At Fairview, we have a shared passion for ethical and authentic produce, prepared with love. To produce fantastic produce – whether it is our wine, cheese, vegetables or meat, it all starts with sustainable and holistic farm practices. Over the years,  our team has been implementing better practices to ensure we can always yield the best results. Here are just some of the ways we have been doing this:

HEALTHY SOIL:

We believe healthy plants begin with healthy soil. Healthy plants mean less pests and disease. In and amongst various techniques we are currently using to keep our soil in the best of health such as crop rotation, mulching and  composting, we have also started planting Lupins, a flowering plant, in the weaker soils. Lupins are wonderful as they fix nitrogen in the soil from the atmosphere, thus acting like a natural fertiliser. We will dig up these plants next year and replace them with proper crops.

GROWING OUR OWN WHEAT:

We’re growing our own wheat! We have planted 250 hectares of wheat, as we have a 100 ton per year requirement to make our own bread.

FEED FOR OUR ANIMALS:

Over the years, we have planted 120 hectares of feed for our animals. Fairview is home to five key types of livestock – poultry, pigs and beef cattle, goats and sheep. They serve to supply the restaurant, produce milk for our cheese and produce store under our ‘farm to table’ model, as well as help to maintain and improve the health of our soil. Healthy soil means healthy plants, which in turn means better quality produce. Our animals are free to roam as much as possible, fed a natural, varied diet and treated with compassion and respect by our farmers. We welcome you to watch our animals, but please do not touch.

GOATSHED RESTAURANT 

Sourcing from the surrounding fields and pasture, as well as other local farms, the Goatshed Restaurants highlights the abundance of our Paarl-based farm and valley. Every week, our chefs team brainstorm and curate a weekly special so that all our guests are offered a multi-taste feast featuring the best offerings from the field. As of late, we’ve also introduced a Wine on Tap concept to our restaurant, meaning the wine comes straight from the cellar and is available on ‘draught’. There are various benefits about wine on tap, with one of the key factors being that it is more environmentally friendly. The Goatshed’s ‘no-fuss’ way of dining and commitment to buying locally farmed produce makes us proud to be seen as frontrunners in conscious consumption and a hit with visitors who are recognising the love of real food.

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Here is a breakdown of the menu you can expect to enjoy on the evening:

First starter
Onion bhajis, spiced aubergine dip
Butternut samoosa, sweet chilli yogurt
Bobotie springroll, turmeric aioli
Mango atchar chicken Roti
Curried and pickled fish pots

Second starter
Cauliflower and potato Tarkari, lentil cake & fried paneer

Main course
Mutton curry with tomatoes, garlic and garam masala with Basmati rice, sambals & poppadum

Dessert
Saffron sabayon with roasted fruit, cardamom cake and toasted almonds

***

R325 per person
Wine Pairings included

Click below to purchase your tickets.

The post Drie Papen Fontein Curry Evening | Goatshed Dinner #4 appeared first on Fairview.

Our second Goatshed Dinner is coming up on the 8th June 2018: The Nurok Moroccan Evening!

This year, we’ve decided to introduce a strong relationship between the food and wine pairings by complementing the Goatshed dinners to our most food-focused wine range, the Regional Revival Range.

The Regional Revival Range consists of the following 6 wines:
1. Fairview Brut MCC
2. Fairview Drie Papen Fontein
3. Fairview Nurok
4. Fairview Homtini
5. Fairview Extrano
6. Fairview Caldera

Each wine from our Regional Revival range has an exciting story to tell, and a veritable feast to go with it, with a specific wine region in mind. Our second dinner is all about Nurok – a true labour of love. Charles Back tells the story:

“My wife, Diane, whose painting is depicted on the front label, is descended from the Nurok family, originally from Lithuania. At the end of the 17th century, Lithuanians were taking on the Catholic faith and built a cathedral in Siauliai in celebration. A heavy bell being transported to the cathedral fell into a frozen river, and the locals could not retrieve it. A young boy named Wulf dived into the river, attached a rope to the bell and, with some help, hauled it onto the riverbank. Refusing all reward, Wulf asked that the Jews be allowed to return to Siauliai. His wish was granted, and the citizens bestowed on him the name Nurok, meaning diver. From then on, he and his descendants were known by this name, and there was harmony between Christians and Jews. This admirable example of religious tolerance and mutual respect serves as one of the cornerstones of our philosophy at Fairview. This wine pays homage to the revered blends of the Old World.”

