The Stables Wine Estate Airport Cellar

the art King Shaka International Airport in Durban. This exciting innovation by Tiny and Judy van Niekerk, owners of The Stables Wine Estate, offers travelers to Durban a full bar service from 05h00 until 22h00 each day. About 14 different wines are available by the glass as are beers, spirits, tea, coffee and water. Producers represented range from Solms Delta, Spier, Springfield and Saronsberg to Cederberg, Cabriere and Cape Point Vineyards.

The enthusiastic, helpful and knowledgeable manager of the wine bar is Vuyo Charles. When I asked him how he became a wine aficionado, Vuyo related to his five year stint as bartender in Knysna. He endured the “boring entry level duties” of serving beers. Then, wanting more, he progressed to learning about and serving coffee and cocktails before becoming a wine steward. When The Stables Airport Cellar opened prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Vuyo applied for a position and rapidly was promoted to manager. Vuyo loves the challenge and constantly increases his wine knowledge and tasting experience.  His favourite wine style is rose and he recommends The Stables Zambezi Pink2006. Champagne is a fascination of Vuyo’s and because he has a bit of a sweet tooth prefers a semi-sweet Methode cap classique.

The Van Niekerks established 27 ha of vines in Nottingham Road and in Greyton, KwaZulu-Natal to pioneer grape production in the

Manager, Vuyo Charles and Abigail Radebe

province. The farm is set on the site of a former thoroughbred stud and boasts views of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains. In 2005 The Wine and Spirit Board of South Africa designated the area as a Wine of Origin Geographical Unit and in 2006 the first certified KwaZulu-Natal wine of origin was released.

The question we must ask though is: The Natalians may beat the Western Province at playing rugby but can they compete at wine-making?

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Santam partners with La Revue Du Vin De France and the judges of the competition are:

Christophe Durand

Owner of Vins D’Orrance.

Marc Friederich

Owner of  Chez Marc’s restaurant, Paarl, Western Cape.

Patrick Landanger

Owner and winemaker of the Domaine de la Pousse in Burgundy, Cote d’Or.

Laure Gasparotto

French journalist for the magazine Le Point and Figaro. Wine Writer.

Claude Gilois

French wine importer. Owner of Vins du Monde.

Germaine Lehodey

General Manager of Aquila Private Game Reserve.

Jean Yves Muller

Co-owner of Caveau and Headquarters restaurants.

Olivier Poels

Editor/Journalist RVF

Miguel Chan

Deluxe Brands Sommelier for Southern Sun Hotels.

Pieter De Villiers

C0-owner of Domaine Mas Angel in Faugeres.

Philippe Dietrich

Winemaker/Director of Michael Partzold Wine Services (Pty) Ltd.

Denis Garret

Chef sommelier export at Gefimag Chateau Peyrat Fourthan.

And all of the winners are:

SANTAM CLASSIC WINE TROPHY – OVERALL WINNER

Warwick Wine Estate

BEST WHITE WINE TROPHY

Hoopenburg “Integer” Chardonnay 2006

BEST RED WINE TROPHY

Vriesenhof  Pinot Noir 2007

BEST SWEET WINE TROPHY

Klein Constantia Vin De Constance 2005

GOLD MEDALS – WHITE WINES

Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2009

Rudera Chenin Blanc 2008

Villiera Traditional Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2009

Vriesenhof Chardonnay 2009

GOLD MEDALS – RED WINES

Cederberg Shiraz 2008

Chamonix Greywacke Pinotage 2007

La Motte Shiraz 2008

Oal Valley Pinot Noir 2008

Reynecke Reserve Red 2007

Rietvallei Esteana 2007

Sumaridge Pinot Noir 2008

Veenwouden Classic 2006

Warwick Trilogy 2006

GQ CHOICE AWARDS

Hoopenberg “Integer” Chardonnay 2006

Sumaridge Pinot Noir 2008

Reynecke Reserve Red 2007

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