Now and then a specific style makes a wine stand out as an exceptional food partner. In structuring Leopard’s Leap 2011 Family Collection Chenin Blanc, the objective was to create a wine style specifically aimed at fine foods – meat and fish dishes perked up with rich, creamy sauces, as well as more complex Asian cuisine.

The enjoyment this Chenin Blanc lends to a food-and-wine experience is a worthy compliment to Leopard’s Leap wine-maker Eugene van Zyl. Double Gold at the recent 2012 Veritas Awards confirms a winning style.

An exceptional food-and-wine partnership is Leopard’s Leap 2011 Family Collection Chenin Blanc and this delicious recommendation:

Roast chicken with citrus stuffing (serves 6)

Ingredients

1,5 kg free-range chicken

Finely grated zest of one lime

Finely grated zest of one lemon

15 ml (1 tbsp) garlic, finely chopped

10 ml (2 tsp) ginger, finely chopped

45 ml (3 tbsp) soft butter

100 g flaked almonds, roasted

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Orange, thinly sliced

Method

Preheat oven to 180 °C. Combine zest, garlic, ginger, butter and almonds and season to taste. Using your fingers, gently loosen the skin on top of the breast and thighs of the chicken. Spread the flavoured butter carefully and evenly under the skin and season well. Place the whole chicken, with orange slices arranged on top, in an oven roasting tray and heat for 120 minutes until golden brown, with juices running clear when chicken is pierced.

The top-range Family Collection Chenin Blanc is available exclusively from the Leopard’s Leap Tasting Room, at R59,00 per bottle. Tasting Room hours: Mon – Sat from 09:00 – 17:00. From 1 November we will be open from Tues – Sat from 09:00 – 17:00 and on Sunday from 11:00 – 17:00. Tel. +27 (0)21 876 8002;

e-mail: [email protected] or visit the website www.leopards-leap.com