Every year, the Radford Dale team take a good break over New Year. For me, it was an opportunity to head up once more to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. As ever, with a couple of good Cru Beaujolais’ in tow.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is an addictive space. A remote and vast park straddling the border of South Africa and Botswana. The landscape is dominated by fossilized dunes; where the flora has re-established itself and the dunes are unmoving.
The main game sighting opportunities stretch up two dry riverbeds, namely the Nossob and the Auob, where the wildlife gather for the watering holes. These watering holes were created a century ago as a water supply for the stationed army in the face of impending war. They have since served as a critical drinking supply for much of the wildlife, as well adapted to the arid, semi-desert conditions as they are.
The New Year may not be the ideal year to visit the park. It’s peak summer and can be uncomfortably hot. That said, with the years rain coming in over this period, the park can be in full colour and lush relative to the saturated, dry winter period.
So, what was to serve as my critical drinking supply back at camp? Cool white wine? A crisp rosé?
What about red wine in this heat? I’ll be lighting the braai, cooking up some boerewors and – habitually, it seems – dropping it into the sand…
My ultimate Kgalagadi safari red wine pick is simple. It’s a bottle of refreshing Cru Beaujolais. Bury it in the ice bucket, serve cold and let it slowly reveal itself with oxygen and in the summer sun. Pure wild red and black berry fruits, supple chalky tannins and floral, mineral laced scents so inviting you needn’t always visit the glass for a sip. Good Beaujolais simply nails it for a spectrum of flavour and drinkability.
The red for summer, and one of the most versatile food wines around.
The Cape Gamay Project
2022 Was a big year for Radford Dale, for both Cape Gamay and our representation of Beaujolais.
We saw the maiden release of our third varietal Gamay bottling, the Radford Dale Vinum Gamay 2021. It was a particularly exciting release, for this wine included a good whack of Gamay fruit from a young vineyard established in 2017. It is planted on the granite rich soils of the Polkadraai, and benefits from the maritime South Easter coming in over False Bay. “The missing piece”, as Head of Winemaking & Viticulture Jacques de Klerk calls it, in developing the intended style.
Look out for the 2022 release here on P2P in April.
In August 2022, the Cape Gamay project took another step forward, with a small vineyard planted at Radford Dale Organic in Elgin. A new venture, organic farmed vineyards, and in our preferred cool-climate region. The future is looking bright for Cape Gamay.
Beaujolais
For Beaujolais, Radford Dale Imports linked up with the Father Coffee Roastery in Kramerville, Johannesburg for the inaugural “Beaujolais Fest ’22”. A showcase of the region featuring 25 wines from 12 producers, and across all 10 of Cru Beaujolais AOCs. The first of its kind in South Africa.
The response was electric, and for the vast majority of those attending it was a first sensory dip into the world of Gamay and Beaujolais. Thank you to the Father Coffee team for putting the show together, and lookout for the next instalment in late 2023.
For some context and background of Beaujolais, check out our contributor piece of April 2022: ‘Beaujolais: You’re New Favourite Wine’. The full Beaujolais selections can be viewed under the Vendor search: ‘Radford Dale Imports’, here on the P2P site.
There are a whole host of new arrivals to discover and being the foremost importer to delve into the region, we’ve been able to select the most exciting independent producers off the back of extensive visits and copious tastings from barrel and bottle. They’re all brilliant and come with the Radford Dale seal of approval.
That said, here are a few recommended highlights enjoyed recently over the Kgalagadi trip, and the Beaujolais Fest ‘22.
Domaine des Nugues Beaujolais-Villages Rouges 2020 – R 286
Chateau de la Chaize Brouilly ‘Les Deux Amis’ 2019 – R 339
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubes ‘La Grosse Pierre 2021 – R 370
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon ‘Côte du Py’ 2020 – R 676
Finally, if you’re looking to head down to your local wine bar and sample Beaujolais, there are some great options in Cape Town and Johannesburg:
- Culture Wine Bar, Bree Street, Cape Town
- Publik Wine Bar, Kloof Nek, Cape Town
- The Wine Bar at Father Coffee, Kramerville, Johannesburg
- Mr Pants, Blairgowrie, Johannesburg
All the best for 2023. Cheers!
