Neighbourhood CT - 25 August 2019

Neighbourhood 25 AUGUST 2019

PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE

Select exclusivity Capitalise on the high-yield opportunity to invest in one of only 18 luxurious L’Ermitage Chateau & Villas in the gloriously beautiful Franschhoek Winelands, page 5

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PINOTAGE COMES OF AGE

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ASIAN FOOD YU HAVE TO TRY

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SUBURB FOCUS: FRANSCHHOEK

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NEWS & LIFESTYLE

25 AUGUST 2019

Editor’s exclusive CARLA REDELINGHUYS

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“The essence of this exhibition is to interpret the conflict within the landscape, past and present.

It’s not merely about hanging old and new landscapes together – it’s about underpinning the importance it has, viewed through modern eyes. Despite the burden of ideology or politics, the land remains the milieu where we all find ourselves and running through it all is a common thread. The golden light. The golden thread.

“I only discovered the paintings of JH Pierneef later on in my life and was surprised with the similarities. I started painting landscapes because of an attraction to how the light

In your hood:

Countrywide

Lanzerac Wine Estate | 021 887 1132 | lanzerac.co.za

In conversation and Rewoven comprises a considered body of work by MJ Lourens juxtaposed with selected paintings of JH Pierneef from the La Motte Museum collection.

Neighbourhood

felt on a dying Sunday evening.

I could face that with paint rather than to dissolve in it all.

“What we do have in common, though, is that we have both smelled the earth at the beginning of a thunderstorm at a random place in and around Pretoria.

“These landscapes are not about paintings hanging on walls. They are there to help make people aware of their surroundings, visually. To like their vista and not be afraid of the melancholy it instils. The moment when a collective feeling determines a glimpse of recognition.

Familiarisation. I wanted to convey that.” – MJ Lourens.

Pinotage party Pinotage, our proudly South African cultivar, celebrates its 60th birthday this year. Well, sort of…

WORDS: RICHARD HOLMES

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

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with other cultivars,” explains Wynand Lategan, cellar master, Lanzerac Wine Estate. “Nobody was making it and bottling the wine as pinotage.”

Pinotage certainly ticks all the boxes for South African wine lovers, from cheap-and-cheerful bottles made for enjoying by the braai, to top-drawer labels that demand careful savouring.

That changed in the harvest of 1959, when the Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery cooperative bottled the world’s first pinotage. Although the grapes weren’t from the Jonkershoek valley, they chose to release it under the Lanzerac label, cementing this historic cellar’s place in the winemaking history books.

t first they were likely made lean, high in tannin and low in alcohol. Later, the more adventurous examples came redolent with aromas and flavour notes of coffee and chocolate. Today, some command prices well above R1,000 a bottle.

And yet for all its many guises today, pinotage has only been with us – as a wine enjoyed on its own merits – for a mere 60 years.

Of course, the creation of pinotage as a grape dates back 30 years earlier. Prof. Abraham Izak Perold, the first professor of viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch, created the cultivar in 1925 when he cross-pollinated two classic French grape varietals, pinot noir and hermitage, also known as cinsaut.

Today, pinotage accounts for 7.3% of South Africa’s total area under vineyard and is the third-mostplanted red grape in South Africa, after cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.

While some cellars did pinotage no favours in the late-1990s, with a style too often reeking of bananas and “burnt clutch” – as the less kind critics suggested – that’s changing at a rapid rate.

“In the last decade the approach has been towards a more refined style of pinotage, more balanced,” says Wynand. “For us at Lanzerac it’s all about finding the sweet spot between freshness, elegance and power.”

Handled right, pinotage can certainly produce remarkable wines. Sixty years after that landmark harvest, perhaps Prof. Perold’s creation is finally hitting its stride.

For the next three decades “there was plenty of pinotage in the ground, but it was all blended into dry red wines

In the last decade the approach has been towards a more refined style of pinotage, more balanced

EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF La Motte Museum, La Motte Wine Estate 021 876 8850 museum@la-motte.co.za Land Rewoven is on from 9 August to 12 January next year.

