In 2015, we released our now very popular Bloemcool range, which has been a best-seller via our Master Tasting Room and Wine Club ever since.

The concept of Bloemcool is relatively simple: Charles and the winemaking team wanted to introduce a new avenue to bottle smaller quantities of exceptional varieties and blends that would otherwise get ‘lost’ i.e. blended away into alternative ranges. The name Bloemcool was selected to honour the Fairview farm’s original name, Bloemkoolfontein, with Charles, in his typical fashion, updating the name from ‘kool’ to ‘cool’.

Yet perhaps what has been received just as well as the wine itself has been the packaging. And that is not that surprising, because Charles and the team put a lot of thought into this concept from the start.

“I wanted to ensure we make something that reflects the integrity of the brand, and encourages wine to become part of a more holistic approach to life. It is not just a glass of wine – one must put consideration into who made this wine, and what will happen to the components that make up the wine well after the bottle is finished.”

It is this sort of thinking that led to the creation of the award-winning Bloemcool labels, which have been embedded with cauliflower seeds. Why? Firstly, ‘Bloemkoolfontein’ means ‘cauliflower fountain’ in Afrikaans, and so the cauliflower seeds are a reference to the farm’s heritage. Secondly, the vision is to remove the label once you’ve finished enjoying your favourite bottle of Bloemcool, place it onto some moist cottonwool on a sunny, well-ventilated windowpane, and watch some natural magic happen. Over a few weeks, some of the sprouts in the label should bud, leaving you with the opportunity to harvest your very own ‘bloemcool’!

From the start, our labels have been designed by the cool folks at Growing Paper, located near Malmesbury. When we approached owners Roxanne and Nileta, they were very excited to make our concept come to life, and we have been collaborating ever since. The Bloemcool range won a Silver Award in the 2018 Wine Label Design Awards.

Here are some snapshots from the Bloemcool paper making process at the Growing Paper headquarters:

The post A Bloomin’ Cool Label | Bloemcool appeared first on Fairview.

In 2015, I met Diane de Villiers – a super smart and successful businesswoman with as much drive and passion for her business, that she reminded me of me! Her business – Daily Dish – was ingenious, offering delicious pre-packaged dinner boxes delivered straight to your door. After learning about her pioneering initiative that started in 2013, I knew I wanted to get involved and partner with her and her incredible team – and so that’s exactly what I did!

The reason I did this is because Daily Dish’s offering, just like Fairview, is centred around bringing you only the highest quality, fresh, seasonal, local, and sustainably produced food. If you’re a working mother or convenience junkie looking to find an easy way to put delicious, freshly prepared food on your table every day but simply don’t have the time to head to the grocery shops – then Daily Dish has you covered.

I’ve watched from the sidelines as Daily Dish has risen to success year-on-year, gathering a committed following of regular ‘subscribers’ that love having an answer to the sometimes dreaded question of ‘what’s for dinner?’ every night.

Diane and her team have become experts at selecting suitable recipes from their inventory of 3,500 dishes, matching and pairing them to your weekly box and ensuring that the fresh and dry produce are delivered straight to your door or office in a nifty, refrigerated box that keeps your food cold for up to 24 hours (I’ve tested it – it works!). Another reason I am proud to be collaborating with the Daily Dish team is that they endeavour to continually innovate and accommodate. For example, one can select from 6 different dinner box options depending on your dietary requirements. This includes everything from a Classic Box, to Family, Banting, Vegan, Goodie and Pork-Free Box (ideal for me!).

As Fairview works our way towards being more sustainable, we are able to offer the Daily Dish subscribers our wide variety of artisanal cheeses, olive oil, breads and deli products. Some of Fairview’s experimental wines which are not widely available to the general public will also occasionally be included in the boxes. In the coming months, we will be working with Diane and her team more closely. I recommend you head to their website – www.dailydish.co.za – and sign up to their newsletters to look out for some exciting specials, and naturally, keep up to date with our extended family.

For now – we look forward to helping you share amazing home-cooked dishes with people you care about.

– Charles Back

VISIT DISH DISH: www.dailydish.co.za

The post Our Friends at Daily Dish appeared first on Fairview.

For family proprietors Charles and Raphael, Back is not only their shared, historic surname but also the name of their newest venture together, a restaurant and deli called Back’s, opening next week, 1st November, along the bustling Main Street of Paarl!

The exciting new bistro-style eatery takes its cues from the art deco French background of Raphael, grounded by a traditional Cape twist from Paarl resident Charles, and is set to become the go-to day spot for locals and winelands visitors alike. Back’s promises to bring a carefully curated selection of options that cater with local flair to all visitors.

Check out the teaser video below – more info next week!:

The post Introducing Paarl’s new ‘locavore’ restaurant and deli, Back’s! appeared first on Fairview.