Enjoying the Soweto Wine Festival

Stimulated by enjoying South African wine out of Soweto Beer Festival glasses at a braai/barbecue, the Soweto Wine Festival was inspired by Lynne Woodward and Minkelo Mangciphu. Five years later, the festival has grown from showcasing wines from 82 wineries which were enjoyed by 1,500 guests to 103 wineries and over 5,000 people.

Quick to spot the emerging trend of moving from a beer drinking society to the sophistication of wine,  Minkelo Mangciphu launched the first wine boutique in Soweto, the Morara Wine Emporium.

Listen to his views on this video.

Happening today and ending on Saturday 4th September the details are below:

Venue | University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus
The Arena, Main Hall, University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus situated on Chris Hani Road (Old Potch Road), which is one the main entrances into Soweto and is just further down the road past Baragwanath Chris Hani Hospital. (See directions below) 

Dates & Times | 2-4 Sept 2010
• 6 pm – 10 pm: Thursday, 2nd September 2010
• 6 pm – 10 pm: Friday, 3rd September 2010
• 5 pm – 10 pm: Saturday, 4th September 2010

Price | R60 per person per night or R150 for a three-night pass
Includes a branded SWF wine glass, festival buyer’s guide and over 800 wines to taste
Free Food and Wine Pairing Classes in the Pick n Pay Taste Theatre

Ticket Outlets: (tickets limited to 2,500 people per night)

Parking:
• VISITORS | Visitor parking is opposite the UJ main entrance
• VIP/Exhibitor parking is at the UJ main entrance.

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Alambic brandy still

The IWSC is generally regarded as an international benchmark test of technical excellence and stylistic quality of the world’s finest wines and spirits. Tasting is blind and conducted by panels of experts with world-class knowledge of the particular category and style they’re called upon to judge.

This is the fourth consecutive year that a South African brand has come out tops in this competition. South African brandies overall put in a remarkable performance at this year’s IWSC. All of the 31 products entered achieved either a gold (12) or a silver (19) medal. The only other country to win gold, with just one brandy deemed worthy of gold, was Spain. Among the 12 South African gold medallists, six were voted best in their class and of the 19 silver medallists, three were tops in their category.

Asked to describe his reaction to the news, KWV brandy master distiller Kobus Gelderblom, had this to say:

Shocked, but absolutely delighted. Shocked, because we were expecting our other traditionally top-performing brandies such as the KWV 15 Year Old or the KWV 20 Year Old, both of which have been gold medalists at leading competitions this year and previously voted ‘Best Brandy in the World’, to get the nod. But delighted because it’s an estate brandy made in extremely limited quantities from grapes grown on Laborie, our Paarl wine estate.

Gelderblom was also pleased with the result because it vindicates his passion for and belief in pinotage as a variety from which to distill fine brandy. This particular Laborie Alambic, a five-year-old pure potstill, is an unusual blend of mainly chardonnay with a touch of pinotage matured in old red wine oak barrels.

The chardonnay gives structure, the pinotage adds wonderful peach and apricot aromas and flavours, and the whole was touched up with a bit of 10-year-old brandy to add complexity to the final blend.

Besides the Laborie Alambic, the other South African brandies to win gold (and be voted best in their class) were Flight of the Fish Eagle, Oude Meester Souverein 18 Year Old, Oude Meester VSOB, Van Ryn’s 12 Year Old Distillers Reserve, Van Ryn’s 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve, Oude Molen Solera Grand Reserve and Uitkyk Grand Reserve 10 Year Old Estate Brandy.

The other gold medallists included the KWV 15 Year Old, KWV Imoya VSOP, Oude Meester Reserve 12 Year Old and Klipdrift Export.

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Champagne

French scientists have discovered the secret to keeping the fizz in a glass of Champagne: pour it like a beer.

A new study reports the best way to pour Champagne is in a ‘beer-like way’ with the glass held at an angle.

It reveals the sparkling wine remains bubbly longer when poured in this way rather than pouring straight into the glass and waiting for the mousse to settle before topping up.

However, Tom Stevenson, chairman of the Decanter World Wine Awards’ Champagne panel, said: ‘Pouring Champagne like a lager is a seen as a really naff way to serve it. You would not see a sommelier doing it in a million years.’

