Stellenbosch Hills

Food-pairing pioneers Stellenbosch Hills’ Popcorn-and-Polkadraai is back by popular demand. Photo: Supplied

Popcorn-and-Polkadraai: Stellenbosch Hills pairing top of the pops

In these wine-with-everything times, Stellenbosch Hills’ pairings never seize to tickle the taste buds. Here’s why the winery’s Popcorn-and-Polkadraai pairing is once again the flavour of the month.

Stellenbosch Hills

Food-pairing pioneers Stellenbosch Hills’ Popcorn-and-Polkadraai is back by popular demand. Photo: Supplied

For many people sitting down for a movie with a glass of wine and a bowl of popcorn is the ideal Friday night in. But these two items shouldn’t be limited to be enjoyed on your couch only. If you love them both, then the Popcorn-and-Polkadraai pairing at Stellenbosch Hills will be a joy for you. 

Wine pairings are a tasty way to learn about flavours and the varying natures of wine. Running until the end of April 2020, this specific offering takes place place in the indoor cellar-style tasting room at Stellenbosch Hills winery. When the weather is chilly, a fireplace adds a welcoming and warming glow. 

Easy-drinking Polkadraai pleasure

Priding itself on being an easy-drinking, everyday range of wines, Polkadraai is named for the winding Polkadraai Road connecting the diverse vineyards used in these wines. It’s paired with the Guzzle & Wolf range of luxury popcorn.

Guzzle & Wolf experience

The family-owned Guzzle & Wolf company manufactures premium-quality nougat, popcorn and caramel in nearby Somerset-West, served up in eye-catching packaging.

Writing for Bizcommunity, Leigh Andrews describes her experience of attending this pairing experience.

“Popcorn-and-Polkadraai is a fun pairing that even the non-wine lovers will enjoy, as you don’t need to be a fizz fundi or a serious ‘glasses-perched-on-nosebridge’ oenologist who can differentiate between a light floral hint on the nose and a heavy berry taste.”

Popcorn-and-Polkadraai: What to expect

Andrews explains that on arrival you’re given a brief intro to the range and then left to explore the pairing at your own pace. You should anticipate the pairing to take about half-an-hour.

During the pairing, you’ll get to taste a bubbly, white, rosé and red from the Polkadraai range. Only their shiraz, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir sparkling rosé are omitted.

You could work your way through the offering by choosing the popcorn or wine you think you’ll enjoy most.

Try these suggestions

Or, you could be inspired by Andrews’ “guide”. She suggests you start by pairing the crisp and dry Polkadraai Sauvignon Blanc Brut with Guzzle & Wolf’s Coconut & Chia Seeds Popcorn.

Move on to the zesty, perfect-when-chilled Polkadraai Chenin Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc with Guzzle & Wolf’s Salted Caramel.

Follow this with the beautiful salmon-pink Polkadraai Rosé with Guzzle & Wolf’s Cinnamon & Pretzel Popcorn, and end with the flavourful Polkadraai Pinotage/Merlot, with the Guzzle & Wolf Dark Chocolate Popcorn.

Palates differ and commitment to either wine or popcorn is definitely varied, but for Andrews, the pairing experience heightened her appreciation of popcorn.

“All the pairings are extremely pleasant on the palate but we found the final “dark” pairing really topped the flavour chart, leaving us with a delicious mouthfeel. In a surprising twist on the usual pairing, we found the wine brought out the flavour of the popcorn more than the expected reverse.”

Stellenbosch Hills is located at the corner of the R310 and Vlottenburg Road. Tastings take place every Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm. The popcorn and Polkadraai pairing costs R55 per person and reservations are highly recommended.