This blog has been nominated for SA Blog Awards in two categories, namely Best food and wine blog and the best company blog.
Thanks to everyone who nominated this blog. If you haven’t already voted, please do vote for us. It’s easy. Click on the banner on the right of the page. Scroll down.  Fill in your [...]

Pork chops is probably one of the most underrated dishes. It is easy to prepare and it is very versatile. This recipe is and nice and easy recipe for a spicy pork chops with some cabbage and raisins. Truly divine.
Recommended wine: I would serve the Arniston Bay Shiraz 2008. This is a full bodied [...]

Arniston Bay is always been associated with the unwinding in tranquillity and we are set to continue this chill vibe at the forthcoming Women’s Show.

Shows and exhibitions can take its toll and really tire you out and that is why laid back brand , Arniston Bay  Wines,  decided to be the ‘Unwind Haven’  for visitors [...]

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This week is one of South Africa’s premier wine events as the 32nd Mercury Wine Week is hosted at Suncoast in Durban from 25-26 August.
This event is seen as one of Durban’s most popular social gatherings and organisers expect more than  5000 visitors this year.
This is always a great event and please join us for [...]

Britain’s love affair with wine continues on the web as online wine sales are deemed to be the fastest growing area of UK retail.
The UK wine market is seen as one of the most important wine markets in the world in a recent report by Drinks business it is estimated that online wine sales are [...]

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Life is rushing by and we really don’t have the time to treat ourselves. But this Women’s day is probably the right day to get the batteries recharged,  relax and untwined. Do it,  you deserve it.
A few tips to relax and unwind, and to spoil yourself a bit this Women’s Day.

Take a bubble bath

Light some [...]

Robyn MacLarty’s amazing salad recipe got the nod for recipe of the month. She is the our first SA food blogger winner with this stunning dish and post.
This recipe looks so delicious and the way she presents it on her blog ( KOEK! ) makes your mouth water.
Recommended wine: This salad will be perfectly complemented [...]

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 We are giving away monthly wine prizes to South African food bloggers.
The best recipe or food blog post of the month will win wine prizes from Arniston Bay Wines.
How do you enter?
-          Post the URL  link of your recipe on our Facebook page
-          Use Twitter  – send URL links to @arnistonbay �
-          All entries on South African [...]

Flyers all over the world have their own way of adding a bit of excitement to an otherwise boring journey. Some people make their in-flight food choice such a big event that they debate their opinions (“Chicken or beef?”) for more than half an hour. Others try to make friends and talk to everyone around [...]

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Although the World Cup drew to a close with a nail-biting final and Spain ending victorious, the event is still keeping the focus firmly on South Africa. As a result, Channel 4 (UK) recently created a Top 10 South African wine list and Arniston Bay had three wines on their list.
The perennially popular Arniston Bay [...]

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I love wine and salads but sometimes the pairing suggestions are misleading as the salad dressing plays a more important role than the salad.  It seems to me that the tail is wagging the dog when it comes to wine and salad pairing.�
I have come across numerous Salads and salad ingredients wine pairing suggestions but [...]

The World Cup is drawing to a close as Sunday’s final between Spain and Holland will mark the end of this amazing show. It is going to be a titanic battle between these two European super teams. To give the night a Spanish flavour try this interesting and delicious Spanish recipe.
Recipe: Spanish Chicken and Rice
Serves [...]

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Frank Lampard hit the proverbial woodwork in his famous goal that never was against the German soccer team. Mexico was also on the wrong end of an offside decision and it seems that Fifa is now singing a different tune as the referees, who made blatant errors, are being “red carded” and sent home.
To show [...]

The ever popular Stellenbosch Wine Festival has taken a different format this year as festival goers will be visiting the farms. The wines from the company of winepeopleTM have arranged a lovely programme and activities for festival goers.
Bring the family and come and enjoy some of the best wines in one of the most beautiful [...]

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On Wednesday Bafana Bafana takes on Uruguay in a crucial World Cup match and to get into the global (World Cup) spirit I found this amazing Uruguayan recipe.  �
Uruguay shares much of the Argentine tradition of meat and lots of it. Asados of lamb and beef are a staple, and a chivito is a popular steak [...]

This weekend the Mexicans will take on South Africa in the opening game of the Soccer World Cup. I think it will be great to make something Mexican this weekend.
This recipe is so easy and delicious and your guests may even do a Mexican wave after this lovely meal
Recommended wine: To make it a South [...]