‘Pouring it like the sommeliers do, does you a favour by letting the free CO2 escape from the glass so the bubbles don’t get up your nose,’ he added.

The research also discovered that Champagne served at lower temperatures retains its fizz. At higher temperatures, carbon dioxide is lost more quickly.

‘The beer-like way of serving champagne has much less of impact on its dissolved CO2 concentration than the champagne-like way of serving, especially at low champagne temperatures (4 and 12 °C). The beer-like way of serving champagne is much softer than the champagne-like one,’ the study said.

The report published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry was led by Gerard Liger-Belair, a professor at the University of Reims and author of Uncorked: the Science of Champagne.

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Winex punters

The difference in this year’s show is explained by international wine judge and show founder, Michael Fridjhon.

The reason for hosting a show of this kind – and the reason that Rand Merchant Bank has been its headline sponsor since its inception – is to put the country’s finest producers and the region’s true wine enthusiasts into the same space. By reducing the number of evenings at which the winemakers are required be in attendance we make it possible for them to be present for the entire show. This in turn means that we’ve narrowed the focus by creating an environment in which wine consumers can actually engage with the people who make the wines. Obviously this means we’ve had to restrict the number of exhibitors as well as the number of visitors – all in order to ensure that the wine enthusiasts get quality time with quality producers.

Shop@Show will still be available so that visitors can stock up on exhibitor wines at competitive prices.

Dates: 19th and 20th August 2010

Venue: CTICC – Cape Town International Convention Centre

Time: 5pm to 9 pm daily

Tickets and bookings: Early Bird price R90.00 for all tickets booked by Sunday 15th August.

Thereafter and at the door Thursday night R100.00 and Friday night R120.00. This includes a tasting glass and unlimited tastings.

Computicket bookings open. Phone 083 915 8000.

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Wine vending machine

Until now that is. Being tested in supermarkets are wine vending machines which hold 700 bottles in the price range $7 to $23.  For the very first time, shoppers can now pick up the Chardonnay with the cheese. Something that we in South Africa take for granted.

This is not as liberating as it might sound. In this  state where alcohol sales are tightly controlled, customers have to jump through several hoops to get their grog.

First they must swipe both a proof of age and their payment card.

Then there’s the breathalyser. A quick puff to show they’re sober and the appropriate door will open. CCTV cameras are monitored by state officials as a final safeguard.

The appeal of convenience is obvious though. Simple Brands CEO James Lessor says:

You can now buy iPods and hi-tech gadgets in vending machines at airports. You can now get your tickets at self-service checkouts. And self-service has just really become more popular.

But in a country where convenience has always been a best seller, the machines’ makers hope to open another 100 later this year.

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PG Slabbert, Cellarmaster at Stellenbosch Hills and Sonja Burger, features writer for Farmer's Weekly, celebrating the new release

In the early years from 1945 onwards, distilled wine for the production of brandy was made. What is interesting about this period is that the first affirmative action winemaker Abe Dawidse managed the cellar alongside the cellar master, Charlie Sparks.

These days PG Slabbert assisted by Juan Slabbert crafts mostly well priced wines from choice grapes supplied by 16 different farms, making Stellenbosch Hills effectively, a co-op. This does not mean that the winery cannot make sexy, boutique wines. To celebrate the anniversary, PG and his team have released the 1707 Reserve Duo.

The 1707 Reserve 2009 is a blend of Chardonnay, Semillon and Viognier. PG explains that the quality of Chardonnay grapes coming out of the Polkedraai Hills is superlative and an easy choice for the main cultivar. Viognier brings an aromatic quality to the blend while Semillon adds a round feel. The result is a buttery yet fresh wine which I found to be perfect. Even though the barrels used were new, they were only lightly toasted so that the blend is not over powering as I find often happens with white blends which have had oak treatment. Definitely a great food wine.

Stellenbosch Hills 1707 Reserve 2009

The companion wine is 1707 Reserve 2008, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Vedot. This wine drinks beautifully right now but can be kept for up to 5 years. It paired well with a rich, cheesy Butternut, Spinach and Feta Rotolo.

The 1707 Duo can be bought at Checkers Retail Stores and at speciality wine shops for around R81.00 per bottle for the red blend and about R60.00 for the white. An absolute steal for these quality wines!

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Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

It is one of an extensive range of imported wines supplied by this South African retailer.

