Perfectly paired offerings promise a fine experience

LONG-time Port Alfred business pioneers, Renate and John Cooper have opened d’vine deli – a new and exciting venture at the Postmaster’s Village, to enthrall all local cheese and wine lovers.
The deli is ready to open its doors and its cellars for those who love the finer things in life, and will offer a unique experience to its patrons in the form of specialised cheese and charcuterie with wine pairings.
All wines available have been carefully selected and sourced from 13 different wine estates across South Africa’s best wine regions.
Most of the wines were individually picked from boutique and smaller vineyards, while some are more well-known labels but aren’t locally available.
The Coopers have maintained their vision to provide patrons with a truly unique experience, where they can visit the wine cellar and delicatessen and purchase “complete enjoyment”. Or, if dining at Decadent, patrons can nip in for a great bottle of wine to complement their meal.
Each of the delicious cheeses has been carefully selected to match and enhance the pairing experience, and each comes recommended by wine and cheese connoisseurs from various locations. “We have put in great care and thought in pairing each of the wines with the cheeses. Cheeses have been sourced from where they are best produced to resemble authenticity and represent the best flavours , ” Renate said.
The delicatessen is intended to complement and enhance the wine so that patrons can have the very best and most delicious eating experience.
Some of the delicacies come from as far as Switzerland, as well as the Western Cape and Johannesburg, and are of the finest quality available on the market.
Over and above the cheese and wine indulgence, d’vine deli will stock a delicious selection of the very best charcuterie, including tasty Italian and South African cold meats, to pair with or to simply take home.
The deli will also offer a selection of Greek olives, stuffed with garlic or almonds and giant Kalamata, as well as an olive oil depot.
“The idea is for you to bring your own bottle and fill up on exceptional cold pressed virgin olive oil and, if you don’t have your own bottle, we will have them available too,” Renate said.
To round off a meal, the deli offers Renate’s coffee blend, created by Mastertons coffee roasters in Port Elizabeth.
“We intend having wine tastings and pairing as soon as we can slot in with several of the wine estate ’s schedules,” said Renate, who will be in the United Kingdom on the deli’s opening day, but will be back by the middle of September.