Stand a chance to win double tickets to The Wine Show Jo’burg which will be held at The Coca Cola Dome from 4-6 June 2010.
If you want to win the tickets and you’re living area and able to attend, all you have to do is leave a comment on our Facebook page or upload a [...]

One for the ladies!
To celebrate the release of the Sex and the City movie sequal, Arniston Bay are offering a chance to win one of two hampers to the value of R500!
The hampers include a pedicure set, Sex & the City 1 DVD and a case Arniston Bay bubbly.
To enter visit:  winemag.co.za  �
Remember:
You can also [...]

Steak is great but sometimes the preparation of the side dishes can sometimes be a “chop till you drop” exercise. If you don’t like chopping, try this “no-knife” recipe. This is an easy and delightful meal.
Serves 4
Total Time: 30m
Ingredients

450 g small potatoes (about 12)
salt and black pepper
50ml plus [...]

Sophia Loren once said, “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”
Mother’s have been recognised in special ways for thousands of years. Mother’s Day is celebrated in over 40 countries around the world, the exact [...]

The United Kingdom tends to function as a litmus test for international wine markets.
The island nation has a long history of wine appreciation and is credited with creating the prestigious Master of Wine program as well as WSET — the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.
Wine is part of daily life in the U.K. and brands [...]

More men are starting to drink rosé wine as drier styles become more fashionable, according to leading UK supermarket buyers and suppliers.
The growing popularity of food and wine matching is also helping the rosé category to attract more male drinkers, according to Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, Tesco’s senior product development manager for wine, who said the [...]

Boffins have reported the first scientific elucidation for one of the most widely known rules of thumb for blending wine with food: “Red wine with red meat, white wine with fish.”
Scientists in Japan have claimed that the unpleasant, fishy aftertaste noticeable when consuming red wine with fish results from naturally occurring iron in red wine.

Takayuki [...]

I stumbled across this recipe and it is a true winner – not only does it taste great, it’s also very easy to prepare. After you’ve the smallest amount of work, the dish practically takes care of itself so it’s ideal when you don’t have time to slave away in front of the stove yet [...]

It’s happened to you and it’s happened to me… why does there always seem to be a white shirt, carpet or couch involved? Yes, I’m talking about the dreaded red wine stain.
So what exactly is the best way to remove a red wine stain? When push comes to shove, everyone seems to have a different [...]

South Africa has overtaken France to become the fourth largest selling country for wine in the UK.
Latest figures from market analysts AC Nielsen show sales of South African wines have overtaken French for the first time in the UK wine market.
South African wine sales grew 20 percent, by volume, to 12,270,000 9L cases, compared to [...]

The traditional dinners that many people prepare for their Easter holiday meal consist of either roasted lamb or baked ham. The tradition of roast lamb actually dates back to biblical times, to a meal that was commonly referred to as the “sacrificial lamb,” while the baked ham is an American tradition that began more out [...]

No matter how versed you are in the world of wine there will always be labels and brands that you’ve never tried, but when faced with ordering from a list of wines that you’ve never heard of it is possible to make a more educated selection than simply reading what the menu says and then [...]

The first SA Food bloggers conference was a wonderful day and will definitely become an annual event.
South African Food bloggers came together at the Cook’s Playground in Cape Town and it was amazing to meet (in person) some of the legends of SA food Blogging.
It was incredible to have online food personalities like  [...]

We’re having another Market Day wine sale at our Welmoed cellar door in Stellenbosch.

Dates: Thursday 25 March to Saturday 27 March 2010
Venue: Welmoed Cellar door. Here are the directions: Directions to Welmoed
The following wines will be on sale:

If you’d like more details regarding the sale, please contact our cellar door directly on 021 881 [...]

England has one of its best chances to win the World Cup at this year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The English clubs are dominating forces in Europe and the squad will be full of superstars.
For off-licences, the prospect is for increased beer sales, and with the tournament taking place in one of the [...]

You’ve just swallowed a delicious bite of a fiery vindaloo, or maybe a five-pepper Thai curry, Jamaican jerk chicken, or something spicy from Sichuan. Your cheeks are red, drops of sweat are breaking out on your brow, and your mouth tingles with a tasty fire.
Now, what to drink?
Actually, if you’re seeking to extinguish the fire, [...]

In the past, people relied mainly on traditional media to gain access to a vast array of topics. The worldwide blogosphere has revolutionised the way we communicate and has opened up channels for debate, news, entertainment and general socialising. Blogs offer a more personal communication and interaction with the blog (information portal) and its consumer.
Arniston [...]

