FLAGSTONE WINE IN THE DARK TASTING EXPERIENCE: Wine, Poetry and Music
Flagstone Wines brought their award winning wines to the Parker’s Comedy & Jive Club in Johannesburg last night to show just how seriously they take creativity in their wine making; in fact, their motto is “We Are Born Creative”. The delicious, distinctive tastes of Flagstone’s wines are a direct result of the creativity and fanatical dedication of their winemaking team.
Flagstone’s Head Winemaker, Gerhard Swart, believes that one should never stagnate or become complacent, especially in a competitive world of wine making. “You always have to be thinking about how you can stand out from the crowd. Be it more interesting labels, varieties or, like we do at Flagstone, combining unique ‘terroirs’ in order to create wines that are intriguing and unique”.
Swart talks of wine making as a labour of love rather than a formalised, knowable equation. Each Flagstone wine has its own unique story, with evocative tales ranging from myths of flying dragons to a dark horse. Most noteworthy is that the inspiration for these award-winning wines comes from vastly different places. What is common to all of them is that the creative lights went on.
Swart continues, “My mentor, Flagstone Wines’ founder Bruce Jack says, ‘Creativity needs to find you working.’ The only way to bring that creativity out is by working hard and having a passion for what you do. If you are not happy in what you do every day, then the creativity will stop dead in its tracks.” It is this meticulous, yet unstructured approach, which has won them more than a few awards.
CELEBRATING OUR WINES
To celebrate the success of Flagstone Wines this year, and in keeping with the brand’s ethos of innovation, Flagstone steered away from the traditional wine tasting experience in favour of a more unconventional wine pairing. National Sales and Marketing Manager, Alison Pearce explains; “For us at Flagstone, winemaking isn’t just a process, it’s a form of creative expression. People shouldn’t be limited to experiencing wine paired only with food. We want wine drinkers to celebrate all forms of creativity and so we opted to offer our guests the experience of a wine & music pairing.”
WINE, LIKE POETRY ON THE LIPS AND MUSIC TO THE EARS
Head Winemaker, Gerhard Swart, introduced each wine, and Flagstone founder, Bruce Jack – who it turns out also happens be a talented poet – explained the story and inspiration behind each wine. As each wine was tasted, well-known Cape Town duo, Palm Strings (Mike Hoole and Titia Blake) performed a piece of music that somehow managed to capture the very essence of each wonderful wine. Founder, Bruce Jack, even gave Eminem a run for his money by performing a fun, quirky and well thought out wine makers rap!
In a city like Johannesburg, access to Wine Estates is limited, so it’s a rare delight to experience a wine tasting that is as pleasing – because of the quality of the wines – as it is fresh, inspiring and fun.
Wines tasted:
- Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc
- Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve White Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon
- Flagstone Two Roads Chardonnay
- Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz
- Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon
- Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage
ADDITIONAL TASTING INFORMATION:
Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc
Story:
The name Free Run comes from the method of using only the first, free flowing, ‘free run’ juice to make this wine. We’ve placed an ancient Celtic symbol representing the cycles and seasons on our bottle because we aspire to make wines that celebrate our unique climate and pay homage to our symbiotic interactions with the environment.
The Wine:
Opening notes of green pepper, fig, star fruit and lime end with a distinctive, bright flintiness. An expression of the excellent climate and soil in which these grapes were grown, the complexity of this wine is expressed in a full, crisp and lively mouth-feel.
*MUSIC PAIRING: Mozart Rondo Alla Turka( shortened version)
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve White Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon
Story:
We’re thoroughly inspired by our country, our history and our land. The Treaty Tree is an ancient, wind-sculpted Milkwood tree that has stood in the heart of Cape Town for centuries. It has witnessed so much of our past, including the signing of a peace treaty beneath its great boughs. We feel it symbolises the resilience of nature on the one hand and humanity’s striving for peace on the other. It also gives a proud nod to our 350-year-old winemaking heritage.
