The concept

SPACES is a place available for a particular purpose which is “The Freedom or Opportunity to Express oneself!”

SPACES represents the opportunity to develop and to live our passion and fill our need for creativity and love for the artistic.

SPACES refers to the universe and the saying: “Reach for the Stars!”. The endlessness and the bigness of the universe, the magic of the unknown, but also the beauty and the endless possibilities to extend and to grow, because there are no limits to space in SPACE. These qualities are therefore also represented in the logo: a vibrant, red star, which needs to be a constant reminder of what this venture is all about.

SPACES represents the space of our personal time-frame we are in at present. It gives us Space to enjoy and develop something which had always been a dream, an urge and aspiration. A space to reconnect with oneself, a time to use the space in our lives to grow and put our individual energies out there.

SPACES is also a place with space for others, to enjoy and share other peoples’ creativity and visions.

“SPACES is a space…”

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Spaces is stocking Kleinhoekkloof 2007 Shiraz as one of the select wines in the deli, run by the amazing team of Anne-Mari & Marius. We stopped by over the weekend and their food was amazing. You can find out more about spaces here but really, you should stop by when in the beautiful valley and try out everything on offer at this concept store.

Now that you’ve gone out
and spent a few bucks
on a bottle of wine,
wouldn’t it be nice to be able
to open it up with a casual flair?
Do you really want to make that
champagne cork fly across the room,
and bean Aunt Hilda in the head?
Here are some simple guidelines
that will help convince your new love interest
that you’ve been doing this all your life.

First and Foremost

Remember that anything involving wine
should be enjoyable.
When you successfully pour a cork-free
glass of wine, appreciate it.
On the other hand,
if the cork breaks in half,
and won’t come out, what the heck!
Push it into the bottle,
pick out the bits of cork
and stop worrying.
The world hasn’t come to an end.

Champagne, sparkling wine and white wine
are best when served well-chilled.
Red wine, on the other hand
is best opened when only slightly
cooler than room temperature.
To accomplish this:
Put white wine in the refrigerator
at least two hours before you plan to open it.
Champagne or sparkling wine can go in
even earlier than that.
Red wine (really any wine)
should not be kept in sunny areas,
or on top of the refrigerator.
Find a cool, dry place where the
temperature remains fairly
consistent year-round.
A quiet, cool spot such as
a closet, hallway, unused fireplace,
or space under the stairs will do.
Do not store wine near goods
that emit strong odors,
because the wine “breathes”
through its cork and has a tendency
to absorb odors from the air.

Wine should always be stored
lying horizontally,
so that the cork remains
moist and elastic.
It is important not to disturb
wine bottles too much
before opening them.
Sparkling wines should not be agitated
if the server wants any of it to remain
in the bottle after opening!

Choosing your weapon

There are quite a few different
corkpulls on the market nowadays,
and I’ll cover three of them:
the traditional waiter’s pull,
(my personal weapon of choice)
the winglever and the
two pronged “dishonest butler”
(so named because it doesn’t destroy the cork).

Using a waiters pull:
Place the bottle upright on a flat surface
or securely hold it between your knees
at a slight angle, with the top easily accessible.
Firmly place the point of the corkscrew
in the center of the cork,
and twist it straight in,
until the screw part is
completely in the cork.
Pivot the corkpull,
so that the forked indentation
grips the edge of the
bottle’s mouth and the pull’s
handle is pointed down.
Grasp the handle firmly
and pull straight up.

Using a winged pull:
Place the bottle upright
on a flat surface.
Position the point of the corkscrew
over the center of the cork.
Firmly grasp both the bottle neck
and the barrel of the pull under
the wings with one hand.
Twist the corkscrew by the “key”
at the top until the round mouth
of the pull is seated over the mouth
of the bottle.
Allow the wings to rise until
they won’t go up any farther.
Put a hand on each wing
and push them all the way down.
The cork should draw out of the bottle.
If any part of the cork
remains in the neck,
grasp the entire corkpull in one hand
and gently pull it straight out.