Nurok is one of our most acclaimed award-winning wines. In 2017, it won a 90 Tim Atkin score, 4.5 star Platter rating, and 92-points in the Winemag White Blend Award! Thanks to the oak on this beautiful white blend, it complements spicy and rich food incredibly well, so we’ve opted to pair it with Moroccan-inspired dishes.

Here is a breakdown of the menu you can expect to enjoy on the evening:

Mrehba
Flat breads from the wood-fire oven, olive oil & rosemary
Khobz Kesra – Traditional Moroccan bread
Spiced carrot & chickpeas
Lemon & olive chicken drumsticks
Spicy Roast pepper dip
Eggplant salad

First Starter
Masala spiced line fish, lentil & chickpea cakes & Chermoula

Second Starter
Saffron and cumin potato curry, Poppadums & Labneh

Main Course
Lamb shoulder, apricot Cous Cous

Dessert
Almond cake,  date preserve & cinnamon custard

***

R325 per person
Wine Pairings included

Click below to purchase your tickets.

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As mentioned in our previous post here, our Goatshed Dinners are back this year with a revived twist!
This year, we’ve decided to introduce a strong relationship between the food and wine pairings, by complementing the Goatshed Dinners to our most food-focused wine range, titled the Regional Revival Range.

The Regional Revival Range consists of the following 6 wines:
1. Fairview Brut MCC
2. Fairview Drie Papen Fontein
3. Fairview Nurok
4. Fairview Homtini
5. Fairview Extrano
6. Fairview Caldera

Each wine is brimming with a decorative label and enticing story to tell, as well as orientated with a specific wine region in mind. Take for example our first dinner coming up on the 25th May 2018: The Homtini Italian Dinner.

Homtini translates as a ‘difficult passage’ in the long-forgotten Khoi language. The Homtini pass, near Knysna, winds its way through indigenous forests. This was once the home of our winemaker, Anthony de Jager’s Italian ancestors, the Rabbolinis, who were silk farmers from Northern Italy. They immigrated to South Africa under the misconception that mulberry trees grew in abundance. On arrival they discovered that no mulberry trees existed, but through tenacity and hard work, they tamed the land and ultimately prospered in other trades, including wine-making.

The wine is a Tuscan-style blend of Italian variety Sangiovese, integrated with a touch of Cabernet Sauvingon and Merlot. The wine is crafted to go perfectly with Italian-style dishes, such as tomato-based sauces, breads and cheese. Here is a breakdown of the menu you can expect to savour on the evening:

Antipasti

Selection of cured meats [ Mortadella, Salami, Coppa, Pastrami ]
Freshly baked breads [ Ciabatta, Focaccia ]
Mozzarella, tomato & herb pesto salad
Goats’ cheese & caramelized onion Bruschetta
Fegato d’anatra (duck liver) paté
Pork, fennel & sage

Primi
Mushroom Casarecce

Secondi
“Bistecca alla Goatshed”
Roasted Sirloin, polenta & Mediterranean garnish

Dolce
Tiramisu

Try your hand as pizzaiolo in between courses at our wood fired pizza oven station

***

R325 per person
Wine Pairings included

Click below to purchase your tickets.

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Guests will be seated at a long table set under a vine canopy where they are encouraged to mingle with those around them over trendy sharing platters prepared and conceptualised by the Goatshed restaurant head chef, SJ Nel. The menu will feature some of Fairview’s finest artisanal produce, including generous servings of its renowned cheeses, breads, olives, charcuterie and homemade preserves. In the spirit of the bounty of the harvest, guests will be able to help themselves to a bottomless supply of Fairview’s new young wines, which they can tap straight from the vat in true farm style.

