A South African Wine Dinner
A South African Wine Dinner
Special Guests Samantha O’keefe proprietor of Lismore Estates &
Alex Starey winemaker at Keermont Estates
Thursday May 11, 2023 • 6:30pm
The Menu
Apèritif
White Blend, Keermont Estates, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2020
Cream of Asparagus Cappuccino, Montrachet Goat Cheese Espuma
Cream of asparagus soup topped with goat cheese foam.
Sauvignon Blanc, Lismore, Western Cap, South Africa, 2020
Filet de Saumon Royal Ōra, Grilled Pineapple & Lemon Verbena Salsa Cruda
New Zealand king salmon filet served over sprinkled with citrus essences of lemon, lime and orange. Served on a bed of grilled pineapple and lemon verbena salsa cruda.
Viognier “Age of Grace”, Lismore, Western Cap, South Africa, 2021
Chardonnay, Lismore, Western Cap, South Africa, 2020
House Cured Kurobuta Pork Belly, Pork Pinot Noir Reduction & Cherry Preserve
Seared Black Berkshire pork belly simmered in its natural juices, served over roasted spring vegetable brunoise, with a Pinot Noir reduction glace de viande and sun-dried cherries.
Pinot Noir, Lismore, Western Cap, South Africa, 2018
Syrah “Topside”, Keermont Estates, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2017
Roasted Texas Wagyu Strip Loin, Morel Mushroom Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Sauce
Grass and grain fed Texas Wagyu strip loin roasted, with sage, thyme and pepper, with a brunoise of spring wild mushrooms, morel mushroom Cabernet Sauvignon wine sauce.
Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc, Keermont Estates, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2018
Red “Amphitheater”, Keermont Estates, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2015
Cerises François
Cherries François, Madagascar French Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Spiced cherries in a Port wine sauce, served over an almond cookie with French vanilla bean ice cream.
$140/Per Guest
Tax & Gratuity not included.
All pricing reflects a cash payment. A 2.75% convenience fee is added for all credit card transactions.
Trip Advisor
Resrvations by…
Our Special Guests…
Samantha O’Keefe/Lismore Estate
Samantha O’Keefe is a one-woman pioneer in the South African wine world.Roger Jonesmeets her
I’ve had the privilege to visit hundreds of vineyards all over the world, but rarely has a story touched me as much as that of Samantha O’Keefe’s and the work she has done against all the odds at Lismore Estate Vineyards, a beautiful winery far from civilization.
She arrived in South Africa seeking the ‘Californian dream’, and bought a former dairy farm in Greyton on the Western Cape. With her nearest wine neighbours over two hours away, the local shop 30 minutes away, and a daily school run with her two toddlers taking an hour, she had little time to feel sorry for herself and so embarked on a 13-year journey that has resulted in the wine world clamouring for her wines.
When O’Keefe was starting her wine career and considering which vines to grow in the then-untried Greyton area, she took advice from Peter Finlayson of Bouchard Finlayson, who said: “If you succeed, you will be considered a pioneer; if you fail, no-one will care”.
The pioneer soon found that the barren mountain-top shale soils produced exceptional white wines, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are all exceptional and gained recognition from Robert Parker and Neal Martin of the Wine Advocate.
Alex Starey/Keermont Vineyards
Alex Starey, winemaker at Keermont Vineyards, in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Keermont is located in a long narrow valley that is tucked between the Helderberg and the Stellenbosch Mountains. Right at the tope of his vineyards, near an open pool feeding from the local spring, we sat on a sunny mid-winter day to chat about this relatively new estate.
Keermont was bought by current owners Mark and Monica Wraith in 2003. they originally planned to plant vineyards and sell the grapes but a chance introduction to Alex changed that.
A single barrel was made in 2007 and since the results were so good the green light was given to make more wine under the Keermont label.
Since 2007 the estate under Alex’s leadership is going from strength to strength with emphasis on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot with some petit Verdot and malbec too. The range includes an excellent Chenin Blanc as well a white blend that includes seven varieties.
Enjoy hearing the personal story of a wine maker returning home from making wines abroad to make wines in his childhood valley and the story of an estate that is less than 20 years old.