In case you’re wondering what I’m going to be serving at my wedding – although I’m sure you’ve already guessed – I’m  serving all 3 Môreson Cap Classiques at my wedding. The reasons for my choice are simple:

1. I think it’s the best cap classique in South Africa, and it kicks a number of French Champagne’s arses. The taste is spectacular. All the things I love – dry, yeasty, shortcakey etc. In short I could easily get through a bottle by myself (and I probably will).
2. With the new labels it’s by far the best looking local cap classique; it’s up there with Pol Roger and Moet (the best looking Champagnes in my opinion). It’s stunning and it will do me proud at the wedding.
3. In the glass the Môreson Rosé Cap Classique is beautiful. It’s not a pale salmon, it’s a vivid pink … Breathtaking. While both the Blanc de Blancs and the Cuvée Cape have an exquisite golden hue. I’m salivating just talking about them.
4. When look at the cost and compare it to all the above reasons it’s the perfect option for me.

Plus by the time my wedding rolls into town the new Môreson Cap Classique labels will be out. Beautiful!

What should you look for when choosing bubbly for your wedding? Taste is an obvious requirement but there are other things to consider. Actually when it comes to getting married apparently there is a whole lot of stuff to consider that you never thought would be important.

I’m getting married and I seem to have fallen, completely unprepared, into the deep end. Thank goodness I know about bubbly and I thought I’d share my thoughts, for those that are interested, on wedding bubbly.

The areas I think are important – when selecting cap classique/champagne for your wedding are:

• French vs local
• the taste
• the look
• the cost in relation to all of this.

First up I don’t think you have to go French. South Africa produces some delicious cap classiques at a fraction of the price – Môreson, Krone, Graham Beck, Pierre Jourdan (to name a few). So really the only reasons you’d have to go French are look (some of their packaging is beautiful) and look (because that’s the kind of wedding you’re having).

Then there is the taste. Are you, or your guests, a fan of sweet or dry? This will definitely influence what cap classique you serve on the big day. I, personally, am a fan of dry (I also find it leaves me less hungover – not sure why, but it does). Are you looking for something yeasty and shortcakey (which is very French)? Yes? Well then you’re going to need to look at something like the Môreson Blanc de Blancs – a lovely option, if you like dry.

Also you should consider the look both in and out of the bottle. Your wedding cap classique is part of the décor – it should belong. Find something that works for you and remember to have a look at what it looks like in the glass. For example Some rosé cap classiques are a light salmon others are a more intense pink. Just ask yourself, “if I were a rose what kind of a rose would I be?”

After looking at all these areas it’s time to weigh up the costs vs the meeting of your needs; and remember the best South African Cap Classiques (and they’re amazing) are a steal compared to the French stuff.

So what’s been happening on Môreson? Where to start?

1. We’ve just finalised our new Cap Classique labels. We have moved away from our orange capsules and cream labels to something more elegant. We have drawn inspiration from various places, including France, and the end result is spectacular! I, for one, am so excited about where we’re going with our MCC. The labels are beautiful and as soon as they’re ready, and we’ve had bottleshots taken, I’ll post the pictures here.
2. We start bottling soon. This is always very exciting and somewhat stressful. I can’t wait to to find out what the Premium Chardonnay 2008 tastes like after it’s had time to settle in the bottle. Maybe we have another Chardonnay du Monde gold medal winner on our hands?
3. The ducks continue on their mission to systematically destroy our lawn. The muddy patch is growing.
4. Oh and I spotted this a while ago, on the Môreson farm road, and thought it was amazing – does anyone know this dog?

Nothing beats a sunroof ...

Over the course of the last year we’ve worked, very heavily, on building and maintaining the Môreson story. As a farm – and as a family – we understand that it’s not enough to just tell the world a story, you have to live that story. Everything we do has to add to the Môreson we know and love.

Building magic into Môreson is about regular effort coupled with sparks of amazingness. Oddly enough it’s not the amazingness that’s tough; it’s the being consistent that’s flippin difficult.

This weekend I’m heading up the West Coast for a Birthday Weekend (not mine). After careful consideration I’ve packed the following essential items:

• 1 case (12 bottles) of the delicious and very quaffable Pinehurst Merlot/Cab Blend
• 3 bottles of the impossible-to-get-hold-of 2007 Premium Chardonnay (gold medal winner at the Chardonnay du Monde 2009 Competition). These are for the birthday boy.
• 1 pair of spiffy wellington boots, 1 rain coat/farm jacket and other clothing
• fresh oranges
• 1 New York style cheesecake (YUM)
• 2 sleeping bags (just in case)
• 1 medicine kit (again, just in case)

I’ll see you on the other side of the weekend. Have fun.

When I eventually graduated to grown up wellington boots – the green kind with the furry inners – I felt liked I’d finally come of age.

I still have the same pair. They’re now really old but, as you can see from the picture, still in good condition. Today, thanks to the miserable weather, I was able to prace around the gardens and vineyards (taking pictures) in these beauties.

My spiffy wellington boots

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Our ducks systematically destroying the lawn. Every year it's the same story - probably the same ducks. They're such rebels.

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Please notice our newly trimmed lavender (we're very proud of our little hedge), the open field ready for the new vines and the generally gloomy Cape Winter feel. Sitting around that farmhouse fire tonight is going to be a real treat.

As you know we (Môreson) were in the UK during May. It was a very exciting month for us; the flowers were out, the weather was oddly pleasant and the people were super interested in our wine. I suppose it did help that we had our winemaker (Clayton Reabow) and our UK distributor (Lynda Mellor) meeting up a storm.

We were at the Decanter Wine Show and we spent the rest of our time visiting people who love, support and are interested in Môreson (and the wine we produce). As you can imagine we had a fabulous time and Lynda and Clayton did a flippin fantastic job!

As luck would have it they took a few pictures. These serve as proof that:

1. We actually visited the UK
2. Clayton owns and wears a suit
3. The sun does indeed shine (sometimes) over there.

Our ridiculous good-looking stand at the Decanter Wine Show

The crowd gathered around Môreson stand at the Decanter Wine Show. *they liked us, they really liked us*

Clayton Reabow and Jane Knight (proof of sunshine in background)

Clayton sharing a laugh with the flirty MCC Brut Rose. *get a room guys*