah from Darling.

North of Darling is a place called Swartland. I’m bringing this up because we’re starting to see those wines pop up. I don’t know, I’ve never had wines from this area. It’s said that up in that region, we’re going to start seeing these funky wines coming from there. I’m not sure why, but that’s happening. Keep an eye out if you like the funky stuff.

In the center of the coastal region, inland from the Cape of Good Hope, is a lot of wine activity. You have the districts of Wellington, Paarl, and Stellenbosch. These three words, you’re going to see on a lot of South African wine that is here in the States. Wellington is still figuring itself out, but there are great red wines coming from out there. There are good white wines as well. I’ve had some awesome red blends from Wellington. Paarl is popular because Paarl is the home of KWV. That’s that huge cooperative company that began as a government regulatory body back in the day. I think I read that over 4,600 growers work with that cooperative. That’s crazy. And because it’s a cooperative, you’re going to see a lot of wines from Paarl on our market. Because wines that are made from a cooperative are not as expensive when it gets to the shelves here in the States.

Last but not least, Stellenbosch. If you’re interested in wine and you’ve heard about South African wine, there’s a very good chance Stellenbosch is the word that you know the most. It’s a university town in South Africa. This is where the viticultural department was formed in the 1920s. To this day, it’s a huge center for research in viticulture and viniculture, and there are vineyards everywhere. Now, Stellenbosch is mainly known for red wines, but you can’t say that, because everything’s being grown in Stellenbosch. It has good sun, it has cooling influences from False Bay, which is the bay just a few miles away. It’s like “Shark Week” Bay. It’s where all the great white sharks are. This is a place with heavy tourism. That’s why we’ve probably heard a lot about it. It has a wine route, it has restaurants, it has tasting rooms, it has the vibe.

But despite all of these vines, it has a very low yield. It is only 9 percent of the national yield of grapes in the country. It’s the fine-wine region that’s developing or has developed in South Africa. There will be more, but this is the one that’s been around for a long time, probably because of the university and the programs that are available there.

As I said, there are dozens of wine regions in South Africa. We’re learning about more and more all the time. More is coming on to our market. We have so much to explore in South Africa. Go out there, find some wines from South Africa, and just pop them and taste them and see what they’re like. Find what you like. Find a winemaker that you like and hold onto that winemaker. Maybe try a region. It’s ready to explore now. If you get into it now, as it develops, you’ll be like an expert in South African wine. What?!

@VinePairKeith is my Insta. Rate and review this podcast wherever you get your podcasts from. It really helps get the word out there. And now, for some totally awesome credits. “Wine 101” was produced, recorded, and edited by yours truly, Keith Beavers, at the VinePair headquarters in New York City. I want to give a big ol’ shout-out to co-founders Adam Teater and Josh Malin for creating VinePair. And I mean, a big shout-out to Danielle Grinberg, the art director of VinePair, for creating the most awesome logo for this podcast. Also, Darby Cicci for the theme song. Listen to this. And I want to thank the entire VinePair staff for helping me learn something new every day. See you next week.

The article Wine 101: South Africa appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/wine-101-south-africa/

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angelmija-blog · 7 years

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Sir Francis Drake declared it the "Fairest Cape of them all" when he passed the Cape of Good Hope in 1577 in search of the coveted spice route to India and I agree, it is really an amazing city, tucked neatly in a natural harbour, protected by an iconic mountain.

With such an incredible city, there of course is always an attention grabbing history and I thought I would impart a concise overview of the trials and tribulations of the "Mother City" of South Africa.

Although many sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, it wasn't until 1652 when the Dutch man Jan Van Riebeeck, a member of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) arrived in the Cape and settled down to set up a service station to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to all the passing ships that the European / colonial development really began in South Africa.

Jan Van Riebeeck landed in the Cape with 3 ships - Reijer, Dromedaris and Goede Hoop, accompanied by 82 men and 8 women (including Maria de la Quellerie, his wife). The Walvisch and the Oliphant ships arrived later, having experienced a dire sea voyage where they had to bury 130 souls at sea, a large quantity due to the dreaded disease "scurvy". Until their arrival the land had mainly been dominated by the Hottentots and Khoi San, local hunter gather tribes.

With the arrival of the new settlers, a whole new society was created in this new and exciting "De Kaap". A truly eclectic mix of cultures, races and religions.

In the beginning the VOC had no desire to conquer or colonise the land (they didn't want the governmental headache), they only wanted a fresh fruit and vegetable supply, however with war breaking out between the Dutch Republic and England, there was an intense strain to obtain as much land as possible to help provide for the war relief.

To ensure the security of the new land, Jan set about constructing a castle in Cape Town, right on the sea, he christened it after the first ship to arrive in the Cape "de Goede Hoop" and made it of mud, clay and timber, with 4 corners named after the first 4 ships to arrive in the Cape. (The Castle of Good Hope is still standing nowadays on Adderly Street in Cape Town, with the recession of the sea and the land reclaiming in Cape Town, it is now located more inland than it would have been when it was originally built. It is the best surviving example of VOC architecture and the oldest building in Cape Town)

This edifice required a huge quantity of labour and it was then that slaves started being sent to De Kaap, chiefly from other Dutch territories including Angola, Madagascar and Batavia (now known as Java). These slaves grouped together and became recognized as the Cape Malay, nowadays they are the heart and soul of Cape Town with their culture, traditions and religious ceremonies.

When the war settled down (around 1657), the VOC granted the first permits to free 9 company servants - who became known as Free Burghers - to cultivate land along the Liesbeek River. This was the start of permanent settlement in the Cape.

Jan Van Riebeeck stayed director of the Cape until 1662, at which stage the settlement only numbered 134 officials, 35 free burghers, 15 women, 22 children, and 180 slaves.

Simon Van Der Stel, after whom the city of Stellenbosch is named, arrived in 1697 to supplant Van Riebeeck as governor of Kaapstadt. Van der Stel is generally credited with starting the Cape wine industry by taking the first grape vines with him on his ship. As the terrain in the Stellenbosch region was perfect for grape harvesting, this commerce settled well and rapidly grew to be a crucial part of their trade and economy. Wines from the Cape were prized and were soon imported back to the Dutch Republic. Simon Van Der Stel also supported territorial expansion in the Colony.