Using the “dishonest butler”:
Place the bottle upright on a flat surface.
Gently insert the tip of the longer prong
between the edge of the bottle and the cork.
Now bend the thing so that you can insert
the other prong between the other side
of the cork and the edge of the bottle.
Once you’ve got both prongs between the
cork and the bottle’s edge,
grasp the top of the pull
and rock it back and forth.
The prongs should sink further in
with each movement.
When the handle is right up against
the top of the bottle,
pull the cork out
with a slow twisting motion,
clockwise for righties,
counterclockwise for lefties.

Opening a bottle of sparkling wine -
This includes Champagne,
as well as sparkling white
and rosé wines.
The first method here is the correct
one to use when you would like the wine
to taste its best.
Use the second method
when consumption
is not as important as the fun
of watching corks
fly around the room.

Correct Method

Step 1:
Securely hold the bottle at a slight angle,
with the top easily accessible.
Remove the foil and wire cage
from the bottle,
being careful not to
aim the bottle at anyone
(no fooling around here).

Step 2:
Firmly grasp the cork with your palm
over the top of it
and gently twist the bottle,
not the cork.
You’ll be able to feel the cork sliding
free by itself, and you’ll need to keep
it under control so that the cork “pops”
as little as possible.
Try to insure that it only makes
a little ‘gasp’ when it comes out,
and the wine shouldn’t froth.

Fun Method

Step 1:
Securely hold the bottle
at a slight angle,
with the top easily accessible.
Remove the foil and wire cage
from the bottle,
being careful not to aim
the bottle at anyone
(no fooling around here either).

Step 2:
Now point the bottle away from
you or anyone else,
and grasp it by the neck with both hands.
Press your thumbs against
the sides of the cork,
and first press on one side,
then the other.
By rocking the cork like you mean it,
it will first creep out,
and then pop out of the bottle.
After it flies across the room,
froth will pour out
and everyone will laugh.
Have those glasses handy
to catch the bubbly.

It’s nice to have the proper
glasses to drink from.
Red wine glasses are wider at the mouth
and rounder than white wine glasses
to allow for swirling and sniffing.
White wine glasses are generally taller
and have longer stems to keep
the wine cold longer.
Sparkling wine glasses
are typically much narrower,
so that the bubbles last longer.
White wines may be served
immediately after opening.
Good red wines will benefit
from being allowed to “breathe”
for half an hour.
The idea is to get as much surface
area as possible, to allow as much wine
as possible to come into contact with the air,
while not disturbing it too much.
The process of decanting will allow
your wine to breathe.
Decant wine by gently pouring it
into another container.
Not only does this provide
the neccessary surface area,
but any sediment present
(most likely in very old or unfiltered wines)
should stay in the bottle.
If no decanter is available,
pour off a half-glass 15-30 minutes
before serving and let both
the glass and bottle sit.

When pouring sparkling wines,
wrap the bottle in a cloth napkin
(clockwise, of course, darling!)
for effect and to insulate the bottle
from your warm hand.
(this step alone can make you look
extremely cool!)
Tilt the glass,
and pour down the side of it
to minimize frothing.

If you don’t finish your wine
in one sitting,
(it could happen!)
here are some tips for
saving what’s left.

White wine will generally
keep in the refrigerator for
four to five days once it’s opened.
Red wine, if you keep it
at room temperature,
will only last up to two days.
However, I’ve found it’s never
as good if chilled and then
returned to room temperature.
(so go ahead drink up!)
The less air that gets to it,
the better, so keep the cork!
Transferring your wine
to a smaller container,
such as a clean 350ml bottle,
and corking it tightly
will help preserve it longer.

Remember to enjoy it!

Gauteng is about to be hit by an outdoor wine festival like you’ve never experienced before. Don’t believe us? Ask the 20000 visitors who travelled from far and wide this year to enjoy the country’s biggest wine festival – the Robertson Wine Valley’s Wacky Wine Weekend. Or the 7000 people who came to enjoy our Hands-On Harvest, Robertson Slow and Robertson Wine on the River festivals. Or the renowned travel journalist who named one of our festivals the country’s Best Wine Route Promotion…twice.

They’re all hooked on the Robertson Wine Valley’s famously fabulous festivals – one of which is about to be experienced by you! Yes, we’ve decided to share our Winelands hospitality with other South Africans.

