MEANDER IN MCGREGOR | LORDS VINTAGE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ

Nestled away at the end of the McGregor valley, one can find Lord’s Wines. The wine estate is located at the top end of the McGregor Wine Meander, which is known for its amazing diversity, consistent quality and great value for money wines. You will also find the infamous “road to nowhere” that runs from Robertson to McGregor, carries on through the village of McGregor and then just stops! A visit to the town of McGregor and Lord’s Wines is a must.

Lord’s Wines is a boutique winery off the beaten track and is, truly, a well-kept secret that produces fabulous wines. Originally a family-owned fruit farm, Lord’s is now producing some of the best wines in the Breede River Valley. The area is perfect for a getaway and re-boot in stunning wilderness. The town of McGregor is quiet, peaceful and relaxing with traditional, whitewashed, thatched cottages and is surrounded by beautiful mountains and wine estates.

Lord’s Wines has a stunning, newly-built wedding venue which is adjacent to the wine cellar and has breath-taking panoramic views of the areas indigenous fynbos. Wherever you are on the estate, you are met with the majestic backdrop of the Riviersonderend Mountain Range. The location and setting are suited for a whole weekend affair with family and friends. In addition, the estate has two modern ground-floor apartments on the farm which provides a great base to explore this beautiful valley.

I was fortunate enough to purchase Lord’s Wines new release - Pinot Noir Rosé 2020, just before the alcohol ban was introduced in South Africa. You can place your orders through the website by emailing: orders@lordswinery.com (delivery will take place after the ban is lifted).

Having previously enjoyed wines from the estate, the new Rosé vintage from this exclusive wine farm caught my attention. I love the label, which is simple and classy. The blush pink and gold embossed script on the bottle gives the wine an incredible soft and delicate look and feel. Rosé is an often-overlooked category of wine which is a shame, because it is perfect for sunny days. This varietal from Lord’s gives you so much to discover and does not have the sweetness often associated with South African Rosés.

The grapes used for this exquisite wine were only harvested in February this year and, incredibly, the wine has already been bottled and is perfect for drinking. A common misconception of Rosé wines is that people think that the wine is a blend of red and white grapes varietals, which it is not. Rather, it is made by shortening the key step in the making of red wine which is the “grape skin contact” stage. The light pink colour of the wine is lovely and was achieved from the short skin contact with the Pinot Noir grapes. This is one of the benefits of Rosé, it has the body of a red wine, but when served chilled (but not too cold), it is extremely refreshing. My rule of thumb is that I normally take out the Rosé from the cooler about 20 minutes before drinking. The Lord’s Pinot Noir Rosé brings tastes and a nose of exotic cherry and raspberry aromas and is surprisingly creamy with flavours of candy floss and rose petals.

As spring is nearing in South Africa, I have enjoyed this wine over lazy lunches on my sunny terrace. It is well-suited for warm days, but I could easily drink it year-round. I have paired the Pinot Noir Rosé with poached salmon, which complimented the wine perfectly.

What is the definition of a good wine? It should start and end with a smile, and this beauty from Lord’s does just that! This Pinot Noir Rosé is ready for drinking immediately and is the perfect match for alfresco dining and sharing with friends.

TC

xoxo

JAPANESE BEAUTY | SENSAI SKINCARE

Skincare is one the most important aspects of my life. Skincare is apart of my daily routine which I have instilled from an early age. Although I have tried and tested many skincare products over the years, I have always been conscious of the contents that skincare products contain. I have never really suffered from bad skin, but of course there will be times when my skin is not at it's best. Dull skin, uneven skin or even drained skin is what I try to avoid the most. I truly believe that it all starts with healthy skin.

Koishimaru Silk is the most precious type of silk in Japan amd is known to be exceptionally light and radiant, which is what the luxury skincare brand Sensai founds itself around. The natural elements of the Koishimaru Silk has proven to exhibit the production of hyaluronic acid. If you're not aware of what hyaluronic acid is, it is a substance contained in our skin that is essential for building flawless and youthful looking skin. The older we get the less hyaluronic acid our bodies produce. That is why we have to ensure that the skincare products we use contain important ingredients such as hyluronic  acid. When I look at skincare products, hyaluronic acid is the one element I will always ensure is contained in the products I apply on my skin. Sensai is a luxury Japanese skincare brand that I have absolutely fallen in love with. Although Sensai focuses mainly on their exclusive skincare products, they also have a fragrance range, makeup range and body range. Sensai has various products from an their exclusive Ultimate skincare range. Recently Sensai has launched what I can call the Ultimate Cleansing Retreat. This range is definitely for anyone looking for silky flawless skin.

