The Plettenberg, a five-star ‘Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ property in Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route, South Africa, has 35 beautiful rooms and two family-style villas. The hotel is famous for it’s high standards and breath-taking views over the ocean and also it’s world-class cuisine and wines.
Incredible South African wines
MJ Birch, general manager says: “Compiling the Plettenberg’s wine list was a collaboration between myself and our ‘Food and Beverage’ team. Our goal is to be able to present a list that is an excellent representation of the incredible wines this country has to offer.
“Other than French Champagnes our list comprises of purely South African wines, where we focus on a small list where quality outweighs quantity. Being a seaside hotel, the ocean has many influences on the guests’ experience, this of course includes the wine list. We seek out wineries whose wines show those ocean influences and hand pick those for our list.”If you are looking for another luxury five-star hotel with an extensive South African wine list on the other side of the Atlantic, read more about the Ellerman House here.
Most ordered boutique wines
Three of the hotel’s most ordered wines are the Raats Family Wines Chenin Blanc, Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc and Waterford Estate’s Rose-Mary Rosé. Buy these South African wines here.
South African wines among international greats
Hotel guests and public patrons are encouraged to indulge and learn more about wine with the hotel’s first Thursday wine tastings. It has been running for the last few years. Guests can participate in complimentary tastings. Each month has a theme and the restaurant promotes those wines for the remainder of the month.
MJ says Plett is all about the laidback lifestyle, fun in the sun and a lust for life. Plett’s emerging wine region is known for its Sauvignon Blanc – the cultivar often used in Cap Classique, the bubbly made in the traditional method. “I feel wine farms such as Bramon, Newstead and Kay & Monty are great examples of these winning bubbles. There is no doubt that Plett is going to be a bubbly force to be reckoned with in future. Newstead took top honours for their Blanc de Blanc in 2020 at the annual Amorim Cork Challenge and as the region develops even more, the sky is the limit.”
With compliments from The Plettenberg Food & Beverage team, their signature Kingklip, which pairs wonderfully with a chilled glass of Waterford Rose-Mary rosé
Kingklip, Sous vide @ 55°C for 45min
Ingredients
160g – 200g portion Kingklip
3 sprigs lemon thyme
1 tablespoon butter
Stick of lemongrass
Salt to taste
Raspberry vinaigrette caviar
1 cup frozen raspberries
2 Tablespoons raw honey
4 Tablespoons raspberry vinegar
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon ground mustard
½ cup extra light virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons Agar
1 x 5ml Syringe
Method
Place raspberries and honey in a small bowl. Using a fork, smash berries until mostly smooth and strain through thin sieve.
In a jar combine the red wine vinegar, ginger, ground mustard, and salt. Whisk until fully combined.
Place oil in freezer for half an hour until ice cold.
After straining the raspberry mixture, simmer and whisk in agar agar. While warm insert mixture into syringe and, slowly drip drops of mixture int the cold oil, continue doing this until you have reached preferred amount of raspberry caviar.
Grilled lemon and double thick yogurt
1 lemon slice in half grilled
1 tea spoon raw honey
3 Double thick yoghurt
Grill lemon until scorched and caramelized.
Squeeze out juice and mix all ingredients
Seasonal micro garden salad
Any seasonal micro vegetables and fruit with a dash of light virgin olive oil will do wonders to this dish, season lightly, bon appetite!