That is why the first ever Robertson Wine Valley Festival @ Kloofzicht Lodge is held from September 18 to 19 at the spectacular Kloofzicht Lodge in Muldersdrift. Brought to you by the Robertson Wine Valley, in conjunction with Kloofzicht Lodge and Tourism Maps, this festival will let you do what thousands of wine lovers love to do every year – meet the winemakers, owners and personalities of the Robertson Wine Valley as they present the best the Valley has to offer.

You’ve probably tasted our wines before. Now it’s your chance to become our friend and have the time of your life!

Gates open at 11h (show ends at 18h)

The Robertson Wine Valley is in the business of bowling people over with its wine tourism innovation, hospitality and, of course, great wines.

That is why it was voted SA’s second favourite wine route in 2008*. For the same reason it received, in 2009, the Great Wine Capitals of the World’s award for Most Innovative Wine Tourism Experience. The judges couldn’t help but be impressed by the Robertson Wine Valley’s four annual festivals.

One of them is the Wacky Wine Weekend, which is so famous for being fantastic that it attracted a whopping 20 000 fans this year. There’s also Robertson Wine on the River (a laid-back spring festival on the banks of the Breede River), Hands-on Harvest (an activity-packed experience to show the wine drinker how the grape made it into the bottle) and Robertson Slow (where visitors simply slow down to revel in the goodness of the Valley).

But it doesn’t end with the festivals. Visitors can enjoy our non-commercial country hospitality and world-class wines (which offer fantastic value at all price points) almost every day of the year. Our 63 members, of which 52 are wineries, offer visitors to Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson an unforgettable experience throughout all four seasons. Of course wine tasting in the order of the day. Our friendly staff will guide you on this journey, whether you are an experienced wine taster or exploring the world of wine for the very first time.

And if you round it off with river rafting, a game drive, bird watching, cheese and olive tasting, hiking or horseback riding (to mention but a few), you will definitely return again and again!

For more information on the Valley we’re so proud of, visit www.robertsonwinevalley.com.

*Consumer poll: Wine Magazine, 2008.tourismmaps.co.za.

Nestled at the foothills of the Zwartkops Mountains in the Cradle of Humankind, Kloofzicht Lodge is the essence of tranquility and ultimate luxury, a comfortable 40 minute drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Guests entering the luxurious Kloofzicht Lodge are greeted with the stunning vista of endless stretches of water as the infinity pool spills over into the Kloofzicht dam, finally settling into the Zwartkops mountains in the distance.

Kloofzicht comprises 8 superior deluxe suites, 10 superior suites, 20 executive suites and 12 family / executive twin suites, overlooking either the six exquisite fly fishing dams or the unspoilt Zwartkops gorge and mountain. Five star conference and wedding facilities satisfy the needs of even the most discerning guests.

The small but magnificent nature reserve upon which Kloofzicht is built, is home to kudu, impala, blue wildebeest, eland, red hartebeest, springbuck, gemsbok, zebra as well as a fascinating array of bird life. Kloofzicht is home to the Bells Fly Fishing Academy.

TEL 011 317 0600, WWW.KLOOFZICHT.CO.ZA. CENTRAL RES 08611 GUVON

Free wine tasting will naturally take place for the duration of the festival. Take a stroll through all the stalls, get to know the wines and the personalities behind each brand. But of course the Robertson Wine Valley is not all just about wine – neither is Kloofzicht Lodge. This weekend is all about relaxing. For the gentlemen out there – bring your own rod or hire one and fish in one of the numerous dams. For the ladies – come enjoy a magnificent outdoor massage by Chicama Spa for only R200. Kids? Please don’t leave them at home just because this is a wine festival! Beeld has ensured that the little ones will enjoy this weekend just as much as mom and dad. Kids under 18 enter for free, but the activities will be charged for on a ‘pay as you go’ basis. Don’t forget the live music that will entertain you throughout the weekend as well. So bring your picnic blanket and unwind in the great company of Robertson Wine Valley and Kloofzicht Lodge.

For something else, look out for the food and wine pairing done at McGregor Winery’s stall, and the ‘imported’ Robertson goodies such as the products of Olyfberg (Rooiberg and Kranskop’s stall) and Passionate About Pesto (McGregor Winery’s stall).
Should you wonder what to do after the festival has closed? Mimosa Boutique Wines will be hosting a four course food and wine pairing with the prestigious Kloofzicht Lodge on Saturday evening.

