Kudos to Karoo farmer

STELLENBOSCH Hills, home to a range of quality and unpretentious wines, announced the results of its 2013 Droëwors Maker of the Year contest last week, with a sheep and garlic farmer from the Great Karoo claiming the first prize.

Martin Scholtz of Loxton used kudu, springbok and Afrikaner mutton – all from animals reared on his farm – to make the winning wors, spiced with a blend from sponsor Freddy Hirsch.

Last year, the inaugural competition saw biltong being matched to one of the cellar’s wines. This year, contestants had to create a sausage to do justice to the winery’s flagship four-star 1707 Reserve 2010 – a shiraz-led Bordeaux-style blend. and Steenberg, which recently released an all-sauvignon blanc Cap Classique (R95), made in proseccostyle. Youthful and crisp, it’s likely to become a festive favourite.

Pierre Jourdan’s Brut (R100), Belle Rose (R155) and Tranquille (R45) offer enjoyable variations on the classic Champagne duo of chardonnay and pinot noir.

No festival of fizz would be complete without Simonsig’s lively Kaapse Vonkel, the first MCC or Cap Classique to be produced in South Africa.

FESTIVE FRANSCHHOEK: Some of the Cape’s best Cap Classiques will be on show alongside French Champagne at the Magic of Bubbles in Franschhoek.