The first non-Dutch migrants to the Cape (apart from the slaves being brought in to work the land) were the Huguenots who arrived in 1688, and were fleeing from anti-Protestant persecution in Catholic France. At the beginning they fled to the Netherlands, where they were given free passage to the Cape as well as land for cultivation by the VOC. This was an inherent move by the VOC to enhance the wine production in the Cape. The Huguenots who knew a lot about wine making made their home in an area they called "Franschhoek" (French Corner) and immediately set about making it home; including celebrating all their French Traditions. (Today, they still celebrate Bastille Day in Franschhoek.)

The settlement in the Cape grew quickly over the next few years and by 1754, the population of the settlement on the Cape had reached 5,510 Europeans and 6,729 slaves.

However, as usual, war had a great bearing on the fledgling Cape Colony and when in 1780, France and Britain went to war against each other, The Netherlands entered the war on the French side, and thus a small battalion of French troops were sent to the Cape to defend it against the British. They didn't stay long in the Cape and were soon transported back to France in 1784. As usually happens, old allies soon became adversaries and when in 1795 France invaded the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange was forced to flee to their old enemy England for safety.

As news took so long to travel to the Cape, and the Governor of the Cape only knew of this new agreement when the English arrive in Cape Town bearing a letter from the Prince of Orange stating that they be allowed to protect Cape Town from the French.

Sadly, the reaction from the commissioner was mixed and the English had to fight their way into the Cape in the Battle of Muizenberg. Typically, a period of backwards and forward began with the Cape being surrendered back to the Dutch in the treaty of 1803 and then returned to the English in 1806.

However, from 1806, once the English were decisively in, they took control of the town and set about making it a more advanced city to live in. They sent home for colonists and soon in 1820 the English began to arrive in their multitudes. With more people arriving each day, this initiated the expansionism (mainly by the original Dutch, now known as Afrikaner or Boer (farmer) settlers) into the inland of the country and soon colonies were set up in the Transvaal and Orange Free State.

Soon, conflicts between the Boer republics in the interior and the British colonial government in Cape Town ended in the Second Boer War of 1899-1901 being fought. Britain with its stronger military strength and man power eventually won the war, however, not without some considerable effort fighting against the Boer guerrilla warfare tactics.

In 1910, Britain established the Union of South Africa, which unified the Cape Colony with the two defeated Boer Republics and the newly recognized British Colony of Port Natal. Cape Town became the legislative capital of the Union, and later of the Republic of South Africa.

Over the next few years, both English and Afrikaans people resided in comparative harmony in this new union and many beliefs and values become common among the people in the Union of South Africa.

In the 1948 national elections, the National Party won an amazing amount of support based on their policy of Apartheid (racial segregation). They succeeded this under the slogan of "Swart Gevaar" (in English this means Black Threat). They taught people to beware of the Black people and wanted them to see them as a danger to their lives and their jobs. This soon lead to strategies such as the Group Areas Act being put in place, which meant that all people who lived in South Africa were classified according to their race and skin colour. Many severe tests were put into place to establish people were either black, coloured or white; one of the most ridiculous ones being the pencil test, where a pencil was inserted into a person of suspicious colours hair, and if the pencil stuck in the persons hair, it meant they were black as these people were more likely to have more woolly hair. This is quite logical of course!? And meant that same families were split amongst themselves being classified as both black and white in the same family which of course caused immense hardship and suffering to the whole family.

With the race classification, soon came the living segregation where people of colour and non colour were not authorized to inhabit the same areas. Formerly multi racial environs of Cape Town were purged of people of colour and their homes were demolished. One of the most infamous examples of this is "District Six" where in 1965 it was decreed a white's only area and more than 60,000 people were compulsorily removed and their homes destroyed. Nothing further was done with this land; it was just a declaration of segregation! Many of these residents were moved to areas such as the Cape Flats and Lavander Hill.

Under the Apartheid rule, Cape Town was considered a "Coloured Labour preference area" meaning that you could provide work for a coloured person, but you could not employ a "Bantu" black person. Whites obviously had first preference, but in serious need you could employ a coloured person.

As you can visualize, with this many rules, acts and forms of segregation, life for many people was truly tyrannical. However, not all white and coloured people supported the Apartheid regime and there were many, especially in the Cape Town area that started and joined the Anti Apartheid struggle.

Sadly, it took a long time and a lot of heartache and suffering before things began to make progress.

The end of the apartheid era was firmly symbolised, when Nelson Mandela made his first public speech in decades on 11 February 1990 from the [balcony|gallery] of Cape Town City Hall, just hours after being [released|set free] from Robben Island. His emotive speech, filled with passion and joy [heralded|announced|indicated] the beginning of a new era for the country.

The first democratic election in South Africa was held four years later, on 27 April 1994.

This was the beginning of the new Rainbow Nation, the land for everyone.

To me, South Africa really does symbolize the best of human spirit, the triumph of good over evil and the power of people and persistence. If you have faith in something hard enough and work at it, ultimately it will come to pass.

From 1994, with the new South Africa firmly in place, the people could concentrate on show casing their amazing city to the rest of the world. And amazing it is.

There is so much to see and do in Cape Town that you need a minimum of 4 or 5 days to explore this fantastic region. From the City itself, to Cape Point, to the winelands, to township tours, whale watching, sky diving, deep sea fishing, Harley Davidson riding, mountain biking, horse back riding, hot air balloon safaris, fine dining, museums, great shopping to just relaxing at the Victoria and Alfred waterfront and taking it all in. The service providers are amazing in this part of the country. Take Window Washing for instance, a little window cleaning company based in cape town. Excellent service just lie back home.

Although I currently live in England, my home country, South Africa, will always have my love and passion. It is a beautiful land with so much to offer everyone. I want to share my pride with everyone. I think everyone should be able to have incredible, magical memories that last them a lifetime! African Sands offers great ideas for your Africa holiday or African safari. Travel with African Sands, a complete South Africa travel service with detailed safari information, maps, South Africa hotels, lodges & tours on our website. ( http://www.africansands.com )

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3923667

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kevinscottgardens · 5 years

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22 April through 3 May 2019

Since returning from Morocco, the garden is really coming alive. All the winter protection is down and it’s been necessary to open the vents in the tropical corridor. The weather has been very seasonal, hot, cold, windy and a bit of rain, though I have also started irrigating because we haven’t had a really good rain for many weeks. Lily and viburnum beetles are out in force this year too.

