A PARADE OF PINOTAGES WITH WHICH TO CELEBRATE THE MONTH OF PINOTAGE AND THROUGH THE NEXT MONTHS…

A Parade of Pinotages, not only in celebration of Pinotage Day, but for any day of the week. South Africa's own red wine Grape...

October 11th, 2021|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: Abri Beeslaar, , Anri and Beyers Truter, , Beeslaar Pinotage 2019, Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve 2018, Boela Gerber, Chamonix Pinotage Greywacke 2017, Charl Myburgh, Charles Hopkins, Cloof Pinotage 2018, Conradie Family Vineyards Pinotage 2020, CP Conradie, De Grendel Amandelboord Pinotage 2020, , Fairview 2019, Fairview Primo 2018, Francois Malan, Francois van Niekerk, Francois van Niekerk Pinotage 2019, , , , , Landskroon Pinotage 2019, Meerendal The Heritage Block Pinotage 2017, Neil Bruwer, Paul de Villiers V, Perdeberg Dry Land Collection Resolve Pinotage 2019, , Spier Signature Collection Pinotage 2019, Stellenbosch Hills Bush Vine Pinotage 2018, Swartland Bush Vine Pinotage 2019, Thys Smit, |
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Durbanville Hills MCC Blanc de Blancs 2016, perfect for any time, celebration or not, great with oysters or cheese…

Durbanville Hills MCC Blanc de Blanc 2016, a wine for all seasons and all occasions. Don't wait for a celebration, now's the time....

December 8th, 2020|Categories: podcasts, wine of the day|Tags: Dalewood Fromage, , Durbanville Hills, , , Durbanville Wine, Kobus Gerber, , |
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Pinotage Day October 10th, here are a few delicious wines with which to celebrate…

Pinotage Day October 10th offer us the opportunity to celebrate this truly South African grape, which Protea-like has many guises...

October 9th, 2020|Categories: Michael's Writings|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Spier Wines, , |
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Durbanville Hills Merlot 2017, good partner to My Lamb Knuckle & Red Bean Casserole…

Durbanville Hills Merlot 2017, a fine expression by Wilhelm Coetzee of this variety from the cool climate vineyards of the Durbanville Valley...

May 26th, 2020|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: Durbanville Hills, Durbanville Hills Merlot, , Durbanville Wine, Durbanville Wine Ward, Lamb & Red Bean Curry Casserole, , Lamb Knuckle Casserole, Martin MooreWilhelm Coetzee|
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Durbanville Hills Collector’s Reserve The Cableway Chardonnay 2018, so good with Lizet Hartley’s Butternut Ravioli with Tomato Cream Sauce…

Durbanville Hills Collector’s Reserve The Cableway Chardonnay 2018, is a premium wine using two blocks of Chardonnay in the Valley, fun label by Theo Vorster...

December 12th, 2019|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: Collectors Reserve Chardonnay, , Durbanville Hills Winery, , Durbanville Wine Ward, , Lizet Hartley, |
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5 minutes with Tamzyn Ehlers, Head Chef at The Restaurant at Durbanville Hills…  

I spend 5 Minutes with Tamzyn Ehlers, newly appointed Head Chef at The Restaurant at The Durbanville Hills Winery and finding out about her...

August 11th, 2019|Categories: Michael's Writings|Tags: , Durbanville Wine, , The Restaurant at Durbanville Hills|
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Durbanville Hills Collector’s Reserve, The Lighthouse Merlot 2017. Roberta Muir’s Steak Diane, a real French classic & so easy to make, is a perfect partner…

Durbanville Hills Collector’s Reserve is a range of premium wines made from specially chosen vineyards, The Lighthouse Merlot 2017 is featured today

May 16th, 2019|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , , , , Merlot, , South African Merlot, , |
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Durbanville Hills Collector’s Reserve The Lighthouse Merlot 2016, good for a midweek supper with Anina Meyer as it is with your Sunday Roast

Durbanville Hills Collector’s Reserve The Lighthouse Merlot 2016, a new premium Merlot from a winery which overlooks Table Mountain and Table Bay...

