Page 39 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2020 South Africa

Before shepherding us to lunch in Tokara
restaurant, Karl shared a tasting in the board-
room that began with bubbly before moving on to
single vineyard reds and whites and the estate’s
rightfully acclaimed Director’s Reserve Bordeaux
blends. He also wrestled open the antique iron
door, pried from a shipwreck, that guards the en-
trance to the winery’s two-story library of all
Tokara vintages, including magnums and more.
Our table in Tokara’s dining room perfectly cap-
tured panoramas through floor-to-ceiling win-
dows as well as walls draped with rare “Porter
Series” tapestries - 5 in total - by world renowned
Johannesburg-born artist William Kentridge. Our
farm-to-table multi-course lunch paired with
Tokara wines drew from dishes by Carolize Coet-
zee, who already has earned accolades as South
Africa’s most promising new chef since joining
Tokara in 2018. Service was unhurried and
friendly; we especially enjoyed Sommelier Jaap
Henk Koelewijn’s humorous patter and the artful
cooking and plating by sous chef Sean-Lloyd van
Buisbergen and the rest of the kitchen staff.

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