“Harvest is an incredibly important time of the year for us and it is certainly a time to acknowledge the efforts that go into carefully crafting our wines with elegance and complexity. This year we celebrate the 21st harvest of our Viognier variety for which we have the mother block in South Africa. We ask those who have shared in Fairview’s journey and successes to join us at our new Harvest Table Lunches,” says Charles Back, owner of Fairview Wine and Cheese.

Fairview Wine and Cheese presents this exclusive feast as a chance to explore the Goatshed’s newest offering. Tickets cost R255 per person and can be purchased via Quicket. Tickets will include the lunch and Fairview’s newest harvest wine.

For more information on the Harvest Table Lunch, please contact the Goatshed restaurant on 021 863 3609 or at goatshed@fairview.co.za. For more on Fairview and its wine and cheese products, visit www.fairview.co.za.

The post Drink Wine, Eat Well and Merry! Goatshed’s Harvest Lunch Table 2018 appeared first on Fairview.

From the wine side, this year we launched our brand new Fairview Wine Club. This was something that never existed at Fairview before, and in the space of a few short months, I was amazed to see the positive response and growth that we experienced. It is clear to me that there was a desire to be part of the greater Fairview family, and I am so happy we are finally able to offer this to all our members. For me, the key was the simplicity, as all it takes to join is to purchase 12 bottles. Thereafter, you get access to all the membership benefits for one year – not too shabby if you ask me!

Our wine and cellar team are always hard at work, and this year, I believe they really reaped the fruits of their labour, receiving a flurry of accolades and awards. Here is our awards honour roll and highlights from the year gone by:

Tim Atkin’s ‘Medal of Excellence’ South African Report 2017:

Fairview Bloemcool Vis & Tjips 2016 – 94
Fairview Bloemcool Di’Tjie 2016 – 93
Fairview Caldera 2015 – 90
Fairview Drie Papen Fontein 2016 – 90
Fairview Homtini 2015 – 90
Fairview Nurok 2016 – 90

Platters: 4.5 Stars

Fairview Caldera 2015
Fairview Drie Papen Fontein 2016
Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2015
Fairview Extraño 2014
Fairview Homtini 2015
Fairview Jakkalsfontein Shiraz
Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2016
Fairview Nurok 2016
Fairview Petite Sirah 2014
Fairview Stok-By-Paaltjie Grenache 2015
Fairview The Beacon Shiraz 2015

2017 National Wine Challenge Top 100: 

Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2014
Fairview Extraño 2013
Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2015

2017 Shiraz SA Wine Challenge Top 12:
Fairview Beacon 2014
Fairview Swartland 2014

Winemag Signature Red Blend Report Awards 2017:
Fairview Extrano 2013 – 90 points

Winemag Sauvignon Blanc/ Semillon Report:
Fairview Drie Papen Fontein – 92 points

Rosé Rocks:
Fairview’s Goats Do Roam Rosé 2017: Gold Medal

Paarl Wine Challenge 2017:
Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2014

MCC Challenge:
Fairview Brut – Bronze

2017 Wine Label Design Awards
Fairview Bloemcool Range – Silver
Fairview Extrano  – Bronze

Review on our Fairview Rose Quartz by Matthew Jukes, voted most influential wine writer in the UK by OLN in 2011
“Made by the massively talented Anthony de Jager, this is the finest rosé I have ever tasted from the Cape. Made from a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault, with a careful touch of old French oak barrels to add a creamy texture, this is a pink grapefruit and watermelon-kissed wine with serious appeal and a magical touch”

Speaking of awards, we handed out some rather shiny Goat Trophies in September, marking the start of Spring and the annual La Capra Goat Run. This year, the Goat Run added even more festivities to the agenda with the introduction of a lively festival. The festival offered a colourful array of fun activities and food stalls for both spectators and runners, including a range of delicious treats from the farm, such as freshly baked patisseries (think croissants and danishes), health smoothies made from Fairview’s full fat yoghurt and locally-made, artisanal ice cream. The event was very well attended, and marked the pilot run of one of our latest concepts – Goat Yoga!

