Food & Wine Pairing Diary: Lockdown with WineTots

Hilary - The Winemom
Apr 6, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Sep 19

Self-Isolation Week 1 in the Plett Winelands: March 2020

The first week of lockdown in South Africa has passed and we've been keeping busy with a wide range of activities! Pay close attention to our lockdown diary for the few weeks as we guide you through healthy home wine & food pairings and share ideas on how to occupy the kids with activities during this quarantine ‘stay at home’ period!

Day 1:

Day 1’s quarantine dinner consisted of roast free-range chicken and vegetables paired with Vinologist Wines’ Chenin Blanc from the Swartberg region. A fabulous rich white wine at a great price.

A bottle of Vinologist Chenin Blanc and a glass of white wine beside a plate of assorted vegetables on a wooden table in a cozy room.

New home delivery innovations popped up like Bobotie from Bertussehuiskos, providing a cooked meal of the week from local Stellenbosch top chef Bertus Basson. You can also get fresh organic local vegetables delivered from @rootedbox_ in Stellenbosch. Supporting local is lekker! (This will continue again after lockdown!)

Day 2:

Plate of roasted vegetables with salad topped with yellow flowers next to a bottle of La Motte 2016 Shiraz-Grenache and glass of red wine.

A truly South African pairing: We paired La Motte Shiraz-Grenache 2016 with ostrich fillet and grilled veg and salad. The rich ostrich was complemented by the bold spicy notes of the Shiraz which made for a great meal!

Day 3:

Plate of mixed vegetables and steak, beside a glass and bottle of La Motte red wine on a tiled floor. Cozy, elegant setting.

For Day 3’s meal we paired La Motte 2017 Millennium wine from Franschhoek with Salmon Trout, stir-fry vegetables and Shiitake mushrooms.

Day 4:

Wine bottle labeled "The Introduction" by Miles Mossop Wines, 2016, on piano keys. Back label reads "All stories have a beginning..."

A music and wine pairing – ‘All stories have a beginning.’ The Introduction 2016, a decadent Stellenbosch Bordeaux-style blend from Miles Mossop, the winemaker of Zondernaam and Tokara wines until going solo. We paired the wine with a lovely ostrich & veggie bolognese pasta topped with Parmesan cheese, which held up beautifully alongside the dark subtle notes of this deliciously smooth Bordeaux blend.

Pasta with vegetables and grated cheese in a white bowl held above a keyboard. Background shows piano keys, adding a musical touch.

Day 5:

A bottle of Aant Vette Syrah wine is held in focus, with a plate of salad in the background. Warm lighting sets a cozy mood.

Dinner consisted of Wahoo fish and couscous salad with Aan’t Vette’s Louis Meurant Syrah 2013 from Riversdale – the start of the Garden Route. The delicate, spicy Syrah creates a wonderful silky finish on the palate, accentuating the Wahoo fish.

Day 6:

A braai under the African sky… perfect for stay-at-home vacations! Lamb chops, butternut and creamed spinach, potato salad and greens paired perfectly with Freedom Hill Winery’s lovely smooth 2015 Cape Blend, created on the slopes above the Groot Drakenstein jail where Nelson Mandela spent his last few months before his first walk to freedom.

Wine and gourmet meal on a table with candlelight, featuring a bottle of Freedom Hill wine, elegant plates of food, and a tranquil evening setting.

Day 7:

Plate of noodles with salmon and greens on a wicker table, next to a glass and bottle of red wine labeled "Lodestone." Cozy, elegant scene.

A seaside pairing: Lodestone 2018 Pinot Noir paired with salmon fillet and stir-fried green beans, asparagus and Asian noodles. A delicious Pinot pairing! Lodestone was the last winery (in the Plett Winelands) we visited before self-isolating. They have a gorgeous deck overlooking their beautiful dam, serving light lunches and wine tastings.

A glass and bottle of red wine held in front of a TV showing a news broadcast. "Wine Time!" text. Background features signs and scenery. — Sipping on some Raka while watching the latest Coronavirus news

Hope you got your wine orders in for your wine delivery for post Lockdown in South Africa!

Daily family activities and keeping fit at home

Quarantine calls for some outdoor exercise! The kids keep busy by doing yoga and jumping on the trampoline while getting some much-needed fresh air. Stay home and stay healthy by keeping up with moderate exercise and healthy eating!