Four-star Cape Dutch-style Kievits Kroon in Pretoria has grown its reputation in fine-dining, winelist, conferencing and wellness. Its food and wine pairing events at Granita have showcased the cuisine of executive chef Sammy Mashile as well as the restaurant’s extensive winelist.
Kievits Kroon MD Alan O’Leary is delighted to report that a third consecutive Diamond Award in the 2011 Diners Club Wine List Award has firmly established this upmarket estate as one of the top hotels in the industry with a fine-dining restaurant that can compete with the best gourmet destinations in South Africa.
He says: “Our focus on wine is natural as the estate reminds one very much of a Cape wine estate. The gabled manor house, which accommodates Granita restaurant, 41 Library Bar and our reception area, is exactly like something you would see in Paarl or Stellenbosch.
“We wanted to showcase not only the best quality and value wines South Africa has to offer, but also include some international classics, to ensure that we were catering for different palates.”
Granita’s wine list was drawn up with the assistance of Cape-based wine consultant Ingrid Motteux of Winewise, who was briefed to include superb wines that offer exceptional value for money.
“Motteux has been tasked to review the winelist every year and ensure that it is in harmony with the food on our menus,” says O’Leary.
The list includes French Champagne, Methode Cap Classique, Charmat Method, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Premium White Blends, Rose and Blanc de Noir, Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Syrah and global wines.
The next step was to introduce the estate’s own wine label. In March this year, Kievits Kroon launched its Grand Rouge 2010, a blend of Pinotage, Malbec and Merlot, blended exclusively for Kievits Kroon by Rikus Neethling of Bizoe Wines.
Winemakers Reine and Annalien Dalton from Glen Erskine boutique wine estate were responsible for the Kievits Kroon Sauvignon Blanc.
Each season, Mashile, introduces new menus for Granita and carefully pairs the various dishes with wines from the award-winning cellar. Guests are able to order a different glass of wine to accompany each course.
The new Spring True Romance Gourmet Menu recommends a glass of Zandfliet Shiraz 2009 to accompany the duck breast salad starter, which is served with citrus fruit and a saffron orange dressing. The rolled fillet of sole on grilled courgettes and lemon couscous is served with a glass of Cederberg Bukettraube 2009, while the main course of tasty beef fillet served on crushed potatoes and roasted carrots with a chocolate jus and caramelised onion salsa can be enjoyed with Kievits Kroon’s own Grand Rouge 2010.
O’Leary adds: “We are constantly rising to the challenge of providing an outstanding food and wine experience at Kievits Kroon, and it’s very rewarding to have these efforts recognised with accolades such as the Diamond Award. We have lots of exciting plans in the pipeline, one of which is to add more of our own labels to our cellar.”
To take a look at the property’s winelists, go to www.kievitskroon.co.za.
www.hotelandrestaurant.co.za