Michelle Michaels has been appointed as Bistro and Tasting Room Manager at Brookdale Estate in Paarl. Michaels comes with extensive experience in the wine and hospitality industry complemented by wine qualifications that include WSET Level 2 and the Certificate Wine Course of the Cape Wine Academy.
In line with its ethos to farm mindfully with a holistic approach, Brookdale Estate in the Paarl Winelands is celebrating World Vegan Month, with a nod to the 1st of November 1944 when the Vegan Society was first established. It was in those early days that the phrases ‘vegan’ and...
Esteemed wine critic Jancis Robinson recently published ‘A South African miscellany', awarding a 17.5 out of 20 score to the Brookdale Chenin Blanc 2019 - effectively placing it amongst the highest rated Chenin Blancs in South Africa.
‘Powdery, fragrant honeysuckle and jasmine with sweetness of ripe white peach. Creamy, tingling, richly textured spreading all over the palate. Apricots and avocado, matcha powder and tarragon and dripping ripe white melon. A quiet tap-tap of pepper on the scalpel-fine drawn-out finish. Elegant and beautifully composed. This is a seriously classy, sophisticated-artisan Chenin,’ says Robinson who was internationally recognised as ‘the Best Wine Critic of the World’ in the Best Wine of the World Competition 2018.
 Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Klein Drakenstein mountains in Paarl, Brookdale Estate produces wines as unexpected as they are enchanting. A true Cinderella story, Brookdale Estate was once overgrown and underused. The Rudd family, originally from the United Kingdom, recognised the potential of the property and acquired the 67-hectare estate in 2015. Their vision was to create a world-class country estate producing fine wines, including interesting blends crafted from varietals that are somewhat ‘unusual’ in South Africa.
A single block of old-vine Chenin Blanc, estimated to be about 36 years old, was saved to become Brookdale’s maiden release in 2017. New vineyards were planted, and the Rudd family set out to further restore the balance of nature on the estate by clearing 27-hectares of alien vegetation. Indigenous vegetation was planted, including 3700 trees, as well as expansive gardens for Manor House resident guests to explore.
As ardent wine connoisseurs, Brookdale Estate is the pinnacle of the Rudd family’s passion. Here, Mediterranean varietals, a unique Paarl terroir and unusual winemaking techniques are brought together under the visionary hand of Tim Rudd, talented young winemaker Kiara Scott and consultant winemaker Duncan Savage.
The summer of 2022 will see the opening of a new Cellar, Wine Tasting Experience and Restaurant on site at Brookdale.
BROOKDALE ESTATE (PAARL)
www.brookdale-estate.com
Tel +27 (0)76 400 0229
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Brookdale wines are for sale at leading wine merchants in Cape Town and may be ordered from the estate for delivery countrywide. |
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