The Wine:
An intriguing lime-coloured blend with aromas of asparagus, thyme, gooseberry and sweet melon. On the palate, expect notes of creamed honey, toasty vanilla and taut citrus. Pairing equally well with shellfish and linefish, or even a steak sandwich, its inherent power and structure are evident.
*MUSIC PAIRING: Voshaarnooi ( Louis van Rensburg)
Flagstone Two Roads Chardonnay
The Story:
Our mantra at Flagstone has always been to take the road less travelled and to exercise a degree of respect when we challenge the status quo. Our reference to Robert Frost’s timeless poem encapsulates our dedication to creating something extraordinary. Gentle pressing and six months maturation in French and American oak ensure that the Two Roads Chardonnay retains freshness with the potential to cellar for up to five years.
The Wine:
A floral nose of lemon blossom, bright citrus and hints of cinnamon. The palate reveals complex citrus and white peach, complemented by vanilla and a touch of cinnamon.
*MUSIC PAIRING: I’m a Believer…(Shrek)
Story:
Shiraz grapes grow with an inherent wildness that cannot be tamed. Cautious farmers will mutter that nothing good can come from such an unruly thing. But find the soil and climate to balance its dark and tempestuous nature and you have the chance of making something truly beautiful.
The Wine:
This deep plum-coloured wine has ripe blackcurrant opening notes that give way to welcome hints of cinnamon, clove and dark chocolate. With silky, smooth tannins contributing to a velvety finish, this is a wine that makes a genuinely lasting impression.
*MUSIC PAIRING: Habanera Bizet ( Carmen)
Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon
Story:
This name of this Cabernet pays homage to Elsie Fraser-Munn, a talented music teacher and the grandmother of our founding winemaker, Bruce Jack. Both of these extraordinary individuals consistently put in the hours of patience and practice required to produce true works of art. Harnessing the powerful lessons he learnt? Inside Elsie’s music room, Bruce has created a complex, blockbuster with creamy-textured tannins and a serious palate, weight balanced by naturally soft acidity.
The Wine:
On the nose blueberry, cassis, and ripe black plum mix with cool cedar whiffs and a hint of basil – all wrapped up in toasty oak. Luxurious deep-pile velvet fruit with mint-sprigged red berries and Christmas fruitcake. Pairs well with a rack of Karoo lamb and pan-wilted garden fresh spinach.
*MUSIC PAIRING: Bach Air on a G String
Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage
Story:
When we first produced this high intensity Pinotage, we were incredibly proud that it was from a single vineyard. Lamentably, regulations prevented us from delineating a single vineyard on our bottle messaging so we began working through the official channels to solve the problem. In the interim, we got creative and managed to get the word “block” approved for use – the first time the term had ever appeared on a South African wine label. Writer’s Block is an apt name because we really do love a good story here at Flagstone…and we find that when inspiration is running low, a few glasses of this velvety Pinotage will get the words flowing again with consummate ease.
The Wine:
On the palate, the wine is ripe and generous with a core of blackberry, preserved plum and youngberry. These fruit characteristics are supported by subtle toasty oak, hints of white truffle, dark chocolate and thyme.
*MUSIC PAIRING: Juluka African Sky Blue
Can’t get out to the winelands? Visit the Flagstone Tasting Room in the CBD and shop Cellar Door prices in the city! Visitors to the new Flagstone Tasting Room @ The Rockwell Hotel in Green Point are able to choose from over 22 wines in the Flagstone range. Each taster glass is a 100ML serving with pricing starting at R 10.00 per a glass. Opening Times : Open daily from 11h00 to 20h00
Flagstone Wines : Step by step our fanatical dedication guides us to our journey’s end: the rewarding taste of delicious, distinctive wines. It’s a painstaking approach that has won us more than a few awards. And, more importantly, a legion of wine lovers who savour the unhurried quality of Flagstone.
Founded: 1999
Winemaker: Gerhard Swart
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