Yes. You read that right! Goat Yoga is now a trend. After first gaining traction in the USA, the animal therapy-meets-exercise concept has been grabbing the attention of everyone, with videos going viral across social media and the key message being about having fun, getting out in nature, bonding with an animal and getting exercise. Due to the overwhelming response to the pilot session, we have decided to open the paddock to the public over the summer, and what a great success we enjoyed! It was an African first as well as a Fairview first, and we hope it allowed for all participants to relax. After all, the world is so serious all the time, that sometimes it’s necessary to take a deep breath, stretch and let a baby goat nibble on your hair.

Then onto the Goatshed, which hosted their annual Charity Dinner in October. The dinner is unique in its approach, in that the full ticket price goes to charity. Nothing is deducted, no remainders sent off. Instead, we’re proud to offer every cent earned to a well-deserving organization, with this year’s beneficiary being the The Athlone House for Abused Women and Children. On the night, we earned over R100 000. This would not have been possible if it wasn’t for our Goatshed Manager, Shannon, as well as Executive Chef SJ, Head Chef Heila and our incredibly kind and passionate Goatshed team, all of whom stayed behind to work on the night for free.

Finally, on the 3rd November we officially opened our newest venture called Back’s. This has been a culmination of close work with my long-lost cousin Raphael Bak. Together, we envisioned providing fresh, local produce and value for money prices to our community. After a lot of brainstorming and effort, we acquired a central spot along Main Road in Paarl, and hope to welcome plenty of feet through our door in the season.

When all is said and done, 2017 has been an adventure – as all previous years before it – and I look forward to seeing what 2018 has to bring. Happy Festive season to all – and enjoy your New Year!

The post Looking Back on 2017 | By Charles Back appeared first on Fairview.

Every September, here at Fairview we get ready for exciting changes. It is spring, and the time of year when the most important residents of the farm, the Fairview goats, welcome their newly born kids. This special period is referred to as kidding season (we’re not joking) and it brings a wealth of happiness to the farm.

During kidding season, visitors have the opportunity of interacting with the farm’s baby goats. Not only can you play with the new kids but you can also feed them by purchasing a bag of goat food for R10, with a R2 donation going to the Animal Welfare Society for every bag sold.

“During kidding season last year, we decided to bring the goat kids up next to the Tasting Room to give our visitors a chance to interact with our beloved farm mascots,” says Charles Back, owner of Fairview. “We received such an overwhelmingly positive response that we have since created a large paddock for the kids to take up permanent residence right next to our original Goat Tower.”

The new paddock boasts South Africa’s first-ever goat skywalk bridge which spans the main entrance. The bridge allows the goats to roam from the farm’s renowned Goat Tower across the path to the other side of the garden where the paddock is situated. A bigger and more exciting playground to explore, the paddock features surfboards, seesaws and other fun obstacles.

Goat kids love to play and they also love to interact with people. They are very used to humans because they are hand-reared and bottle-fed three times a day after spending their first week or so with their mother nanny goats.The goat kids grow up fast and each has its own adorable personality.

During kidding season, the nanny goats get to rest as they need to produce milk for their newly born kids. Producing milk requires energy and nutrients, which is why the herd’s diet is so important at this stage. When the nannies are pregnant all of their energy and nutrients go towards their growing kids. Fairview’s goat’s milk production slows down for a few weeks and the farm produces less goat’s milk cheese, which is why fewer of Fairview’s goat’s milk products will be on the shelf at the supermarket at this specific time. This is to ensure that the goat herd is healthy and strong.

Goat’s milk cheese continues to grow in popularity and as a result, demand has increased. Be sure to grab your goat’s milk Chevin cheeses before stock runs low over the next few weeks. Fairview offers a selection of Chevin cheeses in different flavours such as traditional, garlic and herb, and black pepper and paprika. The Chevin cheeses retail for about R42 per unit at supermarkets nationwide or at the Shop & Deli on the farm, where delicious preserves and freshly baked breads are also available.

Aside from all the fun interaction with the furry kids, adults can kick back and experience the wine tasting options at our Tasting Room, or indulge in the delicious country-style menu available at the Goatshed restaurant (which also has a kids menu).

