CAPE TOWN DIVA: Wine, canapes & French words in Constantia...

And there's me thinking I'd seen all the beautiful wine farms this amazing city has to offer. Think again Diva. Beau Constantia est arrivé (by the way, when I see French words like ‘beau’ and ‘ pas de nom’, I can’t help but throw my French about a bit).

Beau Constantia is a 'newly' established boutique vineyard (2003), that is exceptionally appointed, not just as far as the lay of the land is concerned, but the building where we were hosted (http://www.beauconstantia.com/photos/beau-constantia/ ) designed by Jon Jacobson, is a masterpiece of minimalist design-meets-modern architecture, and it set the scene for an all encompassing and fabulous experience: food, wine, good company and sweeping views of the terraced valley, with the blue Helderberg mountains as the backdrop - jaw dropping stuff.

This past Sunday, together with a fabulous group of fellow bloggers, I was shuttled, courtesy of Constantia Wine Tours, to the estate, situated on steep slopes 350m above sea level. Consulting chef Tjaart Walraven (see www.foodtemplate.com / @ChefTjaart) and the BC team gave us a true Capetonian warm welcome and over a glass of the award winning Cecily Viognier, he explained the wine and canapé pairings that are being introduced for the coming festive season. Sunday’s offering showcased Asian, Mexican and South African inspired fare and the wines chosen, created by winemaker Justin van Wyk (round of applause here) were excellent. I particularly loved the pea and ginger shooter with sesame crumble (Asian), paired with the Pas de Nom (more lovely French words) White (2013); the Machacha shredded beef stew (Mexican), paired with the Beau Constantia Lucca (2011) and the tres leches cake with dried mango cream that went beautifully with the Beau Constantia Aidan (2011). Leaving the proudly SA moment for the last, the roast spiced butternut soup and popcorn crust was amazing, matched with the Pas de Nom Red (2010). The koeksister, one of my fave sweet treats, was a fitting finale to that tray of SA canapés and the Pas de Nom Rose (2013) complemented it so well. Enjoy the photographs and may they inspire you to visit Beau Constantia…

Pincushion Proteas always deserve having their photo taken...there are bushes of them alongside the vines as you pull up to the front door...

The striking Beau Constantia building, designed by Jon Jacobson...

The Cecily Viognier, a perfect summer's drink...

The Asian canapes -the pea and ginger shooter and sesame seed crumble too marvellous for words..the green papaya, cucumber and pomegranate salad with oriental chilli dressing also divine...

Salut !

South African inspired canapes: Cape Malay pickled fish, roast spiced butternut soup and popcorn crust, boerewors bredie (stew), smoked beef, crisp chip stack, tomato peach chutney and a koeksister (traditional SA doughnut prepared in copious amounts of syrup)...

More pouring, more tasting (see http://www.beauconstantia.com/wines for detailed wine info)

Overlooking the valley from the deck...the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountains are in the distance...

And then there is the story of the 'silent legend' Oom Japie Bronn, the farm manager at Beau Constantia (pictured below), and the face of the Pas de Nom label... http://www.beauconstantia.com/wines/pas-de-nom-red/