For the fifth consecutive year, over the weekend of 15 – 17 October, the inimitable and ever-popular Robertson Wine on the River is returning to the banks of the Breede River. Once again the festival is taking place in a spacious marquee at the charming riverside farm, Goudmyn, situated on the R317 between Robertson and Bonnievale.

Enjoy laid-back country hospitality at its best as you taste more than 300 wines from over 40 wineries, while soaking up the rhythm of live jazz, ballads and blues. While wine-tasting is the order of the day, there will be delicious gastronomic delights from which to choose, whilst: browsing amongst the country food stalls, lazy-lunching at the riverside restaurant, shopping your way through the Robertson Farmers’ Market, and much more. Tutored chardonnay tastings will be on offer in the Chardonnay Tent, and other popular attractions will include river cruises as well as arts and crafts from the Valley.

Offering a wide variety of children’s activities, Robertson Wine on the River promises to be a fabulously festive family affair. And, children under 18 enter free of charge, making it more convenient and cost-effective for the whole family to enjoy all that the Valley has to offer! After free admission, children’s activities will be charged for on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ system.

Convenient designated parking areas will be clearly sign-posted en route. For visitors utilising parking areas further a-field, a shuttle-service will provide transport to and from the festivities.

With wines being sold on site at cellar door prices, Robertson Wine on the River provides the perfect opportunity to stock up on your favourite Robertson wines, renowned for their great value, from easy-drinking to top-of-the-range.

This year Robertson Wine on the River festival-goers will have the opportunity to win fabulous competition prizes. The tickets for this competition will only be on sale at the festival site.

This idyllic, open-air spring festival is not to be missed. So bring your friends and family along for an extravaganza of fine wine, delectable treats, great music and complete relaxation amidst a rural ambience of spectacular scenery and warm sunshine.

BOOKINGS: Web-tickets and the Robertson Wine Valley office

ENQUIRIES: Robertson Wine Valley office

Tel 023 626 3167 / E-mail  manager@robertsonwinevalley.com

Website www.wineonriver.com

Here’s a few wine glass rules that will make sure you get the best flavours from your wines and keep your wine glasses sparkling clean.

1. Don’t use the dishwasher. There are two very good reasons not to put your wine glasses in the dishwasher along with your dinner plates. One is that your average dishwasher in incredible harsh on delicate glassware. Your dishwasher is designed to remove baked on muck from your cooking dishes and this is way too rough. At best you’ll chip a few glasses, at worst you’ll break them. The second reason is that you’re smearing your glasses with all your dinner left-overs. Regardless of the wash and rinse cycles you’re still trying to clean your wine glasses in the same water used to wash greasy dinner plates.

2. If you must use a dishwasher, don’t use the rinse aid. Most dishwashers use a ‘rinse aid’. The role of the rinse aid is to help dry the dishes. Water on plates and cutlery or any polished surface will form a ‘bead’. So when it dries, it leaves the outline of the ‘bead’ on the plate. The role of rinse-aid is to break down the surface tension in the water so it runs off the plates and doesn’t ‘bead’ on them. So rinse-aid is especially wine glass unfriendly as it leaves a coat of ‘detergent’ on the glass.

3. Wash them by hand in hot water. The best possible clean is to rinse your glasses in hot water and let them dry. 83 degrees Celsius is the magic number that will sterilise glassware. Most commercial glass washers use this temperature and above. And note I said commercial glass washers, not domestic dishwashers.

4. Let them dry naturally and don’t wipe them. While your glasses are still hot from the rinse, put them upside down and let them air dry. Don’t wipe them. Even the cleanest tea towel leaves some fibres on the glass. All this impacts the flavours you get in your wines.

5. Use as little detergent as possible. If you’re really germ obsessed and have to use detergent then please use as little as possible. Remove lipstick on the glass by giving them a scrub before rinsing. Use as little detergent as possible and then rinse your glasses several times. Most commercial glass washers use a tiny amount of detergent due to health regulations. But if you can avoid it altogether then you’ll get a much better result.

6. Getting rid of the white grey film. This will affect your crystal glasses more than your wine tasters. The solution is easy. Just soak them in a weak vinegar solution for an hour or two. The vinegar (acetic acid) eats away the organic (wine) build up. After a while you’ll have sparkling clean glasses again.