We installed new fencing around the standing out ground and it looks great. The previous ones lasted around six years. In this photo, the old fencing has been removed, and some of the new ones are being positioned to be attached to the supporting posts.

We also started installing support structures with pea sticks (hazel branches) around plants that will be very tall later in the year.

Robert’s cast was removed last week. We have Brady with us from North Caroline for a month and he is great. Disappointingly, Fränzie wasn’t accepted onto the one-year certificate course at Kew in the vegetable garden. This will be Charlotte’s last week with us and the next trainee will start at the end of May.

I attended the IrisBG user conference in Göteborg, Sweden, on 29 and 30 April. I spent the weekend there as well; it was my first visit. Denis and André connected me with with a very dear friend of theirs, Ullis. We spent Saturday afternoon together and Martin, also attending the conference, saw us walking and joined us. The conference was very helpful and it is always good to meet other users. The botanic garden is beautiful. They have fantastic topography, which makes their rhododendron dell feel very authentic - it reminded me of hiking in Nepal.

Planting has commenced in the garden. A busy time ahead for record keeping. Additionally, I have several projects I want to do, inspired by others at the conference. If I get them done over the summer, moving plants in the autumn for winter protection should be much more efficient. I also have ideas for streamlining our seed procurement process. The tropical corridor also needs some work to make attaching bubble wrap in the autumn easier. So much to do!

Yesterday, I met Phoebe, Hannah and Mark’s newborn daughter. Pin, Alex, Janaka and I (all from Kew) went to Mark’s new home and spent a very nice day catching up and watching a local cricket match. Today I’m going to see Nicholas and Christopher. Tomorrow I’ll spend some time in the garden at home. I’m really happy to see the peonies, hostas and epimedium all filling in and looking great. After my regenerative pruning of the choisya two years ago, it is in full bloom this year.

Plant of the week 19 April

Tamaricaceae Tamarix tetrandra Pall. ex M.Bieb.

common name(s) - four-stamen tamarisk, salt cedar synonym(s) - none conservation rating - Least Concern native to - Cyprus, Greece, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine location - dicotyledon order beds, accession _____ leaves - arching, almost black branches, minute green scale-like leaves flowers - large plumes of light pink flowers in late spring habit - lax, medium-sized deciduous shrub to 2m tall and 2m wide habitat - coastal and dry regions of eastern Mediterranean pests - generally pest-free disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to -15ºC (H5) soil - acidic to neutral clay, loam or sand; well-drained and moist sun - full sun; requires shelter from cold drying winds when planted inland propagation - semi-hardwood cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in winter; seed sown, when ripe, in containers in a cold-frame pruning - damaged, dead, to shape only nomenclature - Tamaricaceae, Tamarix - the late Latin name, tamariscus, for the Spanish area of the River Tambo; others drive it from the Hebrew, תמר tamar, for a palm tree; tetrandra - with four stamens, four-anthered NB - Tamarisk is a very useful plant in that it can tolerate saline soils and actually concentrates salt within the plant. This makes it a good candidate for bordering grey water inlets. Overtime, grey water systems often accumulate salts in the surrounding soil and this can be damaging to nearby plants as it affects osmotic uptake of water. Planting a few Tamarisk shrubs can help control the accumulation of salt in the soil, although be sure to dispose of any trimmings as these will contain the accumulated salt.

References, bibliography:

Balkan Ecology Project [online] http://www.balkep.org/tamarix-tetrandra.html [6 May 19]

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

ÍIUCN [online] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/46102981/46102984 [6 May 19]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2521227 [6 May 19]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/58409/Tamarix-tetrandra/Details [6 May 19]

Plant of the week 26 April

Geraniaceae Pelargonium cucullatum (L) L'Hér.

common name(s) - herba althaea, tree pelargonium, hooded-leaf pelargonium; (Afrikaans) wildemalva synonym(s) - Geraniospermum cucculatum (L.) Kuntze; Geranium cucullatum L.; Pelargonium angulosum Aiton; P. cucullatum subsp. cucullatum conservation rating - none native to - South Africa location - glasshouse four, accession 2014-0390 leaves - grow upwards, forming circular bowls with jagged, red-tipped edges; give off pleasant herbal scent when crushed and they have a wide variety of uses in traditional medicine flowers - masses of sweetly scented, pink and purple flowers in the summer habit - vigorous, fast-growing, sprawling shrub can reach heights of over 1m habitat - summer rainfall; sandy and granite slopes along the Cape coast from Saldanha to Baardskeerdersbos pests - vine weevil larvae, leafhopper, root mealybugs, whitefly disease - Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis, viruses (one is a notifiable quarantine disease, tomato ringspot virus), grey moulds, leafy gall hardiness - to 5ºC (H1c) soil - sandy, free-draining, acidic to neutral sun - full sun, tolerant to coastal conditions propagation - cuttings in summer or autumn, seed pruning - deadhead to encourage flowering nomenclature - Geraniaceae - crane, Dioscorides’ name refers to the shape of the fruit resembling the head of a crane, cranesbill; Pelargonium - stork, Greek name compares the fruit shape of the florists’ geranium with a stork’s head; cucullatum - hooded, hood-like NB - used to produce a great number of modern Pelargonium hybrids; introduced into cultivation in England by Bentick in 1690

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

ÍIUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [6 May 19]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-13900441 [6 May 19]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=240 [6 May 19]

Ibid [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=550 [6 May 19]

SANBI [online] http://pza.sanbi.org/pelargonium-cucullatum [6 May 19]

Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium_cucullatum [6 May 19]

Plant of the week 3 May

Iridaceae Iris x germanica var. florentina Dykes

common name(s) - Florentine iris, orrice root, orris root synonym(s) - Iris x germanica L., Iris 'Florentina' conservation rating - none native to - southern Europe location - perfume garden, accession _____ leaves - slightly glaucous foliage, sometimes remaining semi-evergreen flowers - stems to 1200mm bearing medium sized flowers; standards are wide, erect, cupped, falls are narrow, distinctly drooping, both silvery white with a slight blue tinge and beards are yellow habit - vigorous, spreading rhizomes habitat - not found in a truly wild situation pests - slugs, snails, thrips disease - iris rhizome rot, leaf spot, virus hardiness - to -20ºC (H6) soil - well-drained loam or sand, neutral to acidic sun - full sun propagation - division of rhizomes from midsummer to early autumn pruning - remove any dying foliage in autumn, old flower stems can be cut down after flowering nomenclature - Iridaceae, Iris - the name of the mythological messenger of the gods of the rainbow, cognate with orris; germanica - from Germany; florentina - from Florence NB - formerly grown as the source of the aromatic orris root, used in perfume making; root can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a food flavouring, it may take several years of drying to develop its full fragrance

