the strawberry trio desert was amazing!

Great lunch place! Need to return for wine tasting but the glass of Sauv Blanc ‘09 was already a very pleasant start!

I kicked against the passenger’s seat as we turned onto the dirt road that takes you to Somerbosch. But I must say that my second visit to the farm during the Heldeberg Fest surprised me. All I previously said was forgotten. The people were cool and the wines improved since last time. It might have been the same wines but if the people who present the wine has the right approach, it just tastes better! Well done to Somerbosch for their contribution to the Fest as they left no bush unturned to entertain their guests.

Siende dat ek relatief onlangs oor Somerbosch se wyne berig het, gee ek slegs terugvoer oor die plaas se feesaktiwiteite tydens die Helderberg Wynfees. Ons het die Saterdagoggend vroeg reeds die proelokaal se drumpel betreë. Die plaas was goed voorbereid vir die fees en alles en almal was in afwagting. Nicola en Yolanda het ons vriendelik ontvang en Yolanda was baie behulpsaam met ons feesglase, feeskaarte, raad en advies.
Ons het die pienk MCC gedrink vir brêkvis saam met die plaas se sappige aarbeie – mens kon ook jou eie aarbeie pluk tydens die fees. Talle ware was uitgestal in ‘n markiestent en in stalletjies in die tuin: mooimaakgoed, bonkige juwele, syserpies, kleiware en houers vol lekkers in alle vorms en kleure. Eetgoed was bekostigbaar en lig en lekker: burgers, warmbrakke, roomys & aarbeie, oesters, ensomeer.
Die plaas het ook musiekkunstenaars gehad wat die naweek opgetree het en feesgangers het glo saans tot laat makietie gehou. Kindervermaak was ook in oorvloed.

Somerbosch is ‘n sprekende voorbeeld van ‘n wynplaas wat die essensie van die fees vasgevang het en honderde mense gelok het met hul goed beplande, oordeelkundige vermaak en verversings. En natuurlik wonderlike wyne!

Somerbosch lyk allesbehalwe na ‘n Somerbos. Die stofpad is vaal en mens wonder of jy nie dalk koers verloor het nie. Maar dan doem ‘n oase van ‘n tuin voor jou op – ‘n lushof met groen grasperke, vlammende strelitzias en trosse helder bougainvilleas. Die proelokaal nooi jou binne met ‘n draadopskrif en die koelte binne is welkom, veral op Kaapstad se eerste snikhete dag van 30°!

Ons is moeg en dors na ‘n bergfietsresies in die omgewing en ons eet Somerbosch se gratis, ryp aarbeie met oorgawe. Charmaine is sjarmant en verwelkom ons entoesiasties met die Poker Hill Semillon/Chenin Blanc 2009 – vars, skoon en lig teen die verhemelte en ‘n winskoop teen R23! Dan durf ons die rooies aan – eers ‘n donker, peperige 2005 Shiraz en daarna die 2007 Pinotage. Dié wyn verras met ‘n bessiekarakter. Somerbosch het vanjaar al hul Chardonnay opgeoffer vir die MCC en ons drink dit vir poeding. ‘n Tweede MCC is ‘n ligte pienk gevlek met Pinotage doppe – lieflik!

Ons lees van die Helderberg Wynfees teen die muur en Nicola, wat die bemarking hanteer, vertel ons van Somerbosch se planne vir die fees – opskop-musiek, oesters & vonkelwyn, kindervermaak, die pluk van aarbeie, en natuurlik wynproe en drink!

Nou ja, met plesier sal ek terugkeer na die oase van Somerbosch!

We kicked of our tasting with their Sauvignon Blanc 2009, which was white and crisp. A perfect option if you want to fool people into believing that you are only drinking water. I found the colour very interesting. I also enjoyed the Kylix 2003.

The girl that conducted our tasting was unfortunately disappointing. Just another pourer who showed absolutely no interest in the wine industry, her work or her clients. What a pity

Note: Do not turn in at the nursery when you’ve missed the entrance …

Humble like the wines the office/tasting room is simple without any frills. Do not expect an extravagant tasting room. They only items that attempts to add character is the cowhide cut outs on the floor. They also have a restaurant opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner with an extensive menu. My favourite wine on offer was the Shiraz 2005. There was a lit fireplace in the restaurant, so extra swallow for you. Oh, I cannot stress how important it is to have the right person doing the tasting. We had to really draw information from this particular person and still, the information we got left us wanting more, like the farm …

^M^

After much deliberation i finally got the chance to visit somerbosch. The tasting room is rather bland and unimaginative. But the wines are much better not too much wood on the wine except for the flagship. Host Was friendly and polite