Leopard’s Leap is delighted to announce that its food and wine lifestyle offering at Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards has been acknowledged as the Best Food and Wine Matching experience by the 2014 Drinks International Wine Tourism Awards.

“We are so excited that our passionate efforts with food and wine have received this international recognition. Not only do we want to encourage the enjoyment of everyday quality living in the 40 countries where Leopard’s Leap wine is available, but we would also like to invite visitors to our Franschhoek home to participate in a series of food and wine experiences that will both entertain and educate”, says Leopard’s Leap CEO, Hein Koegelenberg.

Welcomed in a modern, sociable wine tasting room, guests to Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards are invited to an informal introduction to their choice of five wines from the Leopard’s Leap portfolio or a tasting of the recently introduced six wines in the Culinaria Collection. Specifically designed to celebrate the age-old partnership between food and wine, the tasting of the Culinaris Collection also comprises a pairing with a specific food taster explained by knowledgeable wine ambassadors.

Those with a real interest in how food and wine can complement each other are urged to book for the Culinaria Food & Wine Pairing on Friday mornings at 10:00. During these tastings, six wines from the Culinaria Collection are paired with six food tasters guiding guests through the fundamentals of food and wine pairing. Prior booking is essential.

In tune with the versatile and accessible qualities of Leopard’s Leap wines, visitors can enjoy a buffet-style rotisserie-based lunch offering. Choosing from a selection of free-range meats on the rotisserie and a complementing harvest table filled with seasonal salads and organic vegetables, freshly-baked breads and delectable confectionery, guests are encouraged to linger and try various food and wine combinations as well as a selection of innovative wine cocktails. Relaxed and family-friendly, visitors can choose between being seated indoors or on the stoep opening onto a stretched lawn, children’s play park and beautiful vineyard views.

Food lovers and passionate home cooks can also partake in a series of hands-on cooking classes, guided by the experienced hand of in-house chef, Pieter de Jager and a line-up of acclaimed chefs. Participants can choose from a seasonal and topical programme covering a broad spectrum of food types and cooking techniques and will hone their culinary skills from individual cooking stations in the state-of-the-art kitchen. Classes are concluded with students enjoying their cooking paired with Leopard’s Leap wines, as selected by Cellarmaster, Eugene van Zyl.

To enable inspired visitors to be adventurous in their own kitchens, the Leopard’s Leap shop offers a selection of internationally renowned kitchen equipment and utensils, a comprehensive collection of food literature as well as trendy wine accessories, tableware, linen and practical lifestyle gifts.

Alongside its primary dedication to making quality wines, this recognition for its food and wine offering by Drinks International Magazine ensures Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards’ place on the culinary map of South Africa’s gourmet capital, Franschhoek.

For more information, our cooking class programme and online wine purchases, please visit www.leopardsleap.co.za

For more information or reservations, please contact us at +27(0)21 876 8002 or reservations@leopardsleap.co.za