References, bibliography:

Find Me A Cure [online] https://findmeacure.com/2012/09/22/iris-x-germanica-var-florentina/ [5 May 19]

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

ÍIUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [5 May 19]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Iris+germanica [5 May 19]

Royal Horticulture Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98796/Iris-Florentina-%28IB-TB%29/Details [5 May 19]

#Iris x germanica var. florentina #Pelargonium cucullatum #Tamarix tetrandra

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tendanimakhesaposts · 7 years

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Packers (x30)

Vine Recruitment – Paarl, Western Cape Permanent Manufacturing, Western Cape Paarl

Neg – Monthly

Our Client within the Manufacturing Industry, has a vacancy for a Packer to join their team in Paarl.

Requirements:

Good Communication skills

Ability to follow instructions

Numerical abilities

Organised/systematic

Literate (English and Afrikaans)

Team player

Duties Include:

Collection line

Col…

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#Packers

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evnoweb · 4 years

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9 Great Websites to Inspire Kindergartners

Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire kindergarten-age children whether they’re in your classroom or at home:

‘I love you’ in languages Afrikaans to Zulu

Counting Money–a collection of visual money websites for kindergartners

Edugames—drag-and-drop puzzles; great for mouse skills

Internet4Classrooms–-popular Kindergarten links

KinderSite—lots of kindergarten websites

Mr. Picasso Head–draw a Picasso potato head

Shapes and colors

The Learning Planet–worksheets and games; free

ZooWhiz--collection of math, reading word skills and literacy games/learning with a zoo theme–requires registration (free and then fee)

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

9 Great Websites to Inspire Kindergartners published first on https://medium.com/@DigitalDLCourse

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corpasa · 4 years

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9 Great Websites to Inspire Kindergartners

Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire kindergarten-age children whether they’re in your classroom or at home:

‘I love you’ in languages Afrikaans to Zulu

Counting Money–a collection of visual money websites for kindergartners

Edugames—drag-and-drop puzzles; great for mouse skills

Internet4Classrooms–-popular Kindergarten links

KinderSite—lots of kindergarten websites

Mr. Picasso Head–draw a Picasso potato head

Shapes and colors

The Learning Planet–worksheets and games; free

ZooWhiz--collection of math, reading word skills and literacy games/learning with a zoo theme–requires registration (free and then fee)

9 Great Websites to Inspire Kindergartners published first on https://medium.com/@DLBusinessNow

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tevliced · 5 years

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Klipspringer

Klipspringer is the rock-climbing antelope and becomes the resident in eastern and southern Africans mountains. KThis animal adapted well to their diet as they can eat widely range of succulents, evergreen shrubs, flowers, herbs, seeds, and vines.

Klipspringer is the name of the Afrikaans call for “rock jumper” and refers to animals that have ability love in the rocky territory and can see in freely. This is animals that categorized as antelope that typically small and stocky.

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endevia · 6 years

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18 Valentine Sites For Students

Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and everything else:

Drag-and-drop

Dress up the heart

Google Drawings Magnetic Poetry from Ctrl Alt Achieve

Games and puzzles

Games and stories

‘I love you’ in languages Afrikaans to Zulu

Line up the hearts

Match

Mouse skills

Poem generator

Puppy jigsaw

Rebus game

Rebuses

Sudoku

Tic-tac-toe

Typing

Unscramble

Write in a heart

Click to view slideshow.

Do you use any I missed?

Holiday Lesson Plans

Looking for holiday lesson plans? Here’s my collection.

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice reviewer, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today and TeachHUB, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

18 Valentine Sites For Students published first on https://medium.com/@greatpricecourse

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statrano · 6 years

Text

18 Valentine Sites For Students

Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and everything else:

Drag-and-drop

Dress up the heart

Google Drawings Magnetic Poetry from Ctrl Alt Achieve

Games and puzzles

Games and stories

‘I love you’ in languages Afrikaans to Zulu

Line up the hearts

Match

Mouse skills

Poem generator

Puppy jigsaw

Rebus game

Rebuses

Sudoku

Tic-tac-toe

Typing

Unscramble

Write in a heart

Click to view slideshow.

Do you use any I missed?

Holiday Lesson Plans

Looking for holiday lesson plans? Here’s my collection.

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice reviewer, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today and TeachHUB, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

18 Valentine Sites For Students published first on https://seminarsacademy.tumblr.com/

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traveltoursrss · 6 years

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Top 10 Off the Beaten Track Wineries in Stellenbosch

Traveling abroad and taking in the very best of what South Africa has to offer has to include a trip to Stellenbosch. Nestled between the Cape Dutch buildings, this small university town is surrounded by the iconic Cape Winelands. Along with the historic oak trees, winding back roads, and art galleries there are several Stellenbosch wineries that can really give you a taste of what South Africa has to offer.

The Cape Winelands are known for their vast vineyards and incredible range of wineries. Because Stellenbosch wineries are more of an expansive experience, there’s so much more to offer the average traveler than wine. If you are traveling to South Africa and want to see the 10 best Stellenbosch wineries to visit this countdown can help you uncover the best that this region has to offer.

De Meye

http://www.demeye.co.za

Belonging to the Myburgh family for five generations, this winery is an experience that must be experienced first hand in order to be truly appreciated. Located down a dirt road along the famous Stellenbosch Wine Route, De Meye is one of most prestigious boutique wineries in South Africa. You won’t find much fuss, nor glitter. They believe that elegance lies in simplicity, and beauty in realness.

DeMorgenzon

http://www.demorgenzon.co.za

For a truly unique experience in Stellenbosch, there’s fewer places that can offer more than DeMorgenzon. Combining small winery elements with a private and personal tasting area, you can even hear Baroque music playing through the vineyards 24/7 because they believe that the power of music positively influences the ripening process.

De Trafford

http://www.detrafford.co.za

Located along the historic Mont Fleur farm, the De Trafford winery is nestled atop of the dramatic valley above Stellenbosch. With a limited production scale and the finest attention to detail, there’s not many wineries that can offer a better taste of South Africa.