In the Ultimate range, Sensai has now added two new products, Ultimate The Cleansing Oil and Ultimate The Creamy Soap. Ultimate The Cleansing Oil is pure magic, as the cleansing oil is concentrated to gently soak off makeup or any impurities on the skin after a long day. The deep cleansing leaves your skin feeling hydrated and renewed. I suggest applying Ultimate The Cleansing Oil at night before going to bed. Ultimate The Creamy Soap is what I use both morning and evenings. The creamy soap comes with a incredibly soft cleansing brush that creates a luxurious thick layer of creamy soap that lifts any impurities and leaves the skin feeling silky soft and smooth. I use Ultimate The Cleansing Soap in the morning and after Ultimate The Cleansing Oil at night. 

Sensai is known for luxury and if I could have every product Sensai has to offer in my beauty room, I most certainly will. I cannot express how important it is to use the correct skincare products on your skin and Sensai displays it all. 

For more on Sensai, head over to my Instagram @fashionfundi.

TC

xoxo

BOUCHARD FINLAYSON | ELEGANCE AT IT'S FINEST

Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with Bouchard Finlayson drink the whole bottle. This boutique winery near the southernmost tip of Africa, situated Walker Bay in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Heaven-and-Earth) produces some of the finest cool climate wines in the Southern Hemisphere.  The winery building on the wines labels is the farms architectural signature and representative of the combination of classic French and Cape Dutch heritage with modern innovation and creativity. The Tollman family are the owners of Bouchard Finlayson and sister property to the family-run boutique collection of Red Carnation Hotels.

This week I purchased the Blanc de Mer and Sauvignon Blanc from Bouchard Finlayson. Given the cold weather, one may be more inclined to purchase reds at this time of the year, but I can guarantee you that these whites are all-season wines! I am normally a fan of their well-known award winning Pinot Noir, however was intrigued to try the Blanc de Mer that features the Riesling cultivar.

I could not resist their special that is currently running which offers 20% off both the Blanc de Mer 2018 and Sauvignon blanc 2019. I ordered the wine directly from the online shop (https://shop.bouchardfinlayson.co.za/) and was so pleased with the efficient and professional service. For those of you who prefer, you can also email info@bouchardfinlayson.co.za or phone 028 312 3515 to place your order.

I love being outdoors and hiking in the Cape, and Bouchard Finlayson is one of the most idyllic settings to do this. The farm is conveniently located adjacent to the beautiful seaside town of Hermanus. You can go on guided nature walks in the estate, which has hectares of preserved fynbos (only about 20 percent of the farm is planted with vineyards). Fynbos makes up 80 percent of the Cape Floral Kingdom, of which two-thirds can only be found in the Cape. Bouchard Finlayson holds World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Conservation Champion status and their commitment to responsible and sustainable farming is evidenced in the preservation of the diverse biological environment.

Beyond the farm, you can also find pockets of beautiful Fynbos along the Cliff Path and outer areas of Hermanus. The scenery is breath-taking, and you literally feel as if you are in the clouds as the name of the farm suggests. In addition to their world-class wines, the estate also produces its own honey and delicious olive oil.

BLANC DE MER 2018

The Blanc De Mer translates to “white of the sea” and is inspired by the estate’s close proximity to coast where the Southern Right whales can be seen calving in late winter towards the end of spring. The Riesling in this wine makes it an unusual blend and the result is absolutely amazing! Riesling is one of the oldest grapes in the world (dating back to 1435), with current theories pointing to Rheingau in Germany as its origin. Riesling grapes are ideally suited for cooler climates as they bud late avoiding spring frosts and they have naturally thicker bark than other grapevines.

As you take your first sip of this wine, you will be met with a fountain of rich flowery aromas, with tastes of almond and apricot with an almost creamy middle to the wine. I paired it with a cheese platter for my partner and I and the complex, robust flavours of the cheeses complemented the wine perfectly.

WALKER BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019

For those of you who are Sauvignon Blanc fans, you will love this refreshing wine. Sauvignon Blanc is one of South Africa’s ‘Big 6’ varietal grapes, amongst Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz and Chardonnay. It is crisp and tangy, with identifiable detailed layers of flavours and hints of grapefruit in the glass. The wine is more tropical than grassy, with a delicate palate that is not overpowering.

On a personal note, the one thing I love about Sauvignon Blanc is that it is so easy to pair with food, as it literally goes with anything! Cool climate white wines such as this one from the Walker Bay area are always my go-to for fish, sushi and Poke Bowls.

Treat yourself and try these elegant, crisp and refreshing whites from Bouchard Finlayson, you will not be disappointed!

TC

xoxo