This weekend we’re finally trying out our neighbour’s award-winning Chardonnay. The La Motte 2007 Chardonnay was a fellow 2009 Chardonnay du Monde gold medal winner and, if their simple but beautiful packaging is anything to go by, it looks like it’s going to be delicious.

We seem to be able to grow really great Chardonnay in this area, which is wonderful considering that we’ve just put in 2 new Chardonnay blocks and they’re still threatening to put in a block of Pinot Noir.

This new potential new block Pinot Noir would make it nearly impossible for Tinky, our cat, to stalk the Guinea Fowl. What fun would that be?

You’ve probably noticed that, as a farm, we’re somewhat animal crazy.

The Miss Molly range is only the tip of the iceberg.

Which is why we wanted some aspect of Miss Molly to do some good for a animal related charity. So, with that in mind, we’ve decided that for every bottle of Miss Molly sold (in South Africa) R0.50 will be donated (by us) to Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Molly, of Miss Molly fame, at a recent modeling gig.

We’ve recently released a new range – Miss Molly – named after our darling Weimeraner. Before you get bleak about not being invited to the launch I think I should let you know that we didn’t make a huge deal out of it. It was a ’soft-launch’ – which is a terrible description; it sounds all sordid and sexual. A little yuck.

On a cleaner note: there are presently 3 wines in the Miss Molly range. In My Bed a Cabernet Sauvignon . Merlot Blend, Hoity Toity a Chenin Blanc (with a dash of Viognier) and Kitchen Thief a Sauvignon Blanc (which isn’t available to the public [yet]).

Miss Molly has been a long-time in the pipeline. We’ve been discussing it, before we even began the implementation, for well over a year. It was conceived, and eventually designed, to slot in between our Môreson and Pinehurst ranges. So it’s not quite Môreson but then it also doesn’t cost Môreson prices. It’s also higher quality than anything in the Pinehurst range.

The whites – Miss Molly Hoity Toity and Miss Molly Kitchen Thief (when it’s released) – are fruity and incredibly easy to drink.  Absolute bliss during Spring and Summer. Once you’ve tried them you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

The red – In My Bed – is smooth with lovely fruit. The Fiancé has managed to drink his way through a few bottles without my help. He says that it’s because:

a.) The wine is delicious

and

b.) The wine is delicious

Oh the unkind hand of fate! Months of training, dedication – sob – and heartache for nothing. We didn’t even start at this year’s Porcupine Ridge Bastille Barrel-Rolling Competition.

Our team got themselves stuck in the Bastille traffic*.

If you’re looking for me I’ll be the one quietly sobbing in the corner.

*To put an end to any rumours that might be circulating – it had nothing to do with the suspected Barrel-Rolling doping scandal. Takuan, from Cabriere, really is naturally that big.

Neil Jewell – the Bread & Wine Charcuterie King – has the following charcuterie on offer at the moment:

• Mortedella
• Spanish salami
• Coppa
• Squashed salami
• Herb smoked pork loin
• Scotch eggs
• Chicken liver parfait (delicious.delicious.delicious)
• Chorizo

I’m particularly partial to Neil’s bacon – as a bacon connoisseur I’ve tried almost all the local bacon on offer and nothing comes close to Neil’s. It’s what bacon use to, and should still, be. Yum!

If you find yourself in the Franschhoek neighbourhood, for say the Bastille Festival, why not pop in an pick up something scrumptious (love that word) to take home with you? If you want you can even eat it in the car on the way home. I won’t judge.

Last year we were the runner-up in the Bastille Barrel-Rolling Competition and – although we handled it gallantly – no one likes to come 2nd.

1 week after 2008’s Bastille Festival we got together and started our intense (and very demanding) year-long barrel-rolling training program. It was loosely based on the training program Jake White used to get the Springboks ready for the last Rugby World Cup; there were mental and physical components the likes of which barrel-rolling (as a sport) hasn’t seen before.

The 2 man team, that was finally selected and will be announced during the course of this week, exhibited all the characteristics we’ve seen in previous Bastille Barrel-Rolling Competition Champions.

2009 could be the year Môreson is finally crowned Bastille Barrel-Rolling Champion.

It seems that our beautiful (and completely adored) Weimaraner – Miss Molly – is in love with 2 of the other dogs.