Not being familiar with this cultivar, I checked Jancis Robinson’s  Oxford Companion to Wine and discovered that Montepulciano is grown in the central and eastern provinces of  Italy like Abruzzo, Marche, Molise and Puglia.

Nosing the wine we found delicate, ripe raspberry scents. On the palate the wine is bone dry to begin with but this quickly changes to a satin smooth, silky feel. It reminded me of those melt-in-the-mouth butter cookies we used to get long ago. The finish leaves you with a ripe fruit sensation, almost sweet and quite like ripe strawberry.

As usual, we were eating alfresco and had grilled free-range lamb chops with the wine – a combo made in heaven! The label recommended having the wine with spicy Italian sausage on bread. What is the South  African equivalent? A boerewors roll of course.

Cantina Faccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is available online or at Woolworths retail stores for R130.00 per bottle.

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Graham Beck

Pioneering South African wine producer and social philanthropist Graham Beck, owner of Graham Beck Wines, passed in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 27 July at the age of 80 in London after a battle with lung cancer.

Best known for his bold and insightful approach to life, Mr Beck’s involvement with South African wine began with his visionary purchase of the Madeba farm in Robertson, a property he developed into a world class producer of méthode cap classique. Later acquisitions of well-positioned properties in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch saw Graham Beck Wines grow to become a leading wine purveyor, reflecting Mr Beck’s dream to produce to the “highest possible standards”.

In 2009 Mr Beck, with his wife of 50 years, Rhona, opened the Graham and Rhona Beck Skills Centre near Madeba in Robertson. Part of an extensive social development program, the centre aims to facilitate skills development for the long term upliftment of the farming community in the Breede River Valley.

A self-made entrepreneur with considerable varied investments, Mr Beck made his start in the renovations industry, shortly after graduating from university with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. After 15 years working at the coal face of the mining industry, astute investments saw Mr Beck well on his way to success, with the purchase of a stud farm in Robertson in 1976 and the purchase of Madeba farm in 1983.

The acquisition of Union Wine in 1989 led to the formation of Douglas Green Bellingham, a company shared with Kersaf in a 50/50 share; later acquired by Mr Beck in entirety, then sold to management in 2006. Mr Beck’s most recent investment in South African wine was the purchase of Steenberg Wines and Hotel in the renowned Constantia Valley in 2005.

Described in a prominent wine magazine as “mortal, but not mere, neither in size nor inspiration,” Mr Beck saw his greatest achievement in life as his ability to “give employment to thousands of people, and that this has enabled them to better their lives.”

Mr Beck passed with his wife Rhona by his side. Graham Beck Wines will continue to operate as it has done, in respect of the final wishes of its visionary leader.

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Alexandra Galindo & Andres Correa tasting Topiary wines

But that did not stop thousand of Cape Townians and tourists alike from revelling in the Franschhoek sunshine at the Franschhoek Bastille Festival 2010, the 16^th celebration of this event.

Football fans, Alexandra Galindo from Chile and Andres Correa from Columbia, stayed on after the 2010 FIFA World Cup to discover the Western Cape and to improve their English. They had read about the Franschhoek festival on a local website and we met them while sipping Topiary wines in the Food and Wine Marquee. Alexandra had only good things to say about the Shiraz 2006 and the Rose that were on offer for tasting.

Topiary Wines, not surprisingly, is named for viticulturist, Malcolm Pemberton’s sculpted garden on the property in Franschhoek. This new boutique winery produces a Methode cap classique and a Rose wine, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc varietal wines.

Protea wines stand

For me a super discovery in the Food and Wine Marquee was the new second label of Antonij Rupert Wines, The Protea Range, consisting of Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Chenin Blanc 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and Merlot 2007. What is remarkable about this range is that they are made to the same high standard as the L’Ormarins and Anthonij Rupert wines but retail at under R50.00 per bottle.  They are available locally at Ultra Liquor Stores, Vaughn Johnson’s Wine Shop, Wine Concepts and at Picardi Liquor Stores.

The barrel rolling race drew us out into the sunshine again. South Africa had promised to roll out the barrel for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but you haven’t seen anything quite like this Franschhoek Wine Route competition where 16 wine farms compete for the trophy. Although the challenge is thrown out each year to the other wine routes to compete, none take up the challenge. An investigation by our specialist team led to an embarrassing reason for this – the maturation containers of Stellenbosch Wine Route farms are square. Come on guys – prove us wrong on this one and take up the challenge in 2011!

