The lodge’s Food and Wine Weekends are a highlight on the culinary calendar, and will this year culminate in a very special collaboration between Executive Chef Floris Smith and Bouchard Finlayson’s renowned winemaker and ‘Pinot Pioneer’ Peter Finlayson. Using the finest local ingredients, world-class cuisine will be matched with superb wines and presented in the magnificent wilderness environment that is Bushmans Kloof. The culinary experience will take place from Friday 19 – Sunday 21 July, and will include a special wine tasting and presentation by Peter Finlayson; a gourmet food and wine pairing dinner on the Saturday; daily High Tea; nature drives; and rock art excursions; as well as all meals and lodge activities. Rates are from R2100 per person sharing per night. Peter Finlayson was the first modern-day winemaker in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, where the Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard and Winery are located, and was instrumental in putting the Walker Bay wine region on the map. Bouchard Finlayson is framed by mountains and within sight of the ocean, with frost-free, beneficial weather and the most perfect clay shale vineyard soils to produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines of outstanding quality. The food and wine pairing dinner on Saturday 20 July promises to be a feast for all senses. Executive Chef Floris Smith will commence the evening with Wasabi & White Chocolate Salmon - Pink Salmon, rolled in sushi rice, with wasabi and white chocolate créme brûlée, soya reduction and a preserved ginger and lemon gel. Peter Finlayson’s Bouchard Finlayson 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve will offer the perfect accompaniment. The second course presented will be Trio of Duck - Potted duck sausage, five-spice duck breast and duck liver parfait with caramelised pearl onions and a water crest salad. This will be accompanied by Bouchard Finlayson’s 2011 Hannibal. Smith will then serve the main course - slowly braised Lamb Shank Ravioli with oven-roasted tomatoes, field mushrooms, thyme and sage. It will be matched with Bouchard Finlayson’s award-winning 2011 Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, which was voted ‘Best Red Wine’ in the new ‘Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI)’ category at the 2012 Nedbank Green Wine Awards. Guests with a sweet tooth will be delighted to hear that the rich and creamy Brie and Gorgonzola Blueberry Cheese Cake will be the first of two desserts; topped with a blueberry and red wine jelly, it will be accompanied by Bouchard Finlayson’s 2011 Missionvale Chardonnay. Chef Smith’s final creation is called Best of Two Worlds – Bitter chocolate tart served with parsnip ice cream and Frangelico Liqueur. MORE ABOUT BUSHMANS KLOOF WILDERNESS RESERVE & WELLNESS RETREAT Bushmans Kloof is a luxurious ecological oasis of 18 533 acres (7500 hectare), situated at the foothills of the breathtaking Cederberg mountains. Here majestic views, staggering rock formations, open plains, invigorating outdoor activities, 16 luxurious rooms and suites, award-winning Cape cuisine and a wellness experience deeply rooted in Nature, all combine to create an unforgettable, luxury wilderness adventure. Koro Lodge, the private villa, provides a fully independently catered for experience for families and friends travelling together, which includes the services of a guide with game viewing vehicle, and a dedicated chef and hostess. Less than three hours’ drive from Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof is unequivocally recognised as a conservation success story, and was awarded the Relais & Châteaux Environment Trophy (2007), in recognition of its exceptional environmental and conservation projects. In 2009, it was the Global Winner of Wildlife Conservations Programs in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Awards, and in 2013 Bushmans Kloof was voted one of the World’s Best Ecolodges by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Malaria and predator free, Bushmans Kloof is a sanctuary for many indigenous plants, animals and birds, including the endangered Cape mountain zebra. It is also home to over 130 Bushman rock art sites, is recognized as one of South Africa’s Natural Heritage Sites, and is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom. It bases its entire business ethos on preserving the precious natural environment, while providing guests with the ultimate African wilderness experience in the beautiful surroundings of the Cederberg Wilderness Area, which forms part of the Cape Floral Region – a recognized World Heritage site. A mere 270km from Cape Town, the 5-star Relais & Châteaux lodge, voted Best Hotel in the World 2009 (Travel + Leisure), is renowned for its warm, caring service and exceptional hospitality. In 2010 it was listed on the coveted Condé Nast Traveler USA, as one of the Top 50 Resorts in Africa in the World’s Best Awards, and for the past three years (2010 – 2012), was included in the Condé Nast Traveller UK Gold List for Best Hotels for Food in Africa, Middle East and the Indian Ocean. ABOUT BOUCHARD FINLAYSON Established in 1989 in the temperate Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on 125 hectares (312 acres) of Walker Bay's prime viticultural land, Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard and Winery is a small cellar dedicated to the quality production of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Ever since releasing their first vintages, the name Bouchard Finlayson has been internationally synonymous with excellence. Today, owned by the Red Carnation Hotels’ Tollman family and under the leadership of Victoria Tollman and winemaker Peter Finlayson, 22 hectares (54 acres) of the estate are currently under vine with 50% devoted to the varietal for which Peter is most acclaimed – Pinot noir. Other cultivars under production include Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Sangiovese, as well as a handful under exploration. Bouchard Finlayson is an accredited Championship member of the Biodiversity and Wine initiative (BWI). Situated on the R320 near Hermanus, Bouchard Finlayson vineyard and winery is open for tastings and sales Monday to Friday from 09h30 to 17h00 and on Saturdays from 10h00 to 13h00. For further information, call +27.283123515; email info@bouchardfinlayson.co.za; or visit www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za.