Petes-Pix: Day 5 - Chateaux, Rivers and Wine

My Books

"Pinotage: Behind the Legends of South Africa's own wine" is available on the ibookstore

Learn more about my new book telling all about Pinotage and read sample pages at
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A I Perold's
A Treatise
on Viticulture
A I Perold (1880-1941) was South Africa's first Professor of Viticulture and Oenology. He dedicated himself to improving the quality of grapes for wine, brandy and the table. He studied wine and brandy production in Europe, imported more than 60 varieties to the Cape and bred new ones. Perold said this book “is intended to serve both the student and the practical grape-grower. There are in it technical passages that will appeal more to the student, e.g. the chapters dealing with the biology of the vine, its external and internal morphology, the theory of grafting. My remarks on the practice of viticulture, such as those dealing with the propagation, manuring and pruning of the vine, the production of table grapes for export, will, it is hoped, assist the practical grape-grower as well as the student.” This is a newly typeset reprint, not a photocopy. Text on the 712 pages have been aligned to match the original pagination so any external references to pages in the Treatise will be valid in this edition
Available in paperback and hardback editions. 712 pages

A Year in Paarl
with
A I Perold

Dr Perolds report on his Paarl experiments 1915 - 1916 reprinted with glossary, introduction and brief biography. Fascinating historical document on viticulture for wine and table grapes, wine and brandy making.

24 September 2026

Day 5 - Chateaux, Rivers and Wine - Viking Forseti

Day 5 - Thursday 24 September 2026

About midday Forseti cruised to Pauillac on the opposite bank, but islands and sandbanks along the middle of the estuary entailed the boat going upstream till it could cross the river then down again to Pauillac where it moored at about 13:45.

Wine lovers will know some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive red wines come from the Medoc, here on the Left Bank of Gironde, home to four of the five fabled First Growths, and that three of them are in Pauillac.

But most Châteaux do not take coach parties or offer public tastings, and indeed they have no wine to sell. A historic system sees their entire annual production sold to middlemen before wine is bottled.

Thus when we took the included ‘Medoc & Margaux Wine Country’ excursion we drove around the region, briefly stopping at where possible to view Château from the coach. We had a photo stop at Cos d’Estournel (above)

The four coaches from Forseti then each went to a different Château for tours and tastings. Our coach went to Château Marquis de Terme, a 4th Growth Margaux.

We had an excellent guide from the winery who took us through the fermentation tanks and barrel cellar. They use natural fermentation “where possible”

and the first label goes into 100% new French oak barrels which are replaced every three years. We tasted three wines. a 2030 pink wine from Provence from a partner winery, then 2019 La Cuvee 1762 (€29) then

the first label 2020 Château Marquis de Terme (€65). Our guide said 2020 was an “amazing vintage.” It was a beautiful wine with a wonderful bouquet and soft approachable fruits. The blend comprised 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

Then we boarded our coach, and we and the other three coaches all converged on Château Kirwan where we were warmly greeted by our Viking Maitre d’. Forseti staff had brought everything except the huge table candelabras to lay tables; the chef’s team cooked the food and it was served by Forseti waiters wearing Ch Kirwan aprons.

Château Kirwan’s wines accompanied the meal. Signatures Blanc 2024 was a crisp white of 90% Sauvignon Blanc & 10% Semillon. 2021 Les Charmes de Kirwan is Kirwan’s second label, the 2021 is a blend of 42% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 14% Cabernet Franc. The 2023 vintage is on Forseti’s wine list, and very nice it is too.

I saved myself for the last wine, the first label Château Kirwan 2019, a 3rd Growth Margaux (59 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménère) which was absolutely delicious.