Kicking off on the 9th September (at the La Capra Goat Run event), we invite you all to bring your own kids and come visit the most-loved members of Fairview as we welcome their new kids on the block!

For more information please call 021 863 2450.

Follow @fairviewwineandcheese on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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This year’s event will be in aid of The Athlone House of Strength, a shelter that assists abused women and children. Nik Rabinowitz, one of the country’s leading comedians, will be the MC for the evening.

Tickets include a hearty four-course meal prepared by the Goatshed’s much-loved chef, SJ Nel and newly appointed chef, Heila van Zyl, as well as beautifully paired Fairview wines to complement each dish. Fairview’s own farm fresh, free range meat and cheese will feature on the menu.

Don’t miss out on this very special event. Seating is limited, so book now and help make a difference in someone’s life.

Tickets cost R650 per person and can be purchased at www.fairview-events.co.za.

Should you wish to book overnight accommodation, Fairview recommends the following neighbouring farms:

Belair: www.belair.co.za/belairWP

Email: info@belair.co.za

Diamant Estate: www.diamantestate.com

Email: info@diamantestate.com

For more information on the Charity Dinner, please visit www.fairview-events.co.za. Should you have any enquiries, kindly send them to Goatshed@fairview.co.za or call 021 863 3609.

See our gallery from last year’s event for a taste of things to come:

The post Nik Rabinowitz to Raise More Than Just Laughs appeared first on Fairview.

With some events proving to be crowd pleasers last year such as the Shiraz & Shanks and Italian evenings, this year we have decided to offer the same evening on two different dates, to ensure everyone who would like to attend will be able to make it. Both evenings will offer the same set menu.

However, if you’re feeling adventurous and up for something new, the Greek Celebration and Cape Malay Tribute are two such offerings – each evening completely different in catering and style, but equally delicious and indulgent. Then there is the Annual Charity Dinner, which this year will be in aid of The Athlone House of Strength for Abused Women and Children. Supporting us in our cause we welcome Nik Rabinowitz, one of the country’s premier comics, for the evening.

As the Goatshed team is committed to making these evenings legendary, we’ve introduced a new ticketing system on the Fairview website, so that our guests can comfortably purchase tickets from one spot. Just click here to purchase your tickets:

https://www.fairview-events.co.za/

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary or just getting together with family and friends, the Goatshed Dinners are really a perfect excuse to get out for the night. Come escape the cold this winter – we look forward to welcoming you through our Goatshed wooden doors!

See our gallery below for a taste of what to expect:

The post Goatshed Dinners 2017 appeared first on Fairview.

From early in the morning until late at night, tractors roll into the cellar carrying tons of freshly-picked grapes from our vineyards, and our viticultural, winemaking and cellar team work like a finely-tuned machine to ensure all the grapes are handled with care and crafted to perfection. This window period of harvest normally starts anywhere from January and ends latest in April, depending on the climate conditions, grape varieties and wine styles. At Fairview, we started harvest in mid-January, and are almost finished now, with the last few Bordeaux-varieties coming in.

As harvest is all about reaping the fruits of the vines and connecting with the hands around you, the Goatshed decided to celebrate this magical time, by hosting a harvest table. This wonderful paddock-to-plate experience is all about bringing the farm’s bountiful produce and fruits of the harvest directly to the table for guests to experience and enjoy in a relaxed al fresco setting.

Guests will be seated at a long table set under a vine canopy where they are encouraged to mingle with those around them over trendy sharing platters prepared and conceptualised by the Goatshed restaurant head chef, SJ Nel. The menu will feature some of Fairview’s finest artisanal produce, including generous servings of its renowned cheeses, breads, olives, charcuterie and homemade preserves. In the spirit of the bounty of the harvest, guests will be able to help themselves to a bottomless supply of Fairview’s new young wines, which they can tap straight from the vat in true farm style.

We invite you to join the next event on the 25^th March 2017 from 11.30 – 3.30pm at the Fairview farm.
Tickets are R325.
A few more spots are remaining – click here to book now!

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