MODERN ELEGANCE – COOL CLIMATE ELGIN SAUVIGNON BLANC

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino

Elgin Valley Wine Guild

SATURDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2012

16:15 – 45 Seats only


1 - Modern Elegance – cool climate Elgin Sauvignon Blanc

Elgin Wine Valley is fast rising as the sexiest cool climate district of the Western Cape with glowing international reviews. The valley produces elegant, mineral, juicy wines, bursting with freshness, here you will have the opportunity to sample 6 stunning Sauvignon Blanc, showcasing the distinct terroir and climates within the valley.

The workshop will be presented by Cathy Marshall

SUNDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 2012

14:45 – 45 Seats only

1 - Modern Elegance – cool climate Elgin Sauvignon Blanc

Elgin Wine Valley is fast rising as the sexiest cool climate district of the Western Cape with glowing international reviews. The valley produces elegant, mineral, juicy wines, bursting with freshness, here you will have the opportunity to sample 6 stunning Sauvignon Blanc, showcasing the distinct terroir and climates within the valley.

The workshop will be presented by Cathy Marshall

FNB Top 20 Sauvignon Blanc finalists of 2012

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino

SATURDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2012

15:00– 45 Seats only

A unique competition run by the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG) whose role is to advanced the cause Sauvignon Blanc and promotion of all its members, through exchange of ideas on how to constantly produce cutting edge, world class Sauvignon.

This will be the first time that the FNB Top 20 Sauvignon Blanc finalists of 2012 will be shown to the public.

The workshop will be presented by Pieter de Waal owner of Hermit on the Hill in his role as SBIG Chairman

Sunday 2nd September 2012

12:15 – 45 Seats only

The 20 top-scoring Sauvignon Blanc of 2012 are:



Clos Malverne 2011

Clos Malverne 2012

D’Aria The Songbird 2011

De Morgenzon DMZ 2012

Diemersdal MM Louw 2011

Driehoek 2012

Du Toitskloof 2012

Durbanville Hills Biesjes Craal 2012

Ernst Gouws & Co 2012

Groote Post 2012

Lomond Pincushion 2011

Lomond Sugarbush 2010

Nederburg The Young Airhawk 2011

Neethlingshof Single Vineyard 2012

Paul Cluver 2011

Saronsberg Provenance 2012

Simonsig Sunbird 2012

Spice Route 2012

Stark-Condé Pepin Condé 2011

Virgin Earth Pepper Tree 2012

Klein Constantia Estate, Journey through the vintages

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino

Klein Constantia Estate

FRIDAY 31ST AUGUST 2012


19:00 – 45 Seats only

1- Klein Constantia Estate, Journey through the vintages

Klein Constantia Estate have long been acknowledge as one of the classic South African producers, crafting Sauvignon Blanc with impressive longevity, defying age, here you will the opportunity to discover 5 of the Estate most celebrated vintages, namely:

Klein Constantia Estate Sauvignon Blanc 1986
Klein Constantia Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2003
Klein Constantia Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Klein Constantia Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Klein Constantia Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2012

as well as the newly released

Klein Constantia Estate Sauvignon Blanc single vineyard Perdeblokke 2010

it’s the only workshop that will be presented by Matt, the current winemaker, for that festival, a unique experience not to be missed!

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino

Date: 31 August, 1 & 2 September 2012


Venue: The Pivot Courtyard, Montecasino

Tickets: R120 on Computicket

Entertainment: The Graeme Watkins Project (1 Sep) and Muses (2 Sep)

Please be advised that the Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival is an OUTDOOR event

Workshops: Also on the bill at the Spring Sauvignon Blanc Wine Festival are a host of FREE Wine Workshops

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival



The Pivot at Montecasino will come alive with an explosion of flavours on Friday 31 August, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 September as Montecasino and Southern Sun Montecasino present the Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival.



