Dear Diemersdal Friend,

We hope you all had a safe and restful festive period and we wish you a healthy and prosperous 2012!

The tasting room was bustling with eager Diemersdal fans during December looking to taste our new wines plus the celebrity vintages that had made the headlines. Happy holiday cheer was overflowing as well as the glasses! We were meeting new acquaintances and staying in touch with all of our old friends, but now we are concentrating on getting ready for another year with lots of new surprises, so watch this space!

We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who visited us last year and helped to make 2011 a memorable one for Diemersdal.

NEWS FROM THE VINEYARD

2012 is looking promising so far and most of the varietals are bearing well.

The vines look very healthy and in balance with the crop they carry. We can only hope that Mother Nature will be kind to us and that this vintage will continue to develop favourably.

The harvest will commence at the desired time, namely from the last week of January. From now on it is about control and regular inspections to ensure that we receive the optimum quality that Diemersdal is noted for.

WINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

NEW RELEASE

MM Louw Sauvignon Blanc 2011

The long awaited new vintage of the Estate's flagship Sauvignon Blanc has been released.

The MM Louw Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from carefully selected grapes and fermented in French oak barrels to ensure a wine with a full, rich mouthfeel and a long finish. The flavours of fynbos, asparagus and tropical fruit are underpinned by a core of minerality and complex fruit and vanilla flavours. A small percentage of Semillon was blended into the sauvignon blanc for better structure and balance.

MM Louw Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - 4 1/2 stars in the John Platter Wine Guide
MM Louw Sauvignon Blanc 2011 - recently bottled, not rated yet.

NEW YEAR'S SPECIAL AT THE TASTING ROOM

The Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Sauvignon Rose 2011 and Merlot 2009 Magnum bottles will be on special for the month of January.

These limited releases are selling from R135 a bottle so stake your claim now to avoid disappointment!

A magnum Diemersdal bottle is the perfect wine to share with many good friends at your next lunch or dinner party! Or perhaps as a Valentine gift for that special person?

RECIPE (Starter - Serves 6)

STUFFED CALAMARI WITH BASIL AND PEPPERS
(Serves 6)

To be served with a glass of Diemersdal Chardonnay Unwooded 2011

Ingredients:
250 g calamari tubes
1/2 onion, chopped finely
2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 small red chilli
1/2 cup brown basmati rice
2 red peppers
1 tub basil pesto
Olive oil
Seasoning

Method:
Make the rice according to the packet instructions. Grill the red peppers, turning every so often until the skin blackens all over and place in a plastic bag.

Dice the onion finely and saute in some olive oil. When it starts to go translucent, add the paprika and chilli and fry until fragrant (1-2 minutes), stirring all the time, add to the rice.

Remove the peppers from the bag, peel off the blackened skin and slice it into strips.

Stuff the calamari with the rice mixture and secure the open end with a toothpick (take care not to cover stuff or it will burst).
Repeat with all the calamari.

Toss in a pan with some olive oil for a minute or 2 until the clamari is cooked, add at least 2 T of pesto and the red pepper strips for the last minute or 2 to warm through and bring out the flavours.

Add a fresh tablespoon of fresh pesto just before serving and toss.

Season with cracked black pepper and salt. Enjoy!

LUCKY DRAW WINNER

Congratulations to our lucky draw winner for January!

Enjoy your wine!

FROM ALL OF US AT DIEMERSDAL...

All the best for 2012! Join us on facebook or view our website for upcoming events or, even better, pop in for a wine tasting!

Kind regards,

- The Diemersdal Team -