The La Motte Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm (for winter hours, visit la-motte.com) Closed on Christian religious holidays Entrance is free

PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING

WYNAND LATEGAN, CELLAR MASTER, LANZERAC WINE ESTATE

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Group Editor: Carla Redelinghuys carla@yourneighbourhood.co.za Senior Sub-Editor: Marana Brand Designers: Anja Bramley & Samantha Durand Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za

Call us for advertising opportunities on 087 828 0423 Production (Editorial & Property Advertising): Lucea Goosen capetown@yourneighbourhood.co.za Online coordinator: Chantelle Balsdon chantelle@augmentcreative.com

25 AUGUST 2019

Neighbourhood

In your hood: Yu Asian Tapas |

NEWS & LIFESTYLE

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Cape Town Foreshore 021 250 6699 | newmarkhotels.com/places/restaurants/yu

As Yu like it

Contemporary, chic and accessible, there’s a cool new Asian dining spot in the Foreshore area of Cape Town’s CBD WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

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here’s a hip after-work vibe at Yu Restaurant when we visit midweek. Matt black walls, plush benches, subtle lighting, cocktail bar, and a busy open kitchen with a funky octopus mural. The Foreshore location on Heerengracht may be streets away from Bree Street, but Yu, one of two eateries on the ground floor of brandnew The Onyx apartment hotel, is busy, locals way outnumbering hotel guests.

We kicked off with five small plates: hot edamame beans in their pods, a generous portion of hoisin calamari, sticky rice topped with salmon tartare, edamame and truffle dumplings in a rich mushroom broth, and salmon sashimi – an eclectic collection that gave us a chance to chop and change between textures and flavours, all intense and nicely balanced.

Service is attentive and food comes quickly, so you can keep ordering in stages, until you’re blissfully satiated.

Next we tried one of the piping-hot fried dim sum, a rich meaty chicken, ginger and chive-filled crispy dumpling with a sweet chili dip.

It helps that there’s easy free parking right outside, but the food is definitely the magnet. Contemporary Asian fusion is what it’s all about. Tapas and snacks span the spectrum from dim sum through to sushi, sliders, bao buns and soft-shell crab, right on trend, accessible, blending traditional with a dash of creativity.

Rather than moving on to the mainsized plates and bowls, we had another

wave of small plates grouped for the illusion of a main: luscious sticky beef ribs marinated in beer and miso with melting fat and true umami satisfaction, sides of broccolini with a moreish sesame and soya sauce, creamy grilled aubergine and miso, and a fresh and crunchy papaya salad. We could easily have stopped there, but had to try the signature soft-shelled crab in crispy tempura with a sesame mayo dipping sauce – light but rich and delicious.

For a sweet finale there’s a short menu of classic desserts with subtle Asian twists – who can resist a chocolate fondant, a touch of matcha green tea and a lovely pistachio ice cream, or for freshness the caramelised pineapple slices with black sesame compote and coconut ice cream infused with a vanilla pod?

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FRANSCHHOEK Huguenot Street 31, Franschhoek.

[O] 021 876 4592

FRANSCHHOEK | R52 000 000

22HA FARM IN FRANSCHHOEK RURAL.

This magnificent wine, olive, plum and guest farm is located on the banks of the Franschhoek River in the heart of the exclusive upper Franschhoek Valley and is a mere 1 kilometre from the village, the property commands breath-taking views of the surrounding mountains while offering privacy and tranquillity.

[O] 021 876 4592 KEVIN LAYDEN 082 300 9446

VAN RIEBEECKSHOF | R12 950 000

ELEGANT FAMILY HOME ON SOUGHT AFTER ESTATE CLOSE TO THE VILLAGE

A sensational family home on the exclusive and intimate La Ferme Chantelle estate that offers timeless, elegant accommodation with excellent reception areas which open onto lovely outdoor spaces, gardens and pool along with four comfortable bedrooms and a double garage. La Ferme Chantelle offers fantastic security and peace of mind along with the benefit of having a low density of houses and being within walking distance of the vibrant village of Franschhoek. A must-see for the discerning buyer!