Ordering wine at a restaurant can sometimes be an awkward situation. I have found that knowing the no-no’s you are better equipped to make the order ordeal less awkward.
American wine and food writer Bill Daily agrees and he believes that ordering wine in a restaurant always seems fraught with danger: Did I order the “right” [...]

South African wine companies dominated the results of the inaugural Drinks Business Green Awards in London.
Dr Paul Cluver, founder of Paul Cluver Wines, received arguably the highest accolade, winning the Lifetime Achievement Award, for his ongoing, visionary approach to conservation and exemplary environmental credentials. Dr. Cluver is also the Chairman of the company of wine [...]

Congratulations to Joanita Christie and Derek Mitchell

Their Facebook comments were judge to be the best and they have each won an Arniston Bay wine hamper.

We are giving away Arniston Bay wine prizes for the best quote / comment on our Facebook page.
All you have to do is become a Facebook fan and leave a comment / quote on the page.

Congratulations to Debbie van Zyl.

Debbie is the lucky Facebook fan of the month and has won an Arniston Bay wine hamper.
Become a Facebook Fan and stand a chance to win wine hampers

Forget the candy and the flowers! If you really want to win over your sweetheart, give your Valentine a bottle of wine. Even Cupid knows that wine is the perfect sharing beverage.
According to a recent Online Survey in which both men and women participated equally, 59% said they would be happier to receive wine from [...]

South Africa continues to rank as the fastest-growing wine category in the UK.
New data shows, and Wines of SA (Wosa) CEO Su Birch believes exports of packaged wines could grow 10% in volume this year, provided the rand doesn’t strengthen materially.
Sales figures released by AC Nielsen for the UK, South Africa’s biggest wine export destination, [...]

As South Africa continues to defy the global economic downturn by annually lifting the export of its packaged wines, it is making concerted moves to lower the weight of its wine bottles and so maintain its status as one of the world’s most eco-progressive winemaking nations and a leader in production integrity.
From this year, 750-ml [...]

Chicken salads are easy meal options, especially in summer. Here’s a simple recipe which is delicious when shared with friends and served with Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay.
Total Time:      25 minutes
Serves:             4
Ingredients

-250g  rice noodles or angel hair pasta
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-4 180g  [...]

South African wine has achieved the largest increase in UK market share during 2009, according to the latest Nielsen figures.
Its performance takes the country from 10.4% of the off-trade market to 12.3% in the year to December 26, 2009.
The South African category also grew 24% by value and 23% by volume in the same [...]

While salads are perennially popular, in the scorching summer months they are the ideal choice for meals.
Not only is the cool crispness appreciated on a hot day but also the fact that the kitchen and the cook can stay cool as very little cooking is required for the salad.
This smoked salmon salad with rye recipe  [...]

Braai (or BBQ) is a big part of the South African summer and various social events and gatherings consists of a braai.
But what is the right sort of wine to offer at a braai? Let’s get one thing straight: there isn’t a right sort! The wine you choose for your braai should be one that [...]

South Africa’s wine industry expects increased global sales in 2010, although the strong and volatile rand threatens its long-term prospects. This is according to Su Birch, CEO of  Wines of South Africa
The sector expects the 2010 Fifa World Cup – which kicks off on June 11 – to boost sales hurt by a global economic [...]

For those who value their super-bright smile, it has always been the drink to avoid.
But red wine could actually be good for your teeth, scientists have claimed.
They have found it contains chemicals that could ward off decay by stopping harmful bacteria from sticking to teeth.
The findings, due to be published in the journal Food Chemistry, [...]

Drinking and Driving over the Festive Season? Then it’s time to ask Goodfellas to the party.
Cathy Marston writes  “Sadly, I realise that this is not the norm here in SA. The drink-driving stats in this country are horrendous with alcohol being blamed for 50% of the 18,000 deaths on our roads every year – yes, [...]

In the year to end-October South Africans have scaled down their wine and brandy consumption, but in export markets more South African wine has flowed from bottles than in the previous corresponding period.
A statement issued by Yvette van der Merwe, managing executive of SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (Sawis), reported that domestic sales of [...]

As a gift, wine has undeniable advantages. Compact and portable, it’s also fun, offering more immediate pleasure than, say, a set of drill bits. And unlike a box of chocolates, it’s fat free.
Apart from the obvious advantage the process of deciding on the right bottle is also part of the gift giving process.
Some people feel [...]