June 11th, 2018|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , , Durbanville, , , Merlot, South African Merlot, , |
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Durbanville Hills Trail Run on Sunday 4th February, have some fun in the vineyards – no hills…

The Durbanville Hills Trail Run on Sunday 4th February, have some fun in the vineyards. In aid of the Workers Trust, while you have fun and go home with a gift of wine or chocolates....

January 18th, 2018|Categories: Michael's Writings|Tags: Cape Town Wine Appellation, Durbanville Hills Trail Run, , South African Trail Running, , Trail Running|
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Durbanville Hills Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc nv, good match with Dianne Bibby’s Ultimate Buddha Bowl Harvest Board – 15.12.2017

The Durbanville Hills Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, fun bubbles from two fine winemakers, Martin Moore and Wilhelm Coetzee from a cool climate valley overlooking Table Bay.

December 15th, 2017|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , , , , Sauvignon Blanc, |
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Durbanville Hills Pinotage 2015 & Sophia Lindop’s Stuffed pork loin chops, a Braai Dish for Heritage Month – 19.09.2017

Durbanville Hills Pinotage 2015, a great South African Grape Variety is a good partner to Sophia Lindop's Stuffed pork loin chops, a Braai Dish for Heritage Month.

September 20th, 2017|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , BBQ, Braai Dishes, Durbanville Hills Pinotage 2015, , , , , , |
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“Simple” yet “bold” are the words for Louisa Greeff’s Winter Menu at The Durbanville Hills Restaurant

Durbanville Hills Winery overlooking Table Bay Surrounded by rolling hills and boasting beautiful views of Cape Town, Durbanville Hills is nestled in the picturesque Durbanville Valley, making it the ideal place to enjoy a warm winter meal with a glass of award-winning wine. To ensure that the upcoming colder months are savoured, the restaurant has

May 24th, 2017|Categories: Michael's Writings|Tags: , , , South African Wines|
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Durbanville Hills Merlot Rosé 2016 & Ina Paarman’s Prawn Chowder – 18.04.2017

Durbanville Hills Merlot Dry Rosé 2016 Durbanville Hills is a collective of 9 vineyard owners in the cool vineyards in a little valley which runs up from the ocean bringing with it the chill breezes off the Benguela Current. The winery itself sits proud on a promontory looking over Table Mountain, Table Bay and Robben

April 18th, 2017|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , , Ina Paarman, Merlot, |
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Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling Wine & Meeta K Wolff’s Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese & Avocado – 29.03.2017

Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling Wine Something really pretty from Durbanville Hills, the Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling Wine. You need a bottle of this in a glass ice bucket midmorning under the pergola drinking it for the sheer fun of it. Martin Moore & Wilhelm Coetzee hosting a braai This is Martin Moore and Wilhelm Coetzee’s

March 29th, 2017|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: #sauvignonblanc, , , , , South African Wines|
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Durbanville Hills Chenin Blanc 2016 & Tracy Foulkes’s Fresh Pea Pesto & Ricotta Bruschetta – 24.03.2017

Durbanville Hills Chenin Blanc 2016 picture from wine.co.za When talking about Chenin Blanc, I need to declare a love interest. When talking about Durbanville Hills Chenin Blanc, there is an extra dollop of love put on top.  I grew up on a wine farm where my father produced Chenin Blanc [or Steen as it was

March 24th, 2017|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , , , NoMU Foods, , Tracy Foulkes|
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Durbanville Hills Shiraz 2014 & Dianne Bibby’s Spicy Beef Stir Fry with Sweet Peppers & Mango – 07.02.2017

Durbanville Hills Shiraz 2014 There is magic in the Hills of Durbanville, a unique little wine appellation, a valley running up from the sea into the immediate interior.  My parents were wine farmers in Durbanville and many of the 9 wine farms which supply the Durbanville Hills Winery, I knew as a child as I

February 7th, 2017|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , , , , , , |
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Durbanville Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 & Alida Ryder’s Peri Peri Chicken Livers – 25.01.2017

Durbanville Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Often I hear the comment, ‘red wines are for winter’, and I feel for them as reds are wonderful in summer. It loves summer dishes. It loves being the glass you have after a braai while you sit in philosophical conversation watching the embers die down, eating a bar of

