Quinoa (pronounced Ken-wah) and the Taste of Africa

By Tameek|Pinotage|Be the first to comment!

Ciao Amichi,

I’m not sure if it was the smell of mulling spice I was boiling, the beautiful sight of a immaculately clean bachlor pad, or the blaring of David Lanz thumping from my Ipod but I caught a spell of inspiration and decided to cook last night.  I was down to my last bottle of wine, but I’d have to say it was the best of bunch of my most recent trip to Trader Joes.

It was already late when I get around to cooking but thank goodness Quinoa doesn’t take that long, and I finally began listening to my mom started and cutting up my veggies and putting them in the freezer so when I need them they are already prepped and ready to go.  Check me out below:

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Wine Stats:

Name: Pinotage

Producer: Zafrika

Vintage: 2010

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape

Where Purchased: Trader Joes

Price: $5.99

Recommendations:

Zafrika’s Pinotage is a  ruby red varietal, with a deep cherry and rose aroma that pleasantly tickles the nose.  This young  chewy red  wine displays a good balance of acid, tannin, and fruit with notes of plum, asparagus, and other dark fruits on the palate.

I may have just been in a mood for a rich wine that night that doesn’t bring me to my knees like every Cabernet Sauvignon, but I very much enjoyed this wine and I’m going to recommend it for red wine drinkers, and wine drinkers that are feeling a little frisky and adventurous.  Serve at room temperature and give it a few strong swirls around in the glass before sipping for optimal experience.

Experienced Wine Drinker (Buy/Fail): Buy

Noob Wine Drinker (Buy/Fail): Fail

Wine Tip: Pinotage is a red wine grape that is South Africa’s signature variety created by Stellenbosch University Professor A.I. Perold in 1925 and gaining wine acceptance by wine makers after wining the Grand Championship at the Cape Young Wine Show in 1959.

**There are many exciting things happening in South Africa’s wine world including a sustainable movement, Sommelier World Cup, and a free e-book full of Rose and Cape Tapas recipes.  Check out their website here: http://www.wosa.co.za/