The only event of its kind ever hosted in Johannesburg, the festival will showcase South Africa's leading Sauvignon Blanc producers in an ambience overflowing with the finest aromatic, zesty, crisp and juicy white wines, the finest fare and entertainment set to uplift the soul, all perfectly complemented by the rising temperatures, tender green leaves and fresh breezes of an impending summer.



Join us and sample the finest drops of the finest wines – discovering, in a sparkling setting of fun, friendship and festivity, the diversity of the Sauvignon-style straight to you from the vineyards of the Western Cape.



Festival hours:



Friday 31 August: from 18h00 to 21h00

Saturday 1 September: from 12h00 to 20h00

The Graeme Watkins Project to perform from 14h00 to 14h30 and 15h00 to 15h30

Sunday 2 September: from 12h00 to 16h00

Muses to perform from 13h00 to 13h30 and 14h00 to 14h30

TICKETS:



Standard Ticket - R120 per person to include a wine tasting glass and unlimited tastings

Note: Tickets may not be purchased for under 18's

Tickets can be purchased from Computicket or Montecasino box office from 1 July

Tickets are limited so book early to avoid disappointment

Please note this is an outdoor event





Free Wine Workshops



Also on the bill at the Spring Sauvignon Blanc Wine Festival are a host of FREE Wine Workshops, in which you can learn more and participate in discussions about Sauvignon Blanc. The dates and times for these are:



Friday 31st August 2012



19:00 – 45 Seats only

1- Klein Constantia Estate, Journey through the vintages

Klein Constantia Estate have long been acknowledge as one of the classic South African producers, crafting Sauvignon Blanc with impressive longevity, defying age, here you will the opportunity to discover 5 of the Estate most celebrated vintages, namely 1986, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012 as well as the newly released single vineyard Perdeblokke 2010, it’s the only workshop that will be presented by Matt, the current winemaker, for that festival



Saturday 1st September 2012



16:15 – 45 Seats only

1 - Modern Elegance – cool climate Elgin Sauvignon Blanc

Elgin Wine Valley is fast rising as the sexiest cool climate district of the Western Cape with glowing international reviews. The valley produces elegant, mineral, juicy wines, bursting with freshness, here you will have the opportunity to sample 6 stunning Sauvignon Blanc, showcasing the distinct terroir and climates within the valley.

The workshop will be presented by Cathy Marshall



15:00

2 – FNB Top 20 Sauvignon Blanc finalists of 2012

A unique competition run by the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG) whose role is to advanced the cause Sauvignon Blanc and promotion of all its members, through exchange of ideas on how to constantly produce cutting edge, world class Sauvignon.

This will be the first time that the FNB Top 20 Sauvignon Blanc finalists of 2012 will be shown to the public.

The workshop will be presented by Pieter de Waal owner of Hermit on the Hill in his role as SBIG Chairman



Sunday 2nd September 2012



12:15 – 45 Seats only

2 – FNB Top 20 Sauvignon Blanc finalists of 2012

A unique competition run by the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG) whose role is to advanced the cause Sauvignon Blanc and promotion of all its members, through exchange of ideas on how to constantly produce cutting edge, world class Sauvignon.

This will be the first time that the FNB Top 20 Sauvignon Blanc finalists of 2012 will be shown to the public.

The workshop will be presented by Pieter de Waal owner of Hermit on the Hill in his role as SBIG Chairman



14:45 – 45 Seats only

1 - Modern Elegance – cool climate Elgin Sauvignon Blanc

Elgin Wine Valley is fast rising as the sexiest cool climate district of the Western Cape with glowing international reviews. The valley produces elegant, mineral, juicy wines, bursting with freshness, here you will have the opportunity to sample 6 stunning Sauvignon Blanc, showcasing the distinct terroir and climates within the valley.

The workshop will be presented by Cathy Marshall

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino

Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino

Straw-coloured hue, flavours of greenpepper and green figs to passion fruit and guava. Tropical fruit dominate on the palate. An inviting wine to be enjoyed generously on its own or as an accompaniment to fish, sushi, poultry and a range of vegetarian dishes
Altydgedacht Wine Estate, dating back to 1698, has been in the Parker family for 5 generations. The cellar lies on the slopes of the Tygerberg Hills, near the town of Durbanville.

