Decadent Deliciousness at Delheim

Delheim's Wine and Cupcake Pairing

 

Delheim Wines has to be one of the most scenic wine estates on the Stellenbosch route. With a backdrop of majestic mountains, the sprawling vines and the road leading up to the farm lined with blooming trees of pinks and purples, you will find yourself with picturesque photo opportunities at every turn. Even Table Mountain is visible in the distance. The walk-way leading to the restaurant and cellar where tastings are done is covered by lush flora that provides a welcome reprieve from the intense African sun while simultaneously creating a cool and calm ambience that is carried through to the wine tasting area, with its cool low-lit interior.

Delheim offers visitors a unique wine tasting experience by pairing some of their best wines with cupcakes. However, these are not your typical chocolate or red velvet cupcakes; the flavours of each have been carefully chosen to compliment the palate and aromas of the wines with which they have been paired.

The first wine is the Pinotage Rose with a palate of berries and pomegranate paired with a pomegranate and vanilla cupcake "with Rose's grenadine-flavourted cream cheese icing". Next is the Chenin Blanc Wild Ferment which has hints of lemon and honey that compliment the rooibos and vanilla cupcake "infused with lemon, topped with cream cheese and honey icing". This pairing was hands-down my favourite - a refreshing option for a summer's day in the Cape.

 Pomegranate

Rooibos

The third pairing was the Pinotage with its cherry and berry flavours and dark chocolate and floral notes with a pumpkin and vanilla cupcake "infused with star anise, cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with diced pickled pumpkin". I could imagine enjoying this rich and subtly spicy pairing in autumn or winter. Finally, there was the mysterious Makataan and vanilla cupcake "topped with cream cheese and Makataan syrup icing" to compliment the Gewurztraminer's orange blossom, Turkish delight and lychee aromas. For those who, like me, have never heard of Makataan, it is "a species of South African wild melon, which is processed into a preserve".

 Pumpkin

Makataan 

Delheim's slogan is "Worth the Journey" and it certainly lives up to its promise. So if you are in the Cape, do yourself a favour and take a trip to the estate and enjoy the scenery, good service and a unique wine tasting experience.