This elegant, dry wine may be of humble provenance on the foothills of the Simonsberg mountains... but she stands proud wherever she goes.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Babylonstoren Mourvèdre Rosé 2024 will be poured as the official rosé of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show held from 21 to 25 May this year. It's a perfect pairing for this flower-powered event given the unique Cape Floristic Kingdom from where it gains its own, unique Boland garrigue. The wine has a lovely broad presence on the palate and rises to any big occasion just as well as it’s enjoyed whilst relaxing by the poolside.
The Mourvèdre Rosé’s food pairing repertoire extends beyond that of a classic white or red, combining all the qualities of the red Mourvèdre grape, but in a light-hearted way. Seared venison fillet from the braai pairs equally well as a bowlful of strawberries with Chantilly cream. It’s great with a grazing board with charcuterie and cheese, or with an invigorating starter of freshly shucked oysters with a quick red granita [See recipe below].
The 2024 vintage Mourvèdre Rosé was a heated summer romance. Intense, hot weather moved the Babylonstoren winemaker Klaas Stoffberg and his team to pick the block in the last weeks of January, almost a month sooner than the previous years.
In the cellar, the pace persisted. Skin contact was kept to a fleeting touch to ensure only the slightest blush of colour from the destemmed berries. The new wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks for three weeks, with one month of ageing on the fine lees. Then, bottling, a few weeks before the wine was whisked away by boat to the UK to be in time for a Chelsea summer.
Back on home soil where winter is knocking, the Mourvèdre Rosé can easily shapeshift to suit heartier meals with a Mediterranean flair.
Babylonstoren is a popular destination in the Boland known for its expansive garden and farm-to-table food experiences. It was opened to the public in 2010 when the current owners transformed the historic Cape Dutch farm to celebrate the Winelands’ farming community with sophisticated authenticity.
With its holistic approach, Babylonstoren is a place where the warm South African spirit encompasses every aspect of the visitor experience.
Wine production is one of the main arteries of the farm’s beating heart, adding to a holistic farm-to-table experience. Recognising the value of the local terroir and its potential to yield fruit of refined concentration and balance, the estate now counts 122 hectares under vine of 13 different grape varieties.
Pairing recipe: Oysters with red onion, pink peppercorns and pomegranate granita
- Boil ½ cup sugar, 1 cup white wine vinegar, 1½ cups water, 1 tsp salt, 2 Tbsp pink peppercorns. Cool.
- Blitz with 1 red onion and ½ cup pomegranate arils.
- Freeze for 3 hours, stirring every 45 minutes.
- Spoon over freshly shucked oysters.
- Garnish with more arils and ground pink peppercorns.
This article originally appeared on Cape Tourism, as part of a collaboration with wine.co.za.