No you no longer have to worry about it at all.

We are particularly crazy about olives. So much so that between the group of friends we have we buy over 1200kg of olives just after harvest each year and cultivate them ourselves, each person in their “secret” blend of oils, water, spices, etc. They never make it the entire year. Here we wanted to teach you why Olives and indeed, Olive Oil, is so good for you.

Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive that grows on the Olive tree and over 750 million olive trees are cultivated worldwide, 95% of which are in the Mediterranean region. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit and it’s the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is – freshly pressed from the fruit.

Keep it close to your heart

The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidative substances. It’s significantly lower in saturated fat (bad fat) and high in monounsaturated fat (good, healthy fat). Various studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling the bad cholestrol levels while raising the good cholesterol levels. By consuming 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day for 1 week you cholestrol levels will be much more balanced.

All types of olive oil contain monounsaturated fat, but “extra-virgin” or “virgin” olive oils are the least processed forms, so they’re the most heart healthy.

Feed you stomach

Your stomach will love olive oil.In fact, olive oil’s protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis.It activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones much more naturally than prescribed drugs and it lowers the incidence of gallstone formation.

Save your colon

Including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention. Spanish studies have shown that rats fed diet supplemented with olive oil had a lower risk of colon cancer than those fed safflower oil-supplemented diets. In fact, the rats that received olive oil had colon cancer rates almost as low as those fed fish oil, which several studies have already linked to a reduction in colon cancer risk.

Lower your sugar levels

Apart from helping people who suffer from diabetes, olive oil can also play a role in preventing diabetes. As mentioned before olive oil is significantly lower in bad fat and high in  healthy fat. Studies show that it’s the bad fat that leads to an increased risk of developing diabetes. Some research shows that healthy fat could actually help to lower blood sugar levels. So if you you’re diabetic you don’t have to cut out fats all together, just replace it with olive oil.

No more pain

Suffering from achy muscles from working out at the gym or doing too much housework? An olive oil massage will take away the pain in a flash. All you need to do is warm up a cup of olive oil and massage it into the muscles. The heat from the oil will help you relax your stiff muscles and tendons.

Show your teeth

If you’ve ever had problems with your teeth due to tooth decay or issues with your gum you’ll love this home remedy. Olive oil can be used to treat gingivitis. Just rinse your mouth with the mixture of olive oil with water. The best news is that this remedy may also help to ward off periodontal disease by preventing the formation of plaque, which causes tartar build-up.

Clear your throat

A nagging cough can occur anytime during the day or night.  Just take one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. It should help lubricate those nagging tickles in your throat. Not only do you reap from all the health benefits by drinking olive oil this way, you may find that it also tastes better than those over-the-counter cough medications.

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There has been snow almost all the way onto the farm in the last few weeks, so it’s looking dry but the dam is filling up and with a small pocket of rain on Friday past, we are watching the fynbos go through its changes for winter, as we speak. The protea forest will be blooming again in August, which are looking forward to immensely. We have spotted some new proteas as well as some new fynbos on our farm walks, which is always positive to see.

With all the revamp going on with the shed/cellar we are carefully considering which fynbos to plant around it for look/feel as well as for support for the soil around the new shed/cellar. Planning for the cellar is going well and the structure is almost finished. We are obviously very excited about this, playing in our heads with new wines & how we are going to be spending our late summers on the farm, making wines there for the first time.

The Merlot Rose 2010 has been bottled but needs to settle a little more before we get it out, so please be certain to order your 2009 before the last few cases go.

The Taigh 2006 has taken on every characteristic of the beloved hound and is now showing the incredible depth we expected from it. Intense & thought provoking it makes you ponder and smile, all at once. We have had an incredible response to it and with the limited production on this particular wine we are certain that it’s going to be the start of something grand. Taigh will always be a limited run on the best grapes on the farm. We are very proud of this wine.

The entire team wishes you a fantastic week ahead. Take care & if there are any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via the contact page. We want to hear from you.

The weekend itself comprises many activities and you can get the entire weekend program here. To download a map of the entire valley, click the link here.

So pop by La Verne and come say hello. It’s in the main road in Robertson on the right hand side, as you are heading from Cape Town.

See you this weekend!

You can see the full story here.