At the Woodview farm in the Free State, the third generation of the Angus family manages one of the oldest Angus herds in South Africa, and they also tend to Wagyu, Angus and Merino herds.

Wagyu beef from Woodview The Caviar of Beef™

Over the last few years, the farm has garnered plenty of praise for its produce. The quality of their additive- and antibiotic-free meat is rated so highly for its taste and tenderness, that Woodview The Caviar of Beef™ won every category in the Ultimate Beef Challenge in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, their biltong also took the prize for the Paddock (Cured) category in the Eat Out Zonnebloem Produce Awards.

If you know a bit about meat, you’ll no doubt have heard of Wagyu, those famous Japanese cattle breeds (including Kobe, Mishima and Matsusaka) that are revered by Japanese farmers, and whose beef commands a high price internationally. Locally, Woodview The Caviar of Beef™ Wagyu beef is stocked at places like Frankie Fenner and Braeside Butchery, and it’s on the menu at the The Local Grill.

Wagyu beef patties from Woodview The Caviar of Beef™

What sets Wagyu apart? The key is in the marbling, which is infused into the muscle, guaranteeing melt-in-the-mouth succulence once cooked. The beef from Woodview The Caviar of Beef™ is graded according to a system that factors in this marbling: the higher the marbling, the higher the quality and rating. Wagyu is also high in the omega-3s ‘good fats’. No wonder it’s so prized…

The burning question, of course, is what does it taste like? When Abigail Donnelly met farmer Brian Angus and chargrilled Woodview The Caviar of Beef™
Wagyu prime-rib steak to sample for Eat Out, she said: “It was glorious, the best tasting piece of meat. The texture was soft with little pockets of marbled fat that gently burst with each mouthful. It needed nothing but a little salt to season.”

A steak from The Local Grill. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Naturally, premium products come at premium prices. But sometimes it’s worth it for something – or someone – special. This festive season, Woodview The Caviar of Beef™ has prepared gift hampers that you can send to friends or family members. Valued at R2 000, the hamper a selection of top-quality steaks, kebabs, burgers and smoked sausages.

For more information, visit the online store at Wagyu.