"Pesto & Wine Play" at Neil Ellis Wines: A Must This Summer!

The Neil Ellis team, along with the help of a chef friend, dreamed up a selection of recipes which have been tweaked over time to create four yummy pestos to cross-pair with four of the highly-acclaimed Neil Ellis Terrain-Specific Wines. Pesto & Wine Play is a fun name for a fun experience. It is not a dedicated set of pairings. Visitors are invited to experiment with the respective pestos and wines and discover their very own choice combos.

The following four pestos are lined up for the Pesto & Wine Play and served with delicious pita bread:

• Chickpea Curry Pesto
• Beetroot & Almond Pesto
• Mint & Pecan Nuts Pesto
• Kale & Cashew Nuts Pesto

The four Neil Ellis wines you can look forward to are:

• Amica Sauvignon Blanc: A complex, vibrant, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc from a single vineyard in the Jonkershoek Valley with notes of white florals, nectarines, lime and lemongrass.
• Whitehall Chardonnay: An elegant Burgundian-style Chardonnay from a single vineyard in the Elgin Valley with youthful lime and melon aromatics, gorgeous ripe citrus notes, great texture and freshness.
• Bottelary Hills Pinotage: A multi-faceted Pinotage from 20-year-old bush vine vineyards in the Bottelary Hills, showing dark plum, cherry and blackberry fruit with elegant floral notes and a touch of dark chocolate.
• Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon: The estate’s signature Cabernet Sauvignon with all the hallmarks of the Jonkershoek Valley. Known for its classical structure and perfect balance of elegance and fruit power, it has complex notes of blue and black small berry fruit with touches of cedar and mint.

The four vibrantly coloured pestos and the four wines are set out on the table in front of you, together with descriptions of the wines and details of the ingredients in the pestos. Leave all your preconceived ideas on perfect pairings at home, be adventurous and enjoy the new experience. Play with all the flavours, aromas and mouthfeels, explore the different combinations and come up with your very own favourites.

Cost for Pesto & Wine Play: R100 per head

For enquiries and bookings (bookings only essential for groups): 021 887 0649 or info@neilellis.com

The Neil Ellis Wines Pesto & Wine Play makes the perfect accompaniment to their Cheese & Charcuterie Platters so why not extend your tasting to a relaxed lunch on the lawns soaking up the magnificent view.

Neil Ellis Wines, with a local and international reputation for exceptional elegance and quality, has a stylish home and a state-of-the-art cellar on the lower slopes of the Helshoogte Pass in Stellenbosch.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10h00 - 16h30; Saturdays and Public Holidays 10h00 - 17h00; Closed on Sundays

Closed on 25 and 26 December 2018 and 1 January 2019.

Pesto and Wine Pairing: R100 a head

Cheese and Charcuterie Platters: R150 to share