[O] 021 876 4592 TANIA VAN DEEMTER 076 726 2873 | MARIANNE VAN DER MERWE 082 921 3248

FRANSCHHOEK | R42 500 000

IMMACULATE AND PRIVATE MANOR HOUSE AND GUEST HOUSE IN SCENIC FRANSCHHOEK

A stunning opportunity to acquire a magnificent smallholding spanning 11.9 ha offering a classic contemporary and private Manor House nestled on the banks of the Franschhoek River along with an exclusive fully operational 4 star Guest House. The Guest House offers six bedroom suites, manicured gardens and ample parking. The Manor House offers 4 bedrooms and stylish accommodation to include a large open plan lounge with wood burning fireplace which opens onto a fabulous undercover entertainer’s verandah with far-reaching views on the one side and onto the pool area with rolling lawns towards the river on the other side. Borehole and river water.

[O] 021 876 4592 TANIA VAN DEEMTER 076 726 2873 | MARIANNE VAN DER MERWE 082 921 3248

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PROPERTY NEWS

25 AUGUST 2019

Neighbourhood

Suburb focus

Franschhoek A small village in a glorious mountain valley, a wine and fruit-farming centre, major tourist attraction, a gourmet destination of note… Franschhoek fulfils that rural dream of being away from it all without being cut off from civilisation. *Map not to scale

WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK

IMAGES: SUPPLIED, SHUTTERSTOCK & GOOGLE MAPS

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rt galleries and top restaurants line the village street, numerous annual festivals draw visitors year-round, and there’s always something on the calendar.

Yes, Franschhoek seems to have it all. “It’s a nice blend of country and cosmopolitan,” says resident Siegfried Schäfer. So much so that it becomes a hard place to leave. “Within a few months, a 20-minute drive feels like a helluva schlepp!” he says.

Despite the cosmopolitan gloss it’s still very much a village. “A trip to buy bread can take an hour just saying hello to the people you bump into,” says Martine Bauer, Franschhoek Life. And the small community of lifelong residents and newer arrivals really does stand together. “This year we had some bad fires and everyone did their share to help the firemen,” says resident Marie-Louise Oosthuizen. There’s also a significant “swallows” community of summer residents, who she says are truly missed when they’re not here.

On the fringes of the village, small upmarket developments and secure estates respond to demand from newer residents “semigrating” from elsewhere in SA, as well as swallows who want a lock-up-and-go perch for the summer months. Farms and smallholdings sometimes come on the market too, set up as guest farms, or planted with vines, fruit trees and olives, either commercially or as a lifestyle choice, often with mountain streams providing water.

Schools

You’re never far from nature in Franschhoek, surrounded by mountains, wine estates, farms and nature reserves. “It’s not uncommon to see porcupines crossing the road at night or otters swimming in a stream, snow on the mountains in winter, and snakes in the garden,” says Martine.

Bridge House is a top choice for many of the families moving here for an excellent private education.

Just down the valley outside the village, it also attracts students from Paarl, Stellenbosch and further afield. Franschhoek High is a dualmedium Model C school that’s one of the oldest in the country, serving the community since 1850.

Otherwise families commute to Paarl or Stellenbosch for a wider choice of public and private schools.

Property

Explore

Being such a small village with hospitality its lifeblood, property is

Hiking and walking in the mountains is a favourite leisure activity,

Agent insight iGrow Wealth Investments | 021 979 2501

The relentless demand for high-end property investments in the Cape winelands has seen some of the world’s most iconic entrepreneurs, like British-born Sir Richard Branson, Analjit Singh of India, and the Rupert Family, invest in the Franschhoek Valley region. The economy of this world-renowned wine-producing town has, to a large extent, been driven by national and international demand for properties that yield the highest investment return. Franschhoek is one of the areas in South Africa with the highest growth in dollar millionaires in the past 10 years, and we have seen significant five-year growth of up to 149%.

