By invitation, I spent a wonderfully flavoursome afternoon at Marble Restaurant in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, discovering their new wine and cheese tasting experience. Hosted by ever-charismatic chef and foodie personality Karen Dudley, in collaboration with Marble’s sommelier and pastry teams, the tasting is designed to be approachable but special – three thoughtfully paired courses of South African cheeses, homemade preserves, and crackers, each matched with a rare wine you won’t often see by the glass.
Karen shared that many of the preserves were lovingly made by local “aunties” from around Cape Town, which brought subtle Cape Malay influences into the pairings. It’s that kind of detail – rooted in local craft and care – that gives the tasting its warmth and personality. The vibe itself is wonderfully relaxed: you don’t need a booking or deep wine knowledge to enjoy it, just curiosity and an appetite for flavour. My personal highlight? Tasting a wine that was older than I am – a moment that feels both humbling and celebratory.
First Course: Belnori Farms’ Amboseli & 2024 Muscat d’Alexandrie, L’Equinox – R225
We started with Belnori Farms’ Amboseli, part of an imaginative range by Belnori Boutique Cheesery. The cheese was pleasantly mature, with subtle umami savouriness underlined by gentle sweet notes – the kind of cheese that’s interesting from the first bite but grows more complex as you linger over it. Served with guava gochujang and dehydrated mango atchar on an oat cracker, it already felt like a conversation on the palate.
The pairing wine, L’Equinox Muscat d’Alexandrie, was skin-macerated and fragrant, with lifted citrus and floral notes and a gentle sweetness that complemented both the cheese and the preserves. The interaction between the tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy elements made for a lively, refreshing opening – bright, vibrant, and inviting me to lean in for the next course.
Second Course: Klein River Farms’ Gruberg Vintage & 2016 Semillon, Boekenhoutskloof – R275
Next up was Klein River Farms’ Gruberg Vintage, a brushed-rind, mountain-style cheese aged for at least 12 months. Its aroma is earthy and nutty, and the firm, layered flavour reveals the depth of careful maturation. There’s a rustic charm to it, but also a sophistication that comes from small-batch artisanal craft.
Paired with the 2016 Semillon from Boekenhoutskloof, a late-harvest dessert wine, this course sang. Golden in colour, with aromas of dried apricot, honey, and soft marmalade, the wine was sweet yet balanced, with a lingering finish that played beautifully against the cheese. Served with pear and rosemary jelly and fresh apple and pecan Florentine crackers, the pairing was both comforting and dynamic – each bite feeling considered and complete without ever being heavy.
Final Course: Dalewood Fromage’s Huguenot & Overgaauw Cape Vintage 1988 – R225
The final course was a showstopper: Dalewood Fromage’s Huguenot, a semi-hard, award-winning cheese from estate-grown Jersey milk. Slow-matured, it offers a nutty, savoury depth that’s perfect with structured wines.
And the wine – Overgaauw Cape Vintage 1988 – was genuinely remarkable. This rare fortified wine, rich yet elegant, showed complexity and depth with savoury edges and concentrated fruit, a true testament to the 38 years it’s spent developing its flavours. Paired with the Huguenot and a touch of sour fig konfyt, it was a perfect, reflective end to the tasting. I found myself lingering over each bite, appreciating how time, care, and local craft converged in a glass and on a plate.
Experience it for yourself
The Cheese & Wine tasting at Marble is exactly what it promises: approachable yet richly rewarding. There’s sophistication without pretension, warmth without fuss, and a clear celebration of local producers and flavours. From Cape Malay-inspired preserves to award-winning cheeses and rare wines, the experience feels personal, curated, and joyful.
If you’d like to experience it for yourself, the wine and cheese tasting is available at Marble Restaurant in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront and can easily be enjoyed as part of an afternoon or early evening stop at the Waterfront.
The pairing is served in Marble’s bar area, so there’s no need for a reservation or formal booking – you can simply walk in, find a seat, and enjoy the experience at your own pace without committing to a full restaurant sitting. The choice is yours to enjoy the pairing as a personalised, interactive cheese trolley experience table-side, or at the bar, terrace, or patio as a curated tasting. Ideal for sunset or post-dinner indulgence.
Marble Restaurant
Union Castle Building, 19 Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Open daily from 12:00 until 10:00
Tel: +27 21 002 8484
www.marble.restaurant/capetown
Images: Jan Ras Photography