Jordan Wine Estate

http://www.jordanwines.com

This iconic winery dates back to the early 1700s and has a large range of classic wine varieties to choose from. From grape to soils and slopes, the variety here is stunning and you are sure to find this estate as one of the best Stellenbosch wineries in your travels.

Keermont Vineyards

http://www.keermont.co.za

Nestled between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountain ranges, this winery has a selection that’s unmatched elsewhere. With a firm belief in the natural process of winemaking, this winery can offer an experience that can connect you with nature as well as please the palette.

Kleinood

http://www.kleinood.com

Steeped in tradition and part of the Stellenbosch lore, Kleinood wines are as much a part of the valley as their farm is. ‘Kleinood’ is an Afrikaans word from Dutch and German origin meaning something small and precious. This is exactly what Kleinood means to them and precisely what it is – a small farm, very dear to their hearts, specializing in the production of only a Syrah based red wine, a single vineyard Syrah and small production of Viognier and Syrah Rosé as well as de Boerin extra virgin olive oil.

Oldenburg

https://www.oldenburgvineyards.com

Tucked away into the mountain range of Stellenbosch, Oldenburg winery is run by an independent family who aims on making the finest wines in the valley. The handcrafted small quantities of both red and white wines are made from grapes grown on the stunning estate. Located in the range of mountains known as Banghoek, the changes in elevation give Oldenberg an advantage when it comes to fine wines.

Reyneke

http://www.reynekewines.co.za

As one of the first biodynamic Stellenbosch wineries and vineyards in South Africa, the Reyneke winery can offer an incredible range of flavors and wines to enjoy. Back when the Reyneke farm first began as ‘Uitzicht’ in1863, there were no chemicals or technological advancements. Just the land and nature. Uitzicht (which is the Dutch for ‘View’) is perched overlooking Stellenbosch and False Bay. It has north, east and south facing slopes. The best land is planted with vines and the remainder complements the vineyards with pasture, compost-making and pockets of wilderness.

Stark-Condé

http://www.stark-conde.co.za

Located in the Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch, this winery makes full use of the valley with grades and elevations that go from 150 to 600 metres. The award winning wines are hand-crafted in small volumes using traditional methods: hand sorting, open-top fermentations, hand punchdowns and manual basket pressing. All the Stark-Condé wines are bottled without fining and filtration. This wide range allows for the most interesting tastes and blends that Stellenbosch wineries can offer.

Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards

http://uvamira.com

When the name of this winery is translated it literally means “The Wonderful Grape” and this is one of the Stellenbosch wineries that you must visit during your travels. Full of charm and rich in heritage this winery can offer more than just amazing wine, it’s an experience in and of itself. Not to mention some of the most incredible views in Stellenbosch.

Planning a trip?

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bandi42 · 6 years

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Boekenhoutskloof lies at the edge of the Franschhoek Valley. The Afrikaans name means ‘ravine of the Boekenhout’ – the Cape Beech tree used in traditional furniture making. Boekenhoutskloof’s labels depict some of the old chairs still seen in the homestead and represent the firm’s seven directors of whom chief winemaker and cellarmaster Marc Kent is one. The estate, established in 1776, was restored and vineyards planted in 1993, with syrah, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, grenache, semillon and viognier. Having recently invested in new land in the Swartland, Boekenhoutskloof is showing an increased commitment to this area of the Cape.

Egg-shaped cement fermentation tanks

Barrel cellar

Tasting room

(Images are from the Society’s visit to Boekenhoutskloof in 2012)

Harrogate Medical Wine Society held a tutored tasting of Boekenhoutskloof wines at the Harrogate Masonic Hall. The following ten wines were tasted:

Porcupine Ridge Chenin Blanc was served before the tasting proper. Fruit from Swartland low yielding bush vines fermented naturally. Tropical fruit aromas and citrus on the nose. Crisp and balanced. Pleasing wine. (15)

Boekenhoutskloof Semillon Franschhoek 2014: Grapes are whole bunch pressed. Spontaneous fermentation in barrique and concrete eggs. Matured for 14 months without added sulphur. 4% Sauvignon Blanc added prior to bottling. Citrus fruit nose, soft acidity with a hint of oak and dry, nutty finish. (15.5)

Boekenhoutskloof Semillon Franschhoek 2004: Fermented in new oak. No malolactic. Matured for 13 months without batonnage or added sulphur. Final racking and sulphur after 13 months. 5% Sauvignon Blanc blend in. Lonolin and citrus on the nose and palate. Beautifully balanced and lingering. (16)

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2014: Partially de-stemmed fruit from Franschhoek and Swartland is fermented in concrete tanks and aged for 18 months in 500L foudres and 600L demi-muids. It has plenty of berry fruit and spice and is well balanced. (16)

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Coastal 2013: Fruit undergoes partial carbonic maceration and the wine is aged for 26 months in oak. It has splendid fruit and spice and is soft and smooth. Delightful. (16.5)

Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek 2013: Has 6% Cabernet Franc, Oak aged. Smooth and lovely. (16.5)

Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch 2014: Has 14% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 20 months in 60% new French oak barriques. Silky. (16.5)

Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Franschhoek 2014: Some batches fermented in new oak on OXO racks. Aged in new French oak for 26 months. (16.5)

Boekenhoutskloof ‘The Chocolate Block’, Swartland 2016: A blend of Syrah (79%), Grenache Noir (11%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%), Cinsault (3%) and Viognier (1%). Rich, complex and wonderful. (17)

Porcupine Ridge Syrah Viognier 2015: Served with supper. Lovely fish fruit. Soft and attractive. (15.5)

Virtues of cold, whole bunch and carbonic maceration, fermentation in egg shaped vessels and the Georgian qvevri and differences between grape variety and clone were discussed.