Chrislé Jooste, property consultant, iGrow Real Estate 084 601 0006 | chrisle@igrow.co.za

at a premium in Franschhoek. Larger historic houses are in demand as guesthouses, picturesque cottages in prime positions in the quiet back streets also have a hefty price tag.

the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve and its several hiking trails being a popular spot for easy walks and all-day hikes with spectacular views over Franschhoek Valley, fynbos and abundant birdlife. La Motte wine estate has a circular 5km trail from their tasting room, taking in mountain paths, vines and fynbos.

There’s horse-riding, mountainbiking, tennis and bowling clubs, even a health club and gym.

Wine tasting is one of the delights of Franschhoek for locals, exploring the wine estates at a leisurely pace throughout the year. Winter is also the time for year-round residents to enjoy their pick of the winter specials at Franschhoek’s legendary gourmet restaurants.

Apart from the smart art galleries and boutiques, everyday shopping is what you’d expect from a rural village: a small Pick n Pay, a Woolies Food, Clicks and Pep, otherwise it’s 20 minutes to Paarl Mall for the rest. “The lack of shopping malls and lots of shops is actually a big plus about living here,” adds Martine.

Escaping the city is the attraction, the friendly community and enough visitors to keep things lively, but life in Franschhoek finds its rhythm in nature and the passage of the seasons.

Marie-Louise says, “I love autumn, the leaves turning the most beautiful hues of brown, yellow and red – the most amazing sunsets, fires crackling and bottles of red wine being consumed.”

25 AUGUST 2019

Neighbourhood

PROPERTY NEWS

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Agent insight Seeff Franschhoek | 021 876 4592

STAY

Franschhoek is a wonderful cosmopolitan village to live in – steeped in history, surrounded by mountains, and with a vibrant and bustling main road, awardwinning restaurants and incredible wine estates. We have an excellent private school at the entrance to town catering to children of all school ages and there are many wonderful outdoor activities to enjoy, like hiking, mountain biking, golf, and horse riding, and Cape Town is only an hour away. Franschhoek offers an array of splendid properties, from one-bedroom flats to opulent mansions, so really something for everyone. The rental market is strong, demand for rentals is high, and property prices have continued to rise over the last few years.

Tania van Deemter, property consultant, Seeff Franschhoek 076 726 2873 | tania.vandeemter@seeff.com

EAT • Franschhoek Manor: five-star boutique guesthouse • Leeu House: luxury hotel in historic house on the main street • La Petite Ferme: boutique hotel on a wine and fruit farm • Akademie Street Boutique Hotel: vintage style and warm hospitality • La Residence: next-level luxury among the vineyards • The Ivy: comfortable self-catering apartments in the village • L’Ermitage Chateau & Villas: exclusive country village

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

La Petite Colombe Foliage Protégé Le Coin Francais Chefs Warehouse at Maison Pierneef at La Motte Marigold Bistro Bonbon Leopards Leap Franschhoek Beer Company Hey Joe French Connection Big Dog Café

FESTIVALS • • • • •

Franschhoek Literary Festival: May Franschhoek Bastille Festival: July Franschhoek Uncorked: September Franschhoek Cap Classique: Nov/Dec Village market every Saturday

L’ERMITAGE FRANSCHHOEK CHATEAU & VILLAS

I love everything about living in Franschhoek! The community, the vibe, the breathtaking beauty, no traffic, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It’s a small town but very sophisticated, very cosmopolitan.

Top chefs, wineries, venues, festivals, galleries – there’s always something going on.

You’ll pay

R56,164 per month

R5,82m

For a typical property (three-bedroom house)

R4,5m In a complex

over a period of 20 years at 10% prime

For an apartment

R6,691m For a house

For a typical property (three-bedroom house)

16%

R12,000 In a complex

79%

R2,7m

COMPLEX

R13,000 R25,000 For a house

3%

44%

53%

For an apartment HOUSE

median asking price

Median asking price

R25,000

Based on

R5,820m

5%

APARTMENT

For a typical property in this area

Median asking price

APARTMENT

Monthly bond repayments

For rent

HOUSE

For sale

COMPLEX

MARTINE BAUER, RESIDENT