Reigning champ, Glenwood, fell in the quarter finals and Franschhoek Cellars took the trophy.

With or without a festival, Franschhoek has everything to offer as a mini-break destination or a day out. Enter the valley and you could be a world away.

Barrel rolling competition

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The Big Issue vendor

One of them is Matthew Blackman, 40, who sells the The Big Issue in the Bristol city center and commented,

It’s disgusting because most of us vendors are either drug addicts or alcoholics. To be sponsored by a company that profits from that seems wrong.

They are making a big mistake. Even though they are being paid a lot of money it’s still bad publicity. It’s like some bad, ironic joke.

A more balanced view is expressed by Steve, a vendor in Bath who says,

I am a bit annoyed to hear that a wine company will be sponsoring the jackets as a lot of the vendors have an alcohol dependency.

If it is helping the Big Issue then it is important but I think the company should provide some kind of support to vendors on how to get off the alcohol.

Fairhills wine company is not called that for nothing. They are Fair Trade producers; have supported alcohol abuse treatment centers in South Africa for many years and are opening a center in England to assist alcoholics kick the habit.

Bernard Fontannaz, owner of Origin Wine addressed the controversy by explaining,

That is all good to do it here in South Africa, where the needs are big, but we wanted to contribute, as well, in countries where we sell our wines. As we all know the Cape does not have the monopoly on alcohol related abuse.

In order to do so we thought that, by sponsoring the Big Issue sellers, and in doing so helping them in their task to sell more and make a decent living, we will contribute to help people who fall out of the track sometimes due to alcohol abuse.

I do believe that we are acting responsibly and, in fact, are trying to be consequent with our involvement in the alcohol industry. We are a stakeholder in it and we need to assume responsibility for the good and the bad.

What the 60,000 pound deal means is that The Big Issue sellers will be more visible and easily recognized resulting in increased sales and hopefully, a speedier repatriation into society.

This can only be good.

Postscript

The recovery center is in fact in South Africa and not in England as I thought.

For more about it visit http://worldoffairhills.wordpress.com/

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This beautiful wine is selling for only R59.95 per bottle at Woolworths Blue Route right now.

Allan Mullins does it again.

Chateau Les Traverses 2006

As a Cape Wine Master and the wine selector for the major South African retailer, Woolworths, he is able to offer a range of wines across all pricing points, from the easy-drinking to the complex and sophisticated special wines. Apart from the local wines available, Allan has procured international wines like Barolo classic Piedmont reds,  Lambrusco Rosso Perle Wine,  and Vignavecchia Chianti Classico from Tuscany,  Cotes Du Rhone Red Wine, several from Bordeaux and wines from Portugal and Spain.

We were thrilled to pick up Chateau Les Traverses 2006 from the Medoc, Bordeaux for the extraordinary price of only R100.00 ($13) Most of the international wines in the range cost less than R100.00.

On the nose this wine did not make me think that it is old world in style at all and reminded me of some of the premium South African wines that we enjoy. Is this an indication of the high standard of  Cape Town wines? There are leather and blackberry notes. On the palate the wine is dry to begin with but tastes of ripe plum after a bit. We found it be elegant and smooth.

If you are a lover of French wine but only have a South African budget, bust the bank and stock up while you can.

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Tariro Masayiti

I recently sampled a range of his wines including the 2010 FIFA World Cup Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and found all of them to be of exceptional high quality.

This is an inspirational story that can motivate all of us.

Well done Tariro!

Read the article here.

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Franschhoek Bastille Festival

It was here that the French Huguenots sought freedom from European persecution. Close by is the Drakenstein Prison (formerly Victor Verster Prison) from which the iconic South African leader, Nelson Mandela, was released from prison exactly 20 years ago.