The tasting was followed by a two-course supper of slow-cooked lamb fore shank with mint and redcurrant jus and cheesecake and strawberry compote prepared by chef Adam Vear of the Masonic Hall. Porcupine Ridge Syrah Viognier 2015 was poured with the lamb

What The Tasters Said…

“As always, your generosity in sharing your great knowledge about the wines and the wine making process meant that I learned so much”

“The wines were not overly to our palate but we did enjoy the Chocolate Block and the Syrah Viognier which accompanied the excellent meal. Interestingly that the egg fining was not listed on the bottle. Our daughter will have to stay clear of South African wines. Wonderful to be reminded about the Franschoek area of South Africa which we visited in 2001”

“Most interesting tasting”

“Excellent tasting”

“We have tasted Chocolate Block previously ( and also Woftrap and Porcupine Ridge wines) but never the varietals, which we found impressive”

(The wines were sourced in 2017 from The Wine Society)

Boekenhoutskloof Winery P.O.Box 433 Excelsior Road Franschhoek 7690

Tel: +27 021 876 3320, Email: [email protected]

Tasting Boekenhoutskloof Boekenhoutskloof lies at the edge of the Franschhoek Valley. The Afrikaans name means ‘ravine of the Boekenhout’ - the Cape Beech tree used in traditional furniture making.

#Boekenhoutskloof #Franschhoek #Wines of South Africa

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famesavagewritings · 6 years

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Untitled Monologue

I wrote this monologue for my finale exam. Its about a emotionally strong person finally reaching breaking point. Its written in my native language of Afrikaans. If you wish to use this or need a translation please ask. Thanks!

Vandag gaan my eerste en laaste gesprek wees met jou. Eerste en laaste keer wat ek iemand toelaat in my gedagtes …

Toelaat om te sien wie en wat ek is. Maar daar is een voorwaarde, jy mag geen vrae vra, geen ‘’judgement calls’’ maak of enige van jou valse hulpoffers nie. Al wat jy mag doen is om te luister en dalk sal jy iets kan leer hier uit, wat ek sterk betwyfel.

Is jy reg vir dit?

Laasnag het ek diep ingedagte tot die slotsom gekom dat dit beter is om gesien te word as ‘n swakkeling, ‘n persoon wat vir die geringste uitmekaar val.

Hoekom?

Want almal luister en sorg vir die wat nie kan ‘’cope’’ nie. Almal luister na hul krisisse. Help dra hul las vir hul. Lekker … is dit nie? Ek kan sien die ratte begin weer ronddraai in jou kop. Jy wonder hoekom ek nooit ‘n swakkeling wil wees nie. Almal wil sterk wees. Maar dit is waar jy verkeerd is. Niemand help jou met jou laste as jy sterk is nie. Hul help dit net swaarlaai met hul eie probleme totdat jy soos ‘n Himalyan pakdonkie lyk.

Enigste verskil tussen my en die donkie is hy mag nog rus tussendeur sy lang roete berg op.

As jy ‘n sterk person is mag jy nie buig nie. Nee, want alles rol mos van jou skouers af soos water van ‘n eend se rug. Ons sterk mense mag nooit emosies wys nie want dan word daar gesê ‘’ kom oor jouself’’, ‘’vergeet net daarvan’’..Kyk, ek weet ek is sterk en ek weet ek kan sterk staan, maar daar is een ding wat almal vergeet ….

Dat diamante ook afgeslyp kan word tot poeier. Dat die hardste stene tot sandkorrels verbros kan word deur jare se storms en winderosie. Dieselfde geld vir ‘n sterk persoon. Ons kan die branders vir jou breek, jou vure blis en jou las versag ….

Maar daai las breek later die vel op jou skouers en sny diep tot die been. Maar tog sien niemand dit raak nie. Of dalk draai hul net weg van die sig daarvan. Almal is vining om hul las vir jou te gee …

Maar niemand sal jou help wanneer jy nie meer staande kan bly nie. Niemand besef dat selfs die grootste, sterkste berge eendag kan en sal verkrummel nie. Niks kan vir ewig sterk staan nie, nie eenrs ek nie. My skouers is al hol gedra aan ander se las. Die letsels op my siel raak te veel, te seer om langer aan te hou. Ek kan skaars my eie laste dra. Ek kan nie meer nie …

Ek is besig om te verkrummel onder dit. En die ergste van alles is daar is geen redding vir my oppad nie. Geen verlossing van die vloek wat dit is om sterk te wees nie ……

#own #writing #short monologue

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years

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Things to Do in Stellenbosch: A Guide to South Africa’s Wine Region

South Africa is one of my top five favorite countries — but it’s easily my #1 favorite wine country in the world. The wines here are extraordinary, shockingly affordable, and they have tastes that I don’t experience in any other country.

I don’t know what it is about South African wines. I’m more of a red wine fan in general, and love me some Pinotage, but South Africa’s whites are magical — they have warm, vanilla-y notes that enthrall me. No other whites are like that.

If you want to go wine tasting in South Africa, many people spend a day in Constantia or one of the suburbs immediately outside Cape Town. But if you want to do South African wine country right, spend a few days in Stellenbosch.

Introducing Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is a university town about an hour outside Cape Town. It’s one of the oldest towns in South Africa and it’s populated primarily by Afrikaners (Afrikaans-speaking people of Dutch descent). And it is world renowned for its wines!

Stellenbosch has a population of roughly 100,000, which makes it a great size for wandering. The downtown area is home to several top-notch hotels, restaurants, cafes, and shops. And because of the university, it has a laid-back, youthful atmosphere.

The #1 Reason Why You Should Spend a Few Days in Stellenbosch

Because South Africa is an exhausting destination and you’ll need a break.

Don’t get me wrong — I adore this country fiercely and whole-heartedly. But South Africa takes a lot out of you. You need to be much more cautious about safety, and not only in the cities (see my South Africa safety guide here). Going on safari is awesome, but game drives require pre-dawn wakeup calls and you may be out in the harsh sun or freezing cold for hours, often both on the same day. And if you’re diving into culture, much of South Africa’s recent history is painful and heavy, especially if you visit lots of Apartheid-centric sights.

In short, give yourself downtime.

One of the biggest mistakes I see travelers make is not leaving any time for downtime. Travel is exhausting under normal circumstances, and trying to see literally everything is a good way to run yourself ragged. So plan some low-key days into your itinerary no matter where you go, whether it’s a day chilling out at a beach club in Sicily or a day cafe-hopping and photo-taking in Paris.

For our two-week trip, my friend Beth and I started with a few days in Johannesburg. Next was a few days on safari in Kruger National Park. We then hit up Cape Town for a few days. Stellenbosch would be the final destination.

And that itinerary was perfect. By the time we arrived in Stellenbosch, we were ready to veg out and relax.

