Wine of the Month: From the Vineyards of Stellenbosch to Curaçao

This September, our Wine of the Month takes us quite a long way from Curaçao. All the way to Stellenbosch, South Africa, one of the country's best-known wine regions and home to this month's bottle: Florence by Aaldering Winemakers Selection Cape Blend 2023.

And if you're wondering what exactly a Cape Blend is, you're probably not the only one.

First Things First: What Is a Cape Blend?

There isn't one exact recipe for a Cape Blend, but there's one grape you'll often find playing an important role: Pinotage.

Pinotage is South Africa's signature red grape, which makes this style particularly interesting if you like discovering wines that really represent where they come from.

In Florence 2023, Pinotage is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to create a full-bodied red wine with plenty of character. You'll first notice plum and red berry aromas, followed by darker notes of chocolate and coffee. Take a sip and you'll find plenty of dark fruit, more chocolate and structured tannins. The wine also spends time in French oak, helping soften those tannins while keeping all that fruit present.

In other words? If you normally enjoy fuller reds, this is one you should try.

But What Should We Eat With It?

Now we're getting to our favorite part. Our brisket would be one of our first choices. Florence has enough body and structure to stand next to rich, slow-cooked beef, while those dark fruit and chocolate notes work really nicely with the smoky flavors from our Kamado.

Then there's picanha. The richness of the beef works beautifully with a structured red like this, while the fruit in the wine gives you something completely different alongside all those grilled flavors.

There is one catch though: our brisket and picanha are only available on Thursdays during our Low & Slow Grill Nights. So if you really want to experience either of these pairings, you know which night to visit.

Coming another day? Don't worry. Florence isn't a one-dish wine. Aaldering also recommends the2023 vintage alongside pasta, pizza and other meat dishes. And, of course, you can always ask Diego what he would pair it with from our regular menu.

Come Try September's Wine of the Month

So, if you're curious about South African wine or you already know you enjoy a good full-bodied red, Florence by Aaldering Cape Blend 2023 is waiting for you this September.

Have it with dinner, or join us on Thursday during our Low & Slow Grill Night and try it alongside our brisket or picanha.

And if you're not sure what to pair it with? Just ask us. That's part of the fun. Cheers to September, and to discovering a new bottle together.