One of the highlights of my week is Date Night as they are always full of passion. Not just the kind that your carnal thoughts bring to mind but because they also include my love of good food, great wine and soulful conversation.
For the desired result Date Night needs careful planning. I usually start with the wine and then choose a restaurant whose menu will embrace and pair intimately with my bottle of choice. The wine must be good – full bodied, well rounded and voluptuous on the palate.
Good service and a romantic setting do play a part in my choice of restaurant too. As most diners know poor service can be a real turnoff.
So in planning for a recent tryst I chose a bottle of 2022 Bosman Family Vineyards Optenhorst Chenin Blanc. This is a single vineyard bush wine from the Bosman Family Vineyards Wellington estate that has been allowed to show the intrinsic character of its terroir.
The restaurant I chose was a cozy affair with the phallic name of KOK. They serve excellent eastern fusion cuisine such as Bibambap, Teriyaki and Pad Thai all of which I thought would complement my Optenhorst Chenin Blanc. The service is great as the owner performs the waiting service too.
It is important to set the tone with appropriate attire and because it was a warm evening I dressed in neat shorts and a linen button down shirt. I admit to a slight fluttering of my heart when my date exited her front gate in an elegant Grecian dress that flowed beautifully around her lovely figure.
I felt the same sense of delight when I took the first mouthful of the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc. We had been welcomed, seated and served with an ice bucket and two glasses by Brian, the owner. Brian is familiar with my affection for virtuous wine and showed a keen interest in the bottle when applying his corkscrew and especially when noticing my moment of enchantment with the first taste.
I offered him a glass for his pleasure and we were soon comparing notes about the green apple on the nose, delightful translucent straw colour, full bodied mouth and the subtle flavours of stone fruit, citrus and almond brittle. We both agreed that this was an excellent choice for his menu and …. and then I realized my blunder.
This was date night, not wine night. My beautiful companion was very politely but quite reservedly following our conversation. Brian was a bit slower of the mark and I had to direct him to his duties in the kitchen.
I was soon forgiven and the evening progressed in just the kind of romantic bliss that makes Date Night so special.
The moral of the story – beware the enchantment of the 2022 Optenhorst Chenin Blanc produced by Bosman.
Order online by clicking here.
About Bosman Family Vineyards
The Bosman Family have been vinegrowers in Wellington for eight generations and they invest heavily in their community by adhering to strict Fairtrade standards for upliftment and they believe strongly in regenerating their environment.
The wine tasting room in Wellington is located in the original 270-year-old cellar of the historic family farm, Lelienfontein.
Contact them on: +27 21 873 3170 or Mobile: +27 63 052 5352 or WhatsApp: +27 71 985 2164. Email: taste@bosmanwines.com. Find them at Bosman Family Vineyards, Lelienfontein Farm, Hexberg Road, Wellington or on Google Maps.
Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2022
Regular: R400
Wine Club: R360
Made from the 3rd oldest Chenin Blanc vineyard in the country, this gracious ‘grande dame’ expresses flavours of stone fruit, citrus and almond brittle in a refined and restrained manner.
2022
100% Chenin Blanc
Wellington
13.21%
Tasting Note: Great match for pork chops with braised apples; seared scallops, or a chicken casserole.
