I was recently invited to enjoy a wine tasting session at the lovely Morgenster Wine Estate. The wine estate continues to receive constant recognition for their excellent wines & olive oils taking accolades years after year after year.
It is no wonder that they have also been nominated in the category for the best Cellar Tasting Experience on a Wine Farm by The Klink Awards. This award goes to the cellar which offers the best vintage wine tasting experience. Criteria include the welcome and wine knowledge of staff, the use of the correct wine glasses, the condition of wine samples, the range of vintage wine releases available, the availability of vertical flights of flagship wines, and the range of unique wines available at cellar-door only. Morgenster certainly ticks all the boxes.
The tasting started off with their award-winning olive oil. I had samples of the Morgenster extra virgin olive oil, lemon enhanced extra virgin olive oil, white truffle enhanced extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
I loved the lemon enhanced olive oil – the base, for which Morgenster is renowned for, is infused with an extract from lemon skin to create a fresh and lively olive oil that partners extremely well with salads, grilled or baked fish, and roast or stir-fried vegetables. I was also told, that the next time I have vanilla ice-cream, I should definitely drizzle some over it for an exciting new experience of an old favourite. The olive oil tasting normally costs R25 per person.
Next up, I was introduced to the Lourens River Valley wine collection tasting the vintages from 2001 up until 2007. These wines are made in a new state of the art cellar by Marius Lategan. Morgenster’s focus on quality combined with a specific philosophy to wine-making delivers a remarkable elegance with a wine that ages very well. A vertical wine tasting of the Lourens River Valley wines will cost you R55 but the fee will be waived if you purchase any wine at the cellar.
I also got to taste their flagship wine – The Morgenster Cabernet Sauvignon (2003). Riguourous attention to detail ensures complexity, structure as well as elegance that differentiate this Morgenster blend. It has a sexy aroma of dark berries with hints of chocolate while being very fruity on the palate.
Lastly, I got to taste one of Morgenster’s three Italian Collection opera themed wines: Nabucco (2009). It was made from the owner’s prized Nebbiolo vineyard. The harvest conditions resulted in a wine with loads of structure but keeping the elegance that benefits this Italian varietal. It had a superb balance between sweet spice and sweet fruit together with cranberry type tanginess. A superb wine!
I thoroughly enjoyed my tasting session at the Morgenster Wine Estate – thank you to the entire team for having me! The estate is only a 35 minute drive away from Cape Town city centre – perfect for a weekend excursion to enjoy a unique wine-tasting experience in their stylish tasting room overlooking a reed-lined dam and set against the Helderberg mountains.
