Vines A Growing – Part 4
All is looking good for harvest! The cultivars have gone through veraison (the change of colour of the grape berries) and the new Roussanne grafts are taking beautifully – all thanks to the dedicated care of Rosa, Francois and our vineyard team. 
Facing Reality
A couple of months ago I found myself unexpectedly in a reality show. A new reality show “House of David” was being filmed, the story of Sasha-Lee David and her family, and Solms-Delta was selected as the venue to celebrate her 21st birthday party. Unbeknown to the producer, the David family already had a history with Solms-Delta, and had performed at our previous Summer Concerts and our second Oesfees. The family were good friends of the late Alex van Heerden, our first music manager.
Summer Concerts Trumpet in the New Year
Here are a few ingredients for a perfect summer’s night out in the Winelands: first take a particularly balmy evening with a soft South-Easter just stirring the oaks; then add the fragrant smoke from Chef Shaun Schoeman’s barbecue, where the marinated chicken pieces, boerewors and Karroo lamb chops are braaing nicely; lay on a few chilled bottles of Cape Jazz Shiraz; and then “Strike up the band!” as the Delta Langbroek Band comes blowing in, trumpets and trombones and guitars pouring out authentic rural Cape music.
Half a goat story
There was not much of a goat story, until I tried to photograph them. My excuse is I was not dressed for the job. Sometimes a girl wants to wear real shoes, not “farmy”, solid, lace-up, ugly footwear. I am long past the point of even contemplating a heel, but a nice pair of pumps should be allowed once in a while. The fact that I had just come from a Solms-Delta ladies Christmas breakfast, also had nothing to do with my inability to take a decent photograph.
We decided not to name all the worms!
Last week we collected a bakkie load of earthworms. You could say that is a lot of worms, and you would be right.
These worms will be joining our increasing array of livestock in the Dik Delta garden, but unlike our fat-tailed sheep, Sanga cattle and donkey, Ben, we will be working them a lot harder, as they have a very important job to do.
The Anna Foundation at Solms-Delta 2011
During the last 6 months of 2011 the after-school at Solms-Delta saw a few changes. A project manager was appointed, the building was cleaned and painted, and a special reading corner, along with a number of new books, was furnished. We received bicycles and new sports equipment. The centre has settled down into a regular routine, with the focus on academic support, reading and sport. Farm management also appointed an assistant for the grade R-group.
Renata Coetzee, South African Living Treasure
Never mind about the Seven Wonders of the World. Not that I have anything against Table Mountain, but I am more interested in the Living Treasures of South Africa. There are many wonderful people on the list, led, of course, by Madiba. I wonder who you would nominate as other Living South African Treasures?
Vines-a-growing (3rd Installment)
Flowering has started. This means the cap has fallen from the berry, exposing the anthers and stigma. Given the right weather conditions there will be a transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma as grapes are self-fertilising.
While there’s not much that growers can do about the weather, there’s still a lot to be done in the vineyard this time of year.
2012 Best of Wine Tourism Awards luncheon
The awards ceremony for the 2012 Best of Wine Tourism was held at the picturesque La Motte Wine Estate today. All the category winners collected on the lawns at the Historical Cellar for welcoming drinks and were entertained by our spirited Soetstemme choir. I noticed one of the guests unreservedly joining the choir for one of their songs, and wondered why I had not thought of that!
Time Travel back to 1849
On Thursday 27th and Friday 28th October Pniel Primary’s Grade 7 learners travelled back in time to 1849 when the mission station that was home to freed slaves was in its infancy. As always this event which has been running for 5 years is very much looked forward to each year by the learners, teachers and community members of Pniel.
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