wine « Bosman Wines Blog

It`s a celebration!

January 26, 2012

Family,Lifestyle | Tags: celebration, family, generations, wine — Corlea Fourie @ 4:09 pm

According to Wikipedia, in human context, a family (from Latin: familia) is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. Here at Bosman Family Vineyards it’s all about family. Eight generations worth!

Hermanus Bosman arrived in South Africa in 1707 as a sieketrooster (consoler of the sick). Fast forward a few decades and grandson, Pieter Bosman came to Wellington to buy cart horses from famous breeder, ‘Lang Kootjie’ Malan of Lelienfontein.

The Bosman’s story is a love-story – Pieter followed the advice of ‘Lang Kootjie’ and bought the farm next to Lelienfontein. Pieter also fell in love and married ‘Lang Kootjie’s’ daughter, Isabella, and on her father’s retirement, Pieter bought Lelienfontein.

Today we are awaiting the birth of Petrus Bosman, second son to Petrus and Carla Bosman, who with his brother Jan – in effect, are the ninth generation on Lelienfontein.

I`m grateful for the little team of winemakers an viticulturists that will most surely be put to good use in school holidays in the near future. In 2010 when Jan was born, we got our new press. Petrus`s arrival on the farm will coincide with the grapes for our MCC Steen coming in to the cellar. Enough reason for celebration…

Three generations. The late Petrus Bosman Senior with his son Jan Bosman and the young guns: Pieter-Daniel, Jannie and Petrus Bosman

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Testing, testing, 123….

January 24, 2012

South Africa,Uncategorized,Wellington,White Wine,Wine Industry,Wine Making | Tags: analysis, chenin blanc, sampling, testing, vineyards, Wellington, wine — Corlea Fourie @ 8:12 am

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…

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Can you taste it? It is here – Harvest 2012

January 20, 2012

South Africa,Uncategorized,Wellington,Wine Making | Tags: conditions, Harvest, vine, vineyards, Viticulture, wine — Corlea Fourie @ 11:31 am

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.

Friday 20 January 2012 - The official start of Harvest

Viticulturist Heinie Nel, Assistant Charlene Ferreira, Hospitality Manager Tina Steenkamp and Operations boffin Martin November raise a glass on Harvest 2012

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Now to get those tase buds wanting more

August 19, 2010

Events,Food & Wine,Lifestyle,Uncategorized,Wellington | Tags: canapes, menu, pairing, release weekend, wine — Corlea Fourie @ 1:44 pm

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….