The Franschhoek Bastille Festival offers something for everyone and at the heart of the festival will be the Food and Wine Marquee. For R100.00 ($13) per person you will receive a tasting glass and a 5 coupon book for food and wine tasting. After that it is pay as you go. To be tasted and sipped at the Food and Wine Marquee are food and wines from -  Akkerdal Wine Estate; Allee Bleu Restauant; Allee Bleu wines; Angels Tears wines; Anthonij Rupert Wines; Bellingham wines; Boekenhoutskloof wines; Boschendal Cellar Door; Bread & Wine Restaurant; Cabriere wines; Chamonix spring water; Dieu Donne Restaurant; Dieu Donne Vineyards; Franschhoek Cellar; Franschhoek Pass Winery; French Connection Bistro & The Grill Room; Glenwood wines; Graham Beck Wines; Grande Provence Wines; The Restaurant at Grande Provence; Haute Cabriere Cellar Restaurant; Ci at La Quartier Francais; La Bri Estate; La Motte wines; L’Ermitage; Lynx wines; Monneaux Restaurant; Mont Rochelle Hotel, Mont Rochelle Vineyards; Moreson; Plaisir de Merle wines and Reubens Restaurant and bar.

This will be a sumptuous opportunity to experience all of these producers in one afternoon. The Food and Wine Marquee will open on both days from 12h00 – 17h00.

A Franschhoek Minstrel Parade, a barrel-rolling contest and a waiters’ race will keep us entertained. Alternately try your hand at a game of boules.

Also part of the festival will be a farmers market, childrens’ activities and a film festival where screenings will take place at La Quartier Francais.

Several accommodation establishments will be offering special deals and here are some of them:

Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyards

Rates start at R999.00 ($130) per person sharing per night for a luxury room as well as a day ticket for entry to the Food and Wine Marquee plus transfers from the hotel. A three-course gourmet dinner at Mange Tout Restaurant, full breakfast and in-room treats such as fresh fruit and Huguenot chocolates are included in the price.

To book phone 021-8762770 or email info@montrochelle.co.za

5* L’Ermitage Franschhoek Chateau and Villas

Rooms cost R1200.00 ($156) for a single room and R2000.00 ($260) per double room per night. This includes a ticket to the Food and Wine Marquee and shuttle transfer.

For bookings phone 021-8769200 or email ester@lermitage.co.uk.

Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa

From 12 – 18th July rooms will cost R2000.00 ($260) per night and include a 3 course dinner and breakfast.

To book phone 021-8768900

The festival programme is here:

Saturday 17 July

08h00 – 17h00: Pierre Jourdan SPCA Boules Tournament (Church Grounds)

10h00 – 17h00: The French Corner Market in the Town Hall

12h00 – 17h00: The Bastille Food and Wine Marquee

13h00: The Waiters’ Race (at the Food and Wine Marquee)

14h00: Porcupine Ridge Barrel Rolling Competition (at the Food and Wine Marquee)

18h30: Movies by MINI at the Screening Room at Le Quartier Francais

OFFICIAL AFTER PARTIES at Col’Cacchio and Elephant & Barrel.

Sunday 18 July

08h00 – 17h00: Pierre Jourdan SPCA Boules Tournament (Church Grounds)

09h30: Bastille Festival MTB Outride (meet at the Hugeunot Monument – R30)

10h00 – 17h00: The French Corner Market in the Town Hall

12h00 – 17h00: The Bastille Food and Wine Marquee

14h00: Porcupine Ridge Barrel Rolling Competition (at the Food and Wine Marquee)

18h30: Movies by MINI at the Screening Room at Le Quartier Francais

19h00: Queenie 2000 (the play) A story of 7 beggars and their struggle for survival. At the Town Hall. Cost: R15 per ticket.

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The first shock when we popped in for dinner last week is that you can no longer order The Goat Father or Signal Hill Cabernet Franc by the glass. In fact you can’t order them at all because the wine list has been down graded to a take-it-or-leave-it unknown wine by the glass.

The new owner, assuming that was he, slouched around looking oh-so-disinterested and did not manage to even greet us when we arrived. Not because he was busy with other tables. We were the only diners as it happened, until one family came in to occupy a table and soccer fans sat at the bar and ordered beer. There is no vibey atmosphere and the Italian background music has been replaced.

I would hate loyal readers of this blog to experience what we did.

Watch this space for a review of another great pizza dive when we find one!

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CWG Flagstone Love Handles 2004

Here’s the chance for Cape Town and Joberg wine aficionados to sample informally, the best that South Africa can offer as well as chat to the winemakers themselves.

The CWG consists of  only 41 South African winemakers who have to craft two wines a year which are peer reviewed and qualified to be sold on the CWG Auction. The guild funds from this auction, social development investment for school children in the wineland areas and further education through the Protege Programme.

