March 2013: Taste of Africa at the Otaihanga Boat Club

March 2013: Taste of Africa at the Otaihanga Boating Club: Part 1

An African Degustation (Or an Adventure in South African Wine and Cooking)

Wine Master Stewart MacPherson

Venue: Otaihanga Boating Club

Caterer: Partyperfect Ltd
Chef: Jeanine van Kradenburg

Sunday's event at the OBC brought a multitude of South African dishes to the table, and provided a real challenge for Stewart to match the wine-list.


Stewarts notable quotes…

“I myself subscribe more to the European philosophy of life, my priorities leaning towards wine, women and, well that's about it.” -Alfie (2004) – Alfie (Jude Law)

and in view of our meal being a South African degustation, the following:-

On 27 September 2012, Ventures Africa announced that Makaziwe Mandela and Tukiwini Mandela, daughter and granddaughter of South Africa former president, Nelson Mandela, are partnering with 5 wineries (Fairview, Thelema, Hartenberg, Citrusdal and Dutoits kloof  <see later more about Fairview> ) wineries to launch a new Fairtrade wine range to the United Kingdom from their home country, South Africa.
Billed to be sold under the brand name, House of Mandela, the new wine will include a premium and sparkling set of wines that will  showcase some of the best product from South Africa.

Nelson Mandela: [as a rugby match is about to begin] Perhaps we should make a little wager?
New Zealand PM: All your gold for all our sheep?
Nelson Mandela: Well, I was thinking more along the lines of a case of wine.

So back to the event: In stead of doing it all in one go, I've decided to blog the event dish-by-dish and wine by wine, giving you a little more information on the background to the dishes and also the wines:

Arrival and Wine no 1.

Zios Albarino 2010
Pazos de Lusco,  Spain
First Course: Piri Piri prawns (LM / Mozambique style)

 Pazos de Lusco Zios 2010 Albarino - RRP$37.90 Our Cost $22.50 (from Glengarry) 13% Alc/Vol

No-one guessed this wine. The theme led everyone astray, hazarding guesses like South African Chenin Blanc (Steen) and Semillon.

It was, in fact a Spanish Albarino:

The Spanish DO Rias Baixas lies in the province of Pontevedra on the Atlantic coast between Santiago and the Portuguese border. The Albariño grape is queen here, planted on steep slopes and in small parcels, the final wines often (but not always) correspondingly expensive. For Pazos de Lusco, this is a kind of entry-level wine, “a ‘slip past the velvet ropes and have a wee peek at what we’re about’ expression. It’s a rich, expansive offering, with orange-tinged citrus and a smoky minerality ensuring complexity, and a thread of acid that binds it all in a feat of seamless integration”

Zios Albariño (100% Albarino)
Dry Still White
Alcohol: 13%
Region:Rias Baixas, Pasco Luz, Spain



Vineyards:

The 6 hectares of vineyards dedicated to the production of this wine are located near Galicia throughout the As Neves area of Rias Baixas in northwestern Spain. Planted using the Pergola training system, the vines achieve a density of 2500 vines/hectare in soil that is deep and fairly acidic. Components of decomposed granite allow for excellent drainage, a vital benefit for this area of excessive rainfall. Although not certified organic, Pazos de Lusco does all it can to respect the environment in its viticultural practices.

The entire six hectare expanse is planted with Alberiño vines. This area is very difficult to farm as it is susceptible to a wide range of climatic conditions. The weather can vary from hot and dry to cold and wet. Luckily the soil has a high level of decomposed granite allowing for excellent drainage. Total production averages only six thousand cases of exceptional white wines.

Harvested by hand, the grapes immediately undergo a cold-soak in stainless steel for 8 hours at a temperature of 8°C. Over a period of 25 days, alcoholic fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks at 14°C. Three months of aging on the lees followed. The wine was filtered and fined prior to bottling and aged for 2 months before it was released.

Tasting Notes:
Intense, yet clean fragrances of tropical white fruit make up the bouquet. On the palate, it is refreshing and crisp with grassy notes. A well-balanced wine with a rounded mouth feel and lingering finish of slight, pleasant bitterness.
Food Pairings:
This wine makes a perfect aperitif, but also is a great accompaniment to sushi and shellfish.

Piripiri Prawns: Spiced with authentic imported African Birds Eye Chili and garlic, flash fried and served in the shell.People in Africa often eat with their hands, and this contact with the food was intended in the way it was served.

Prawns and Piri-piri were both introduced to South Africa from the once Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola. Pili pili is the Swahili word for 'pepper pepper'. The word "Piri piri" is most commonly used in the Portuguese language, and also in the Portuguese-speaking Mozambican community:

Called peri peri, pili pili, or piri piri, a cultivar of Capsicum frutescens, this chili pepper, now grows both wild and domesticated. It occurs in Malawi, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the tropical forests of South Sudan & the southern half of Ethiopia.

The peppers were originally brought back to Europe by Portuguese Spice Traders. It was also taken to Goa by the Portuguese and there the plant adapted to its new surroundings, and found its way into Indian cooking.Eventually, one of the varieties made its way to Portugal, where, for some reason, it retained its African name.

Link to Part 2 of Taste Africa