The trendy Kloof Street neighbourhood eatery has introduced a wine pairing option for its signature chef’s sharing menu.
Chef Amori Burger, together with sommelier Tongai Charie, has been hard at work tasting, pouring, and pairing, as the beloved restaurant launches its first wine pairing menu.
Since opening the doors of the now instantly recognisable ‘greenhouse’ in 2023, Chef Amori and her team have been hard at work ensuring every moment at Upper Union is one of enjoyment, indulgence, and, most of all, a superb dining experience.
Now, with the launch of her latest summer menu, the chef is once again enhancing this experience with the addition of a wine pairing. Always in search of the perfect bite, Chef Amori is excited to introduce this wine component to her menu.
“Wine is such a beautiful addition to a meal, and I think it really adds another element of flavour to a dish,” says the chef, adding, “Since we have opened, we have been building up our cellar and constantly evolving our wine list. It’s now reached the point where we have a beautiful collection of wine to choose from for our pairing menu, and I’m so excited to share it with our guests.”
The chef, together with sommelier Tongai, spent weeks tasting wines alongside her dishes to find the perfect pairings for her globally inspired sharing menu.
“Chef Amori is known for her bold and flavourful dishes. Each dish is packed with layers of flavour, which made working on the pairings a very interesting and rewarding experience. We’ve even included tasting notes on the menu to explain to guests why we’ve chosen certain wines for certain dishes,” comments the sommelier.
Pairings include the likes of Van Loggerenberg’s Geronimo Cinsault 2023, which they have matched with the ox tongue with spekboom chutney, and the La Brie Syrah 2022, which is paired with the pasture menu’s main course of picanha steak – served with an asparagus chimichurri and a stout demi. Guests can also enjoy a gorgeous glass of Colmant Brut Reserve with the dessert of chocolate and hazelnut praline with Romany Cream crumble.
Explaining the pairing for the dessert, the sommelier’s notes describe how the Cape Classic’s effervescence cuts through the rich chocolate, while the wine’s citrus and brioche notes enhance the praline and lime gel.
Wine pairing options are available for both the pasture and garden sharing menus. The menus are available for the whole table, with the wine pairing optional per person. The menu costs R850 per person, with the wine pairing an additional R450 per person.
To view the full menu, visit: https://www.upperunion.co.za/#foodme