Cape Town - Remember the old days when all we paired with our wine was cheese?
Any cheese with any wine, at that.
Now we know better and can create better tasting experiences not only with cheese, but just about anything else you can think of – biltong, chocolate, fudge, or a mixture of savoury bites. The latest addition to the pairing repertoire is pizza.
This is happening at Eikendal, where you can get a trio of thin-based pizzas matched with just the right wine. For example, chicken and pineapple zings when eaten with the 2015 sauvignon blanc with its tropical notes.
Pizza number two is ham and mushroom, earthy flavours which go well with the 2014 unwooded Janina chardonnay. Last, but not least, comes the soft pink merlot rosé 2015 with a brie and cranberry pizza.
Vegetarians also get to indulge; their last combo is the same but they begin with peppers and pineapple, followed by mushrooms and olives, served with the same wines as the meat options.
“Wine with pizza is like beer with fish and chips... it is just meant to be,” said winemaker Nico Grobler. “With these summer taste sensations we invite visitors to come and linger a little longer in our tasting room. The pizza and wine pairings are perfect for a midday pick-me-up palate-pleaser.”
It’s a family-friendly venue so the children can do a grape juice tasting with sweets and colour in wildlife images, courtesy of the Cheetah Outreach. There is also a jungle gym.
The pizza and wine pairings are available Tuesdays to Sundays between noon and 4pm, and cost R40 a person.
The children’s juice tasting costs R20 a child. Bookings for the pairings are essential as daily orders are limited. Also note there is a 20-minute waiting period as the pizzas are freshly prepared.
l To book, call 021 855 1422 or email [email protected].
Cucina di Giovanni @ Eikendal is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesdays to Saturdays and for lunch only on Sundays. Call 021 855 5033 or email [email protected] for restaurant bookings.
Weekend Argus