January 25th, 2017|Categories: wine of the day|Tags: , , , , , , |
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Buckwheat blinis with beetroot & feta pâté, smoked salmon ribbons & caviar – Dianne Bibby

Dianne Bibby's Buckwheat blinis with beetroot & feta pâté, smoked salmon ribbons & caviar Step up your game plan this festive season and venture into new territories with these ever so elegant and slightly avant-garde canapés. Luminous pink beetroot pâté, topped with translucently-orange salmon ribbons and salty seaweed caviart. Think Nordic thoughts, mixed with Liberace, all dressed up

November 20th, 2015|Categories: Recipes|Tags: , , |
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Calamari & Rustic Chips – Tracy Foulkes

Tracy Foulkes's Calamari & Rustic Chips Tracy Foulkes is the food powerhouse behind NOMU Foods.  She creates products which add so much to your kitchen raft of flavourings, dressings, bakes and and and... Here she creates everyone's favourite, Calamari with an array of rough cut potato and sweet potato chips. 3 large floury potatoes 3

October 6th, 2015|Categories: Recipes|Tags: Durbanville Hills Winery, , Tracy Foulkes|
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Planked Salmon – Jean Nel

Jean Nel's Planked Salmon Jean Nel is an outdoor cooking instructor.  He has taught at the Pick n Pay Good Food Studio and is found at the Stellenbosch Market at Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch on Saturday mornings. Planked Salmon 2 cooking planks 4 x 200 g salmon fillet pieces salt and pepper The huge attraction

September 2nd, 2015|Categories: Recipes|Tags: , , |
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Squid ink pasta in a creamy vodka & prawn sauce – Anna & Roberta Montali

Anna & Roberta Montali's Squid ink pasta in a creamy vodka & prawn sauce Never have to search too deeply into Anna & Roberta Montali's Recipe Collection to find the perfect dish to go with a wine,  Their usual lusty flavours are perfectly matched with this lusty Rosé. Serves   4 Easy Prepping &

July 14th, 2015|Categories: Recipes|Tags: Anna & Roberta Montali, , South African Wines|
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Cinnamon Dumplings, aka Souskluitjies – Lizet Hartley

Lizet Hartley's Cinnamon Dumplingsaka Souskluitjiies Lizet says, "Now this is the stuff of my childhood and I had naively assumed everybody would know a souskluitjie from a samoosa. Apparently not. So for those of you who haven’t heard of it, ‘souskluitjies’ is the South African name for old-fashioned cinnamon dumplings. A really filling,

May 6th, 2015|Categories: Recipes|Tags: , Lizet Hartley, |
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Fig Salad – Hein van Tonder

Hein van Tonder's Fig Salad With the last of the summer figs still on the shelves, Hein has created this delicious salad that is so perfect for a Sauvignon Blanc amongst whose flavours, there is always a touch of fig. Ingredients 2 large red onions 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil good pinch

March 12th, 2015|Categories: Recipes|Tags: , , |
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How to make a kick-ass Roast Chicken – Alida Ryder

Alida Ryder's Kick-ass Roast Chicken Alida Ryder will always come up with something so utterly yummy just at a time when I am looking for something different - and to go with a red wine.  Chicken like this is superb with a bottle of chilled Durbanville Hills Pinotage 2012. Preparation time 5 minutes

January 29th, 2015|Categories: Recipes|Tags: , , |
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about

fav-57 As a young aspiring chef, Michael laid a solid foundation for his career at the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London. Over the next 30 years he had a series of high profile hospitality management posts, was the Public Relations Manager for Boschendal and ran three successful restaurants in the Cape, one of which, Parks, featured in the national top 10 restaurants.

Michael is a family man, author and broadcaster.
A lifetime devoted to the promotion and appreciation of the South African wine and food industry has earned him many accolades, including the Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Eat Out Awards.

Michael continues to be prolific, informative and entertaining on his wine and food website, michaelolivier.co.za

Copyright 2025 Michael Olivier | All Rights Reserved
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