Good day, everybody, and welcome to the latest Manuka Newsletter.

It has been a while since I last communicated, but we managed a short break to re-charge the batteries, and we also missed the 2 weeks of winter weather as well, I think, because since we’ve been back, it has been wonderfully mild and sunny for this time of year.

So, to the forthcoming events at Manuka @ Southeys.

MEET THE WINEMAKER DINNERS
Our next one is on Weds 3rd September with ELGIN VINTNERS.

Paul and Nicky Wallace will join us to present their range of wines which have been doing exceptionally well recently.

This is the start of the ELGIN VINTNERS MONTH in September, with all the range on promotion, and prizes up for grabs!

We will also have the wines available in the restaurant for the month, with the Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot available by the glass.

Other dates to diarise are:

Paul Cluver – 8th October

Glen Carlou – 29th October

Klein Constantia – 26th November

The Elgin Vintners dinner will consist of a soup or salad starter, pizza or pasta main course, and coffee to finish – for just R99, incl service fee.

As usual, it will start at 6.30 for 7.00pm, booking essential!

CAPE WINE ACADEMY
Next course is the Introduction to South African Wine starting Monday 8th September. This is a 3 week course, each Monday evening from 18.00 – 20.00 followed by a short exam. Looking to learn more about wine? This is the way to start – I did! Contact the CWA on www.capewineacademy.co.za to book or for further info phone 021 889 8844.

SATURDAY TASTINGS

23 Aug – Andreas and Wedderwill

30 Aug – Jordan

6 Sept – Elgin Vintners

13 Sept – Morgenhof

20 Sept – Hidden Valley & Zorgvliet

27 Sept – Springfield

I’m sure you’ll agree, that’s a great line-up of free tastings, taking place as usual between 12.00 and 3.00pm.

NEW STOCK
This is a busy time of year for trade tastings, with many new vintages being released, so Alison, Morné and I have been really hard at work, tasting as many wines as we can to make sure we bring you the best, and best-value wines that we can find. Yes, it’s tough, but we are dedicated to fulfilling this arduous task on your behalf!

2008 seems to have produced some good Sauvignon Blancs. Amongst others, we have Vergelegen, Thelema, La Motte, Groote Post, De Grendel, Nitida, Lourensford and Springfield.

We have some of the MAN Vintners range of great value-for-money wines; the John B range from Rietvallei, and the hard-to-beat Mountain Shadows Cabernet Sauvignon at only R19pb or R200 per case of 12.

Further up the scale, we have most of the Old Mutual show Trophy Winners in stock, including the Klein Constantia KC Cabernet/Merlot which won Gold as a Bordeaux blend and the Trophy for Discovery of the Show, and is only R52pb.

Saronsberg is a name which has hit the headlines recently, and we are offering their Provenance Rooi (Bordeaux blend) and Provenance Shiraz at R95 per bottle, or only R85pb for 12 – save R120!

For something different, try Edgebaston’s The Pepper Pot, a robust blend of Mourvedre, Tannat and Syrah. A gutsy wine that would be a great accompaniment to hearty stews, casseroles, oxtail, and of course a Manuka Pizza! Edgebaston is the private vineyard of the Finlayson family.

BUSINESS NETWORKS
The Somerset West Business Network meets at Manuka and the next meeting is on Thursday 11th September, at 7.45am. Contact Carolyn Malherbe on 076 020 3615.

Strand Business Network meets at Surfside Restaurant and the next meeting is Wednesday 17th September. Contact Jean Bulmer on 082 783 2592.

We belong to both these Networks, and over the last couple of years have saved our annual membership fees many times over by discovering and using local services for a wide range of products. NETWORKS WORK!

CONGRATULATIONS!
To Celine van Enter who won the R500 Manuka meal voucher in the competition run by swest.info. For just about anything you need to know about Somerset West, go to www.swest.info Caroline and her party enjoyed a delicious meal at Manuka a couple of weeks ago, but the photos didn’t come out too well, I’m afraid!

That’s all for now, so from Morné, Alison, me and the rest of the Manukans, we look forward to seeing you all very soon at Manuka @ Southeys.
Please note an additional phone number – 087 808 2013 – for the Restaurant and Wine Shop.