The events also offer a chance to bid on a silent auction of rare signed bottles of CWG wines from previous auctions.

The details are here:

Cape Town Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase

Thursday, 12 August 2010

Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)

18:00 – 21:00

R150 per person including a tasting glass

Johannesburg Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase

Thursday, 02 September 2010

The Atrium, Nedbank Sandton

18:30 – 21:30

R150 per person including a tasting glass

The auction itself takes place on Saturday, 02 October at 09h00 at Spier Conference Centre in the Stellenbosch Winelands and is open to the public. To purchase your tickets to the Auction Showcases or to find out how you can obtain these rare and exclusive wines visit: www.capewinemakersguild.com, email info@capewinemakersguild.com or call Tel: +27 +21 852 0408.

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La Capra wines

That evening we paired our La Capra Shiraz with barbecued ostrich sausage and sirloin steak with delicious results.

Having a chance to review the entire range of La Capra wines at the public launch was a huge bonus which I grabbed with both hands.  This gypsy carnival was staged complete with oompah band, gypsy caravan and beautiful fortune teller in the form of Bridget Back, daughter of the renowned wine maker Charles Back, owner of Fairview estate.

Bridget lured us into her caravan with the promise of delightful potions and disappointed we were not.

The Chenin Blanc 2009 is perky and delicious, as are the Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Rose 2009 from Pinotage, and the Chardonnay 2009. A real treat for consumers who want to be more adventurous is that the range includes a Viognier 2009.

My favourite amongst the red wines is the Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 which is amazingly smooth with almost imperceptible oak. This can happily be drunk as an aperitif for those of us who simply can’t get enough red wine. To my mind, the Pinotage 2009, Merlot 2009 and Shiraz 2009 will compliment food really well. Also in the range is Malbec 2009 another more unusual variety wine which I will be scouring the supermarket shelves for.

All of these wines are accessible and perfect for drinking straight away.

Sipping to the sound of the Oompah Band

“What about the name?” I asked the gypsy princess.  My Italian being somewhat rusty I had missed the word capra meaning goat, referring of course to the Fairview goat herd from which the very first goat’s milk cheese was produced in South Africa. La rhymes with Ra the Egyptian sun god and Capra also points to the Cape Cap, suggesting a Cape to Cairo connection.

These wines are available at Fairview Estate for the unbelievable price of R200.00 per mixed 6 bottle case. Alternately they can be bought at Pick and Pay supermarkets in the Western Cape for between R35 and R42 per bottle.

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Bongi-Sodladla and Cape Wine Academy's, Marilyn Cooper

Bongi Sodladla, South African Airways’ Senior Food and Beverage Manager, recently graduated as a Cape Sommelier through the Cape Wine Academy. Sodladla’s position at SAA requires her to specialise in menu design, food presentations, wine selection, food and wine pairing, food safety auditing, quality control, and conducting trials of new products.

Says Sodladla: “The Sommelier qualification gives immense credibility to our onboard wine lists. It also reflects the growing power of women and wine. My job is to select meals and beverages including wines to be consumed at 33,000 feet. I have to assess the ability of the food and the wine to fly against the harm done by pressurized cabins, which dull our taste buds by anything up to 30%. I also draw up menus and wine lists for our flights. “

Sodladla was employed by SAA in 2000 as a Food and Beverage Specialist. In 2006 she completed both the Certificate of Wines and Wines of the World Courses at the Cape Wine Academy and began as SAA’s Global Food and Beverage Manager.  More recently, she completed a course in Food and Wine Pairing in 2009 and on the 18th of March 2010 Sodladla was awarded the highly acclaimed Cape Sommelier qualification.

SAA has realised the importance of highly trained and knowledgeable staff in managing the thousands of tourists who will descend upon South Africa, from different corners of the world, all with different tastes and needs.

The Cape Sommelier programme, implemented in South Africa through the Cape Wine Academy, was introduced as a response to a huge demand and support from the hospitality industry for a suitable professional qualification.

Marilyn Cooper, Cape Wine Master and Managing Director of the Cape Wine Academy, says “We are very proud of Bongi and her achievement in gaining Cape Sommelier status. It is recognised worldwide and certainly puts a new dimension to SAA dining in First Class, Business Class and Economy.”