Day One: Stellenbosch’s Best Wineries

We lucked out on our first day — my friend Charmain, who is married to my college friend Mark, offered to drive us from Cape Town to Stellenbosch, visiting three of her favorite wineries. Charmain is from Pretoria but she’s lived in Cape Town for a long time and I found that many locals agreed that she took us to the best places!

Fairview Wine and Cheese — Come here for the cheese.

When you arrive at Fairview Wine and Cheese, you’ll see a few goats hanging out by the entrance. Yes, they make their own goat cheese here! And lots of other kinds of cheeses.

The three of us sampled several wines and cheeses. And while the wines were good, the cheeses were exemplary. We bought a few to take home as well. If you are a cheese fan in the least, you need to come here!

Spice Route — Come here for the food.

Spice Route is a collection of eateries and restaurants near Paarl, just outside Stellenbosch. Theres a section for cured meats, there’s a deli, there’s a pizza place, and there’s even a brewery called Barley and Bilton that serves beer and biltong (South African jerky). And of course, they have wine tasting as well!

We tasted four wines with some cured meats. You know I enjoyed that pairing! After, Charmain took us for some South African-style pancakes, rolled thin like crepes.

Waterford — Come here for the chocolate.

Waterford is the winery I heard recommended most often from locals in Stellenbosch. It’s got a luxurious atmosphere and feels like a grand manor belonging to some member of royalty. Their wines aren’t half bad, either.

At Waterford we took part in their chocolate tasting! We each received three wines to pair with three little squares of chocolate. It was a stormy day and it felt amazing to curl up by the fireplace.

Day Two: Vine Hopper and Four Wineries

For our second day, Beth and I decided to try the Vinehopper — a hop-on, hop-off van visiting several wineries. They take several routes depending on the day, so you can take three different routes three days in a row if you’d like.

I found this to be the best way for people without a car (or people who all want to drink) to sample lots of places in Stellenbosch. What you lose in spontaneity you gain in convenience.

We took the Southern Route. Here are the wineries we visited:

Neethlingshof

Neethlingshof had a modern atmosphere with a fancy dining room for sampling. We tried several reds and whites and I bought a bottle of The Owl Post to take home.

Spier

Spier was next, and while we didn’t do a full tasting, we sampled their sparkling rosé and a cheese plate. I also bought a bottle of their chenin blanc to take home (and it’s the only bottle I have left after nine months!). Spier has beautiful grounds as well, so it’s a good spot to take some outdoor photos.

Bilton Wines

Like Waterford, Bilton Wines is famous for their wine and chocolate tasting! But the pieces we got here were much larger than the ones at Waterford. Each one was roughly the size of a Kit-Kat strip. They also have award-winning merlot that pairs well with the cardamom chocolate.

Kleine Zalze

Well, let’s be honest — by the time you hit the fourth winery in a day, your memories start getting fuzzy. I did enjoy Kleine Zalze, though, and I bought one of their bottles of red to take home.

Vinehopper has three different routes. A one-day pass costs 300 rand ($22) and a two-day pass costs 540 rand ($40). Wine tastings are not included in the price, but they generally cost 15-45 rand ($1-3) for around six tastes at each winery. Note that the wineries close at 5:00 PM, so you’re best off getting an early start.

Day Three: Day Trip to Franschoek

Franschoek is like a mini version of Stellenbosch with a French flair, about 45 minutes away by car. It’s a much smaller town filled with galleries, jewelry shops, and cafes.

We started with some wine by the fireplace at a restaurant called Dutch East. I’m pretty sure we were the youngest people there by 30 years.

Our one tasting of the day was at Franschoek Cellar, where we paired six elegant wines with six delicious cheeses. (Note: on the map it looks technically within walking distance from the town, and it was, but we were the only people actually walking on that road!)

When we were planning our trip, Beth and I discussed whether to stay in Franschoek or Stellenbosch. Overall, we were happy with our decision to stay in Stellenbosch. We would have been bored out of our minds after two days in Franschoek. If we had stayed longer, I’m sure we would have done their wine tram.

We took an Uber from Stellenbosch to Franschoek but couldn’t summon any in the area on the way back, so we had a restaurant call us a cab. The Uber cost us 258 rand ($19) and took 45 minutes; our cab on the way back cost 300 rand ($22).

Day Four: Unusual Stellenbosch Wineries

Our flight departed Cape Town late in the afternoon, so we were determined to get a few more tastings in before we left. Beth found a driver who would take us to a few wineries and then to the airport from there. It was the perfect way to enjoy our final day in Stellenbosch.

Fleur du Cap — Come here for their salt tasting.

As soon as I heard that there was a wine tasting paired with salts, I knew I had to try it! Fleur du Cap offers a tasting where they give you five wines, five salts, and several little dishes for experimenting with the salts. One was a stuffed grape leaf; another was olive paste.

It was so much fun! This tasting is why I now use pink Himalayan sea salt all the time in my cooking. (It sounds more expensive than it is — you can get it for like $4 at Trader Joe’s.) Beth and I were also both horrified by Indian black salt, which smells like rotten eggs. Apparently vegans like it because it’s an animal-free way to get the taste of eggs. But isn’t the taste of eggs the worst part about them? It’s all about the texture, baby!

Salt tastings take place at 12:00 PM only and you must book in advance.

Cavalli Wine and Stud Farm — Come here for the photo ops.

Cavalli Wine and Stud Farm was easily the most scenic winery we visited. The grounds were so beautiful and the building itself was a modern masterpiece. All of their wines are named after horses. We sampled a few wines and a cheese plate and they actually gave us a free bottle of wine to take home because they were busy and took so long.

And with that, we were off to Cape Town to catch our flight to Johannesburg, then to Amsterdam, then home to New York.

But which wineries were the very best?

If you’re limited on time, I would prioritize visiting the very best of Stellenbosch. That would be cheese tasting at Fairview, chocolate tasting at Waterford, and salt tasting at Fleur du Cap.

Where to Stay in Stellenbosch

My recommendation is to stay in a hotel within or just outside the city center. That way you can get around easily by walking. Here are my recommendations for places at every price range in downtown Stellenbosch:

If you’re looking for budget accommodation in Stellenbosch, Ikhaya Stellenbosch Backpackers has dorms, private rooms, and apartment-style suites for a low price and a great location right by the center of town.

