Wining, Dining And Sharing Stories In Khayelitsha

Nederburg, in collaboration with popular township entrepreneur, Siyabonga Mbaba, recently hosted an inspired evening of wining, dining and story-telling in the bustling township of Khayelitsha near Cape Town. 

The evening, held at 4 Roomed eKasi Culture Restaurant, saw a group of township entrepreneurs and creatives share their individual life stories, while sipping on Nederburg’s award-winning Heritage Heroes collection of gourmet wines, expertly paired with delicious fare prepared by accomplished chefs Abigail Mbalo-Mokoena and Ayabonga Gope. The brief to them was to serve up traditional township cuisine, reinterpreted in a contemporary manner. Did it impress? Most definitely!

Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Young Airhawk barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2017 was matched with chef Abigail’s mouth-watering herbaceous espuma (rosemary-mhlonyane flavoured), rainbow beetroot carpaccio, braai’ed snoek fish croquette with truffle shavings, nasturtium leaves and edible flowers, lime juice and honey reduction.  Next up was Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Anchorman wooded Chenin Blanc 2017, enjoyed with chef Ayabonga’s delectable panko-crumbed blue cheese and biltong croquette. 

Charred kohlrabi, chunky beef bobotie, pickled dune spinach with lavender petals, and saffron-infused mngqusho kernels, by chef Abigail, was paired with Nederburg’s full-bodied Heritage Heroes The Motorcycle Marvel Rhône-style Red Blend 2016. 

Nederburg The Brew Master Bordeaux-style Red Blend 2016 was a stunning match with roasted sirloin, potato fondant, leek fondue and carrot purée with green oil, prepared by chef Ayabonga. 

Lemon verbena amasi cheese, raw honey and wild sage infused fig preserve, sorghum crackers, orange and carrot with fresh fennel seed panna cotta topped with granadilla flavoured cotton candy was served with Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Beautiful Lady Gewürztraminer 2018 as a sweet ending to an electrifying evening. 

Nederburg’s assistant white-wine maker, Jamie Fredericks, presented each wine, with the food courses presented by the two chefs. 

The meal was interspersed with outstanding performances by songbird Babalwa Makwetu and her band, as well as magician Mawonga Gayiya.