A Sommelier is known to be a highly trained and knowledgeable wine professional, working in fine restaurants, specialising in all aspects of wine service.

Sodladla is the fifth graduate of the renowned Cape Sommelier qualification. Previous graduates of the Cape Sommelier qualification include Nicci Pain, based in Kenya, Kerry Guibert at the Raj in Cape Town, Milton Makhaza at the Mount Grace Country House and Spa Hotel in Magaliesburg, and Mike Buthelezi at Auberge Michel in Sandton.

There are great expectations in the local wine industry for the new generation of wine servers and we wish them every success.

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Razvan Macici, Nederburg Cellar Master

This week we had a wake-up call spent in the company of the charming Romanian, Nederburg cellar master since 2001, Razvan Macici. We were privileged to taste (and consume) some of Nederburg’s most exclusive wines which, in our opinion are right up there with South Africa’s best.

The evening’s Wine and Food Pairing was hosted by Andrea Foulkes’ Sidedish restaurant in Rose Street, Cape Town.

To mention a few recent achievements, Nederburg was the most successful producer at the Trophy Wine Show 2009 for two succesive years. And also achieved the highest score in the 2009 Syrah du Monde for the 2006 vintage of the Private Bin R121 Shiraz, sold exclusively for the Nederburg Auction. The wine was one of only two from South Africa on the top ten list, dominated by the French. Shiraz has won for Nederburg the 2008 Lexus WINE Challenge. The Manor House Collection maiden Shiraz 2005 took the IWSC Rosemount Trophy in 2007 for the World’s Best Shiraz.
Since 1975 the annual Nederburg Auction presents some of Cape Town’s finest wines from a host of various producers. Renowned are the Private Bin wines made especially for this event. It was a real thrill for us to enjoy two of the yet to be auctioned Private Bin creations in the tasting line Up.

Razvan grew up in the vineyards of Dealu Mare, about 70 kms from Bucharest where his father, Mihai, made his award-winning noble late harvest wines on the famous Pietroasa Estate in the area. This all made sense when we sipped the Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2009 which has to be the finest desert wine that I personally have enjoyed.
The wines in the line-up were:

2010 FIFA World Cup Sauvignon Blanc 2010 – an instant goal scorer.
Nederburg Private Bin D252 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Nederburg Ingenuity White 2008 – a five star wine in Platter’s South African Wines 2010
Nederburg Ingenuity Red 2007
Nederberg Private Bin R181 Merlot 2001
Nederberg Wine Master’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2009

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Kick-about in the vineyard

A change in format will see 50 different wine farms hosting festival events with visitors having the option of leaving their cars at any of 6 Park and Ride stops in Stellenbosch and travelling via a shuttle service to farms. This is included in the price of the ticket. Socceroos will also have the chance to hop on board a shuttle in Cape Town for a ride to Stellenbosch. Or spoil yourself and take the Stellenbosch Wine Festival Heli-Hopper Extravaganza to visit Blaauwklippen, Skilpadvlei & Zorgvliet for tastings.

A host of fun and wine activities will be offered such as potjiekos at Middlevlei; a de-gorging and landrover 4 x 4 experience at Simonsig; a game drive at Villeria and even 5 a side football kick around in the vineyards at Idiom.

Children will be entertained at Bellevue Wine Estate, Middelvlei and Delvera with pantomime productions; cart rides; feeding farmyard animals; horse rides and lots more.

Tickets for the Stellenbosch Wine Festival are available on-line at R150 per person per day which includes free shuttle service and five vouchers to exchange for special activities at the wine farms.

The Golden Pass, R500 is  valid for the entire duration of the festival and includes free shuttle service and twenty vouchers.

Kids under the age of 18 go free accompanied by an adult. For more information on the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, contact 021 886 4310.

The Park and Ride site and shuttle stops are open from 0900 to 17h00 daily.

Shuttle Transfer from Cape Town - On each of the festival days there will be a shuttle transfer departing from and returning to the V & A Waterfront, Clock Tower Center, (where the tour buses make their stops). The departure times are 09h30 and 11h30 and the return times from Doornbosch, in the center of Stellenbosch are 15h00 and 17h00. The shuttle ticket costs R300.00 per person which includes your festival pass for that day. To book you need to contact Norman Stevens on 082 5698299.

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