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January 24, 2012
Today was a great breather from the warmer weather we have been experiencing the last few days. We were very interested to see what the heat`s influence was on our grape`s analysis so this morning we started sampling and testing!
In the photo below, we are testing our Chenin Blanc from a vineyard called Driehoek (or Triangle vineyard). Some of the plantings in this vineyard date back to 1963 and 1979, which makes it quite humbling (note the winemaker and viticulturist not even being a twinkle in our parent’s eyes in those years).
As said in the previous post we had experienced some cloudy weather during flowering, so to make sure that we get samples that paints the best possible clear picture – we are using bunch samples this year.
Results on this vineyard show that we did not have a significantly higher rise in sugar in the last few days, but we did lose a small bit of valuable acidity. Still have a few days before these grapes do come in. In the meanwhile, we will be dreaming of the lovely granny smith and honeysuckle notes released from these little berries. Bliss…
January 20, 2012
A harvest is made not only in the weeks before picking but starts in the preceding winter. We had a very good winter season, except for the below average rain precipitation. Good, even bud break followed and flowering this year was in cool, sometimes cloudy conditions. We were fortunate that there were no storms and wind damage in flowering which sometimes can be quite severe. The cool weather we experienced in November and December was ideal. January onwards has brought some interesting conditions with temperatures rising above 35oC. This will definitely speed up the ripening process that we have thought, before the heat, will put harvest back some two weeks.
All in all we are still very impressed by good growth and bunches with small berries. The adaptability of the noble vine gives us hope that this harvest will still be of good quality. Its success will depend, in part also, on the decisions we make in regards to water management and the timing of harvesting.
 Viticulturist Heinie Nel, Assistant Charlene Ferreira, Hospitality Manager Tina Steenkamp and Operations boffin Martin November raise a glass on Harvest 2012
November 15, 2011
Bosman Family Vineyards, walked away with the top honours at this year’s inaugural Perold ABSA Cape Blend competition.
Absa and the Pinotage Association announced the Absa Perold Cape Blend Competition, aimed at creating a signature style for the composition of true Cape Blends.
Key to the competition is the requirement that the blended wine should contain a minimum of 30% and maximum of 70% Pinotage. Pinotage, as a uniquely South Africa cultivar represents the African spirit in the depth of flavour and range of aromas and is the ideal basis on which the competition is built.
Says Beyers Truter, chairperson of the Pinotage Association: “The Cape Blend competition is long overdue. There has been much debate about what really constitutes a Cape Blend. Today we set the benchmark by specifying that Pinotage has to form part of the blend, but we also include minimum and maximum percentages.”
KWV, where Prof Abraham Perold was the chief oenologist when he created Pinotage, and who is the owner of the Abraham Perold brand, granted the Pinotage Association permission to use the name, solely for use for the Cape Blend Competition.
Blended wines generally appeal to a wider consumer group as the highest rated blends use the best qualities of the different cultivars to create wines for connoisseurs and wine lovers alike.
“Absa first started sponsoring the Absa Top 10 Pinotage competition to raise the profile of Pinotage and to assist winemakers in improving the quality of their wines year-on-year. With the Absa Perold Cape Blend Competition, our aim is to assist the wine industry to set a standard in what constitutes a Cape Blend,” says Ernst Janovsky, General Manager of Absa AgriBusiness.
Bosman ‘Erfenis’ 2010 was the only Fairtrade wine on the coveted Perold ABSA Top Cape Blend List. Bosman Family Wines ‘Sur Lie’ Chenin Blanc was also nominated as the best Fairtrade White Wine earlier this year at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards.
We know that Corleas Bosman ‘Erfenis’ 2010 will be a Cape blend that will leave a proud legacy in years to come.
April 20, 2011
Bosman Family Vineyards have been successful in achieving Top 100 status during the recent Top 100 South African Wines Challenge.
What makes this achievement special for us is that both the wines that we entered and judged by the international panel lead by Tim Atkin (MW), were placed on the coveted Top 100 South African wines list.
These wines are:
• Bosman Family Vineyards Pinotage 2009
• Bosman Family Vineyards Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2009 (bush vines planted in 1952)
The entries were judged rigorously by the panel and the top scoring wines were then selected as the Top 100 South African wines.
