Gabriëlskloof pairs sweet and savoury pleasures: Every Monday to Saturday

Gabriëlskloof, a prominent wine and olive farm in the heart of the Overberg, offers mouthfuls of pure pleasure with its Food & Wine Pairing Menu, which marries a tantalising array of mini gourmet taste sensations with estate wines in its tasting lounge on the ‘koppie’ outside Bot River.

Perfect for a quick business meeting; an afternoon catch up with the girls, a sensory stopover in the countryside or when you feel a little peckish and need a pick-me-up, these bite-size delights are tweaked on a seasonal basis to reveal new, innovative tastes that showcase the food-friendly charm of Gabriëlskloof’s wines.

At R65 per head, guests can opt for the White Wines Pairing Pleasure, which includes a choice of four wines, each paired with a mouthwatering morsel.

The off-dry Rosebud – a Shiraz/Viognier Rosé – is expertly paired with a piece of Olive Oil Poached Trout, topped with a grape fruit segment and candied fennel. Next up is a Gooseberry & Lemongrass Marinated Grilled Prawn to go with the crisp and tropical Sauvignon Blanc, followed by a Smoked Gruyère & Leek “Puff” to complement the lightly wooded Magdalena, the estate’s Reserve Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend. Then a Rice Paper Roll filled with “Coronation” Chicken and celery marries the aromatic Viognier. Last but not least the Semillon/Viognier Noble Late Harvest, which recently scooped a ‘Sommelier’s Choice’ award for its 2013 vintage in the Stickys Category of the inaugural Sommeliers Selection Awards, is served with Orange & Almond Polenta Cake to end the tasting experience on a decadent high.

For R75 per person, red wine lovers can revel in a Red Wines Pairing Pleasure of four cellar gems with matching bites. The smooth Bordeaux blend, The Blend, works its magic with a Pulled Pork Mini Burger; whilst the more intense, flagship Bordeaux blend, the Five Arches, shares the spotlight with a Slow Cooked Oxtail Croquette. The perfumed Shiraz is served with an earthy Butternut & Gorgonzola Quiche and the richly intense, flagship Swartrivier Shiraz makes a royal impression with Mushroom & Truffle Risotto. The Noble Late Harvest/Orange Cake duo also rounds off the red pairing.

Or why not go all out and enjoy the Complete Gabriëlskloof Pairing, which encompasses a choice of nine wines and matching morsels at R140 per person.

Another schweet tasting experience to enjoy whilst soaking up the sweeping views of the farm and valley below is the Gabriëlskloof Wine & Honest Chocolate Menu.

Honest Chocolate uses raw, organic cacao sourced from Ecuador to produce their pure dark chocolate which is high in antioxidants and contains no dairy, sugar or emulsifiers.

“These are the only chocolates that should be paired with our wines,” says Nicolene Finlayson, Tasting Room Manager. “Because the chocs are dairy-free and contain no emulsifiers, one gets a clean ‘chocolate’ flavour that creates magic in your mouth, when paired with our wines! We have even paired one of our white wines, the Viognier, with an orange flavoured chocolate and WOW what a combination that is!” she added.

At R65 per person for a set of five exotic chocolates paired with five estate wines, chocoholics are in for a cloud nine indulgence.

Whether you are swinging by for a wine tasting, to buy farm honey on tap from the quaint, resident Deli, to enjoy a country-inspired lunch at the Gabriëlskloof Restaurant, or are planning to tie the knot, Gabriëlskloof has it all. The restaurant’s inviting lounge area, complete with a cosy fireplace, offers the perfect spot to unwind with a bottle of Gabriëlskloof’s finest. On sunny days the wide “stoep”, framed by lush lawns and reflective ponds, beckons enthusiasts to recharge those batteries with a laid-back wine tasting before tucking into a hearty meal.

The Gabriëlskloof Tasting Room is open from Mondays to Saturdays for wine tastings and Pairing Pleasures and the Restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch from Wednesdays till Mondays (closed on Tuesdays). For more information regarding the various pairing experiences at Gabriëlskloof, contact the estate at Tel: 028 284 9865 or send an email to info@gabrielskloof.co.za.

Gabriëlskloof Estate is just outside Bot River, on the Swartrivier Road, off the N2.