Tuesday, March 31, 2009

John Morrison & I Visit Briefly THELEMA Vineyards In Stellenbosch, S.A. Friday, March 20th, 2009 And Meet Owner Thomas Webb /Taste, THanks Andrea!




























It was all too brief a visit to THELEMA and yet John Morrison and I had a grand time, really we did. We got to drive on a beautiful day and see some of this mountain. I got it in the pictures out back just past the tasting room and reflected in the floor-to-celing glass doors of the tasting room. It's really quite a beautiful space to taste wines to have nature come in and yet keep it enough at bay as to not disturb the wines. I liked it.

The weather was wonderful and we tasted the heartier styled 2009 " Sutherland " Sauvignon Blanc and the flavorful yet nicely-balanced 2006 " The Mint " Cabernet Sauvignon. I liked the Cab better than I did the Sauvignon Blanc which was just a tad too big for my palate. I was lucky to taste these as I promised John that we would not taste any wines while there because we were on such a tight schedule. But there you were John talking to Thomas and Andrea offered me first one taste and then I accepted another, tasting and then passing the glass to you John so that you might taste quickly, too. I'm proud of myself : I almost kept my word : and we were not late because we stayed and tasted all the wines. Oh well, we'll do that next time, won't we John? I've got a rain check to do that with you, don't I ?!?

I took lots of pictures and got Theresa Morrison's WINELANDS book signed for both John & Theresa and one for me. Marci Weinstein our sales rep fro Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 Tel : 202-363-4265 sales@clevelandparkwine.com www.clevelandparkwine.com ) knows Thomas' son. They both were in wine school together in Adelaide, South Australia.

We saw Thomas Webb walking over to the winery and tasting room when we arrived. We did not know it was him. I was much more caught up in watching the turkeys I believe as they walked together in a group to our left : the direction that Thomas Webb was coming from. That's when we noticed you John , we just did not know it was you. Why weren't you with us Marci? You would have known and we would have met immediately.

As it was we got a lay of the the land and I got some fun photos before we met Thomas. I am sorry that I did not get a chance to meet your son that was not there as well as taste more of your excellent wines that I have carried at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 Tel : 202-363-4265 sales@clevelandparkwine.com www.clevelandparkwine.com ) for years now, buying them from Cape Classics that sells them through Country Vintner imports.

John and I were at the winery in Stellenbosch Friday, March 20th, 2009 in the early afternoon before we drove over to the Elgin Valley to meet owner Ian Corder of ELGIN VALLEY Vineyards.

For more info on THELEMA go To : Thelema Mountain Vineyards ( Pty ) LTD, P O Box 2234 , Stellenbosch 7601 Tel : (27 ) 021 8851924 www.thelema@thelema.co.za thomas@thelema.co.za Fax : (27 ) 021 885 1800 ).

Here are some of my usual artsy photos that I like to take to catch a fun story in interesting, intriguing images. Did I succeed? Let me know. I loved the bouquet of Hydrangeas up on the left corner to the back of the tasting table. I also liked the ornamental grasses and flowers that greeted us as we walked into the tasting room. It was also a treat to see some of the grape vine leaves turning to beautiful reds and yellows in an otherwise ocean of green, dark grape leaves. I noticed this especially as we drove away but was unnable to get a good picture of it. Oh well, I missed the turkeys, too!

Thanks Thomas and thanks Andrea Rossouw for the two tastes. Cheers, and I hope you like this entry. I will probably add to it over time. Come see us next time that you visit the U.S. and spend any time in Washington D.C. Thomas, Marci tells me that you are a great guy and that she has wonderful memories while there. TONY

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