Petrus Bosman, is thrilled with the result: “We are very grateful and believe that the vineyards used to produce these wines are very special. For years, they have proven themselves and have always produced superior quality wines. It is fantastic that this quality is being acknowledged.”
He went on to commend his wine making team: “Our winemaker, Corlea Fourie, and her winemaking team have been fantastic in their approach, dedication and focus, working hard with our viticulturist, Heinie Nel, to achieve the very best quality possible. My sincere thanks go out to them for their commitment and enthusiasm.”
For the full list of Top 100 wines follow the Media24 link here.
March 14, 2011
We were privileged to have Peter May come visit us on his recent trip to the Cape winelands. For those of you who do not know Peter, he is the founder of The Pinotage Club, an international cyber-based fan club for wines made from the Pinotage variety. Peter was awarded Honorary Membership of the producers Pinotage Association in 2004 and was a judge at the annual Pinotage Top 10 Competition in 2004 and 2005. Peter is a wine writer, educator and author. His book PINOTAGE: Behind the Legends of South Africa’s Own Wine has just been published.
A lot has happened since his first visit in 2007 when we were busy with our maiden vintage. Since then we have caught up in London and now again at our Lelienfontein cellar.
Read his post in his popular blog -The Pinotage club, here.
The Pinotage 2009 will only be released at our annual Release weekend in September later this year, but as in the past, we have a reservation list.
Thank you Peter for your comments and that you are spreading the word about a truly amazing grape variety.
Cheers!
March 8, 2011
If you were wondering why we were so quiet, go have a look at our Harvest Report 2011 on YouTube. It will give you a wonderful opportunity to see what our cellar looks like, if you haven`t been here before, and I`ll tell you all about the buzz in the cellar. Only some two weeks left of Harvest 2011 for us, and our friends in wine tell us that most cellars will be slowing down this week. Let us know about your thoughts on our post by either tweeting at www.twitter/bosmanwines or join us on our active Facebook page.
Cheers!
February 10, 2011
Pasella, a trendy Afrikaans lifestyle program, has just arrived here on the farm. We will be featured in their program to be aired on SABC2 on 2 March 2011. The topic is the annual Wellington Harvest Festival (19, 20 and 21 March 2011). We will be hosting our exquisite Long Lunch. See our previous post in regards to details. But now to get back to the shoot. Just have to touch up the lip gloss!
August 19, 2010
Bosman Wine Release Weekend Menu
Pairing Stations….
Optenhorst 2009 – Hot smoked salmon on buckwheat blinis with Oriental Mayo
Adama White Blend 2010 - Crumbly Pecorino cheese and quince jelly on a savoury spiced biscuit
Adama 2008 – Barbeque duck rice paper rolls served with a plum dipping sauce
Pinotage 2009 – Double chocolate brownie topped with a fresh raspberry
Rose 2010 – Smoked Ostrich Carpaccio with grilled aubergine, cream cheese, Peas shoots and a fresh lime spritz
Substantial snacks….
- Tomato and fresh basil soup served with a pesto crème fraiche
- Roast chicken and leek pie
- Crispy Parmesan Hake goujons and chips with homemade tartar sauce
- Selection of local cheese served with gooey preserves
- Portuguese Prego roll with chilli mayonnaise and fresh rocket
- Teriyaki beef and lettuce cups with a lime and chilli dressing
- Chevin and Gorgonzola Phyllo tartlets with a slice of spiced pear
- Panko prawns served on bamboo with a thai dipping sauce
- Smoked salmon fashion sandwiches
- Charcuterie platters with pickles and crusty bread
July 1, 2010
Today is a cool but lovely winters day here in Wellington. In the vine nursery our team is grafting new vines and although everything looks very dormant in the vineyards there is a sense that, through the grafting, the circle of life for these vines too is still busy-it never stops!
In the cellar we have been putting together our Adama White blend 2010 and the Adama 2009. Its taken months of tasting and retasting, but we`re there. Now just for the last bit of settling and marrying in the tank before we bottle.
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