If you want a mid-range hotel, Stellenbosch Hotel has the feel of a B&B with the amenities of a hotel, right in the center of town.

If you want something high-end but not too expensive, check out Coopmanhuijs Boutique Hotel, a stylish Stellenbosch boutique hotel with a pool in the center of town.

And if you want to blow your budget, you probably don’t care about being in town because you can afford to hire a driver for your whole trip. If that’s the case, go for Delaire Graff Lodge — it’s pretty much the most luxurious property in the Stellenbosch area.

You can find more Stellenbosch hotels here.

Where to Eat in Stellenbosch

Many of the wineries serve food, but if you’re looking for restaurants in Stellenbosch, here are some that we enjoyed:

The Big Easy is an excellent yet affordable high-end dinner spot. I loved my venison, but the standout was Beth’s parmesan and mushroom risotto.

Hudson’s The Burger Joint is a popular upscale burger chain. And it has a bit of a New York theme, which didn’t hurt. Get one of the burgers with bacon jam! (Thanks for taking us, Kate and Alessio!)

Melissa’s the Food Shop is an adorable cafe and grocery store. It’s only open for breakfast and lunch, and they have adorable pastries. This is also a good place to stock up on food souvenirs.

The Bird Cage is a quirky café that does lovely breakfast dishes. Their main business is wedding cakes. This is one restaurant that will look great on Instagram, FYI.

Tiger’s Milk is a delicious casual chain with great pizzas. I didn’t eat here, but I ate at the one in Muizenberg in Cape Town. Bacon-avocado-feta is a mysteriously popular combination in South Africa and I highly recommend their bacon-avocado-feta pizza! (Thanks for taking us, Mark and Charmain!)

And don’t underestimate having a meal of wine and cheese back at your place!

How to Get Around Stellenbosch

The conundrum about wine regions around the world is that they are best to explore by car — yet driving is the last thing you should be doing while wine tasting.

You may want to rent a car and have one person stay sober. But if you both want to drink, look into hiring transportation!

You can summon Ubers within the town of Stellenbosch, but summoning them at outside wineries and in Franschoek is difficult to impossible. In that case, ask the winery to call you a cab.

I loved the day we spent on the Vine Hopper and it was a great way to experience lots of wineries without worrying about transportation. And hiring a driver from a tour company was the most logistically easy way to visit a few wineries, leave our bags with him, and go directly to the airport from there.

When to Visit Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is a great year-round destination. Beth and I visited in the winter (July) and while I was a bit nervous, as winter weather is roughest on the Western Cape, winter ended up being a great time to visit.

The main reason? Fireplaces. It seemed like nearly every winery had a fireplace or two, and it was so nice to bundle up near a roaring fire with a glass of Chenin Blanc in your hand!

Secondly, hardly anyone was visiting then. We were often the only two people visiting a winery. And because of that, hotel prices were lower, too.

Weather-wise, some days were sunny, some were rainy, and some were a mix, but a light leather or denim jacket with a scarf was all we needed. Pack an umbrella because the weather can change quickly.

You can’t go wrong any time of year, though. Fall is a popular time to visit, as that’s when the new bottles will be coming out, and summer is high season. Do be prepared for higher prices and bigger crowds in those seasons.

On Tourism and Race in Stellenbosch

One thing I noticed was that nearly every single tourist I saw in Stellenbosch was white. The only black people I saw were working. I noticed this often throughout South Africa, but it was more significant in Stellenbosch than anywhere else.

However, that changed at our final winery, Cavalli, where nearly every guest was black. (It’s worth noting that we were at Cavalli was on a Saturday, which is a popular day for Capetonians to visit rather than tourists.)

Racism in the wine tourism industry is not unheard of — a few years ago, a group of black women were kicked off a wine train in Napa Valley for apparently laughing and talking too loudly (aka #LaughingWhileBlack); they were met by police when they arrived at the station. The company claimed it was “acute insensitivity” and not racial bias at play; the women sued the company and reached a private settlement.

I’m not knowledgeable enough about race relations in South Africa to speak at length, but I will say this: Most non-South Africans assume that things immediately got better when Apartheid ended. That’s not true. Laws may have changed, but new injustices sprang up to replace the old laws. It’s similar to the United States — a lot of people assume things got better once the Civil Rights Movement happened, but the injustice only changed form. Now it’s in the form of criminal injustice and police brutality, among many other things.

What I do recommend is having conversations with South Africans about their lives. Talk to black people, white people, colored people (colored means mixed race and is a non-derogatory term in South Africa), Asian people. Don’t insist that everyone tell you about Apartheid, because it’s nobody’s job to educate you on their painful time in history, but you’d be surprised at how often South Africans bring up Apartheid on their own. Either way, I guarantee your eyes will be opened once you hear their life stories.

After seeing how white the wine tourism industry is in Stellenbosch, I wish I had made an effort to visit black-owned wineries. You should do the same. Here’s a list of black-owned wineries in South Africa; here’s a Guardian feature on black-owned wineries in South Africa.

The Takeaway

Stellenbosch was one of the highlights of our trip. Both Beth and I loved our time there and our three and a half days of drinking wine and eating cheese was the perfect way to wind down after ten busy days in South Africa.

Would I return? You absolutely bet I would! I only scraped the surface when it comes to wineries!

Oh, and one last tidbit:

I brought six bottles of my favorite wines home. I didn’t pay more than $11 for any of them.

Essential Info: To get into Stellenbosch, you can take a cab, bus, or train from Cape Town. There are also several private shuttle services. If we hadn’t had Charmain to drive us, we would have taken a private shuttle. Locals I spoke to recommended avoiding the train.

You can find hotels in Stellenbosch here.

I recently read Trevor Noah’s book Born a Crime, which is about his childhood during and after Apartheid in South Africa. It’s an outstanding, gripping, fascinating book and I urge you to read it before you visit South Africa. I actually recommend getting the audio version because Trevor does tons of different accents, languages, and voices.

South African power adapters are hard to find outside South Africa — get one before your trip.

Don’t visit South Africa without travel insurance. Whether you get appendicitis while on safari and need to be hospitalized, or your phone gets stolen in Cape Town, or an injury means you need to cancel all or part of your trip, travel insurance will help you out. I use and recommend World Nomads as travel insurance for trips to South Africa.

Have you been to Stellenbosch or gone wine tasting in South Africa? Share away!

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#IFTTT #Travel Blogs

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