Deep soils, varied aspects and the cooling effect of the nearby Atlantic Ocean, combine to create conditions ideal for the production of quality wine.

Come and sample it at the first ever Sauvignon Blanc festival in Johannesburg.

Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino
Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc is Intense ripe figs, asparagus and granadilla aromas, full-bodied with an intense concentration of fruit flavours and lingering aftertaste.

Lomond Wines was established in July 2004 as a joint venture between Distell and Lomond Properties.
Lomond, in the Gansbaai area, is situated in the valley of the Uilenkraal River and located at a most southerly latitude - 34° 34΄ south. It is one of only a handful of wine farms within the Cape Agulhas appellation of origin. Located about 8km from the sea, it is kept cool by the south-westerly and south-easterly winds during the summer months. The prevailing cool temperatures mean that vineyards ripen towards March.

Lomond is a member of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and is a member of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), which rewards producers for sustainable wine-growing practices.

This wine is named after the sugarbush proteas (protea obtusifolia) that grow prolifically on the farm.

Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc, is delicate aromas of citrus, pineapple and a mix of tropical fruits, elegant palate with a fresh acidity that balances out the intense fruit flavours.

Lomond Wines was established in July 2004 as a joint venture between Distell and Lomond Properties.
Lomond, in the Gansbaai area, is situated in the valley of the Uilenkraal River and located at a most southerly latitude - 34° 34΄ south. It is one of only a handful of wine farms within the Cape Agulhas appellation of origin. Located about 8km from the sea, it is kept cool by the south-westerly and south-easterly winds during the summer months. The prevailing cool temperatures mean that vineyards ripen towards March.

Lomond is a member of both the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), which rewards producers for sustainable wine-growing practices.

This wine is named after the pincushion protea (Leucospermum patersonii) which grows prolifically on the farm.

Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc, is delicate aromas of citrus, pineapple and a mix of tropical fruits, elegant palate with a fresh acidity that balances out the intense fruit flavours.

Lomond Wines was established in July 2004 as a joint venture between Distell and Lomond Properties.
Lomond, in the Gansbaai area, is situated in the valley of the Uilenkraal River and located at a most southerly latitude - 34° 34΄ south. It is one of only a handful of wine farms within the Cape Agulhas appellation of origin. Located about 8km from the sea, it is kept cool by the south-westerly and south-easterly winds during the summer months. The prevailing cool temperatures mean that vineyards ripen towards March.

Lomond is a member of both the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), which rewards producers for sustainable wine-growing practices.

This wine is named after the pincushion protea (Leucospermum patersonii) which grows prolifically on the farm.

Flat Roof Manor Sauvignon Blanc

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino
Flat Roof Manor Sauvignon Blanc shows an abundance of green figs, asparagus, and gooseberry and herbaceous aromas, the herbaceous flavours follow through onto the palate to deliver a lively, zesty wine fit for any occasion.

The Flat Roof Manor range derives its name from the 18th century townhouse at the winery, where winemaker Estelle Lourens is based. One of just three two-storied neoclassical houses in this style at the Cape, it is thought to have been designed by the eminent architect Michel Thibault.

The label depicts the detailing of the flat-topped roof and features a cat that, according to local legend, stayed long after the original owners had moved on, to lap up the sun on the parapet.

Uitkyk Estate, where Flat Roof Manor wines are made, comprises 600 ha with 160 ha under vines.

Uitkyk Sauvignon Blanc

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino

Uitkyk Sauvignon Blanc is herbaceous with aromas such as green peppers and figs are backed by tropical granadilla and litchi notes, light and dry and shows lively, smooth, ripe melon fruit good racy acidity adds zest and excitement.

Uitkyk Estate, situated on the south-western slopes of the Simonsberg, was established in 1712. The estate’s neo-classical manor house, completed in 1788, is thought to be the work of the French architect Louis Michel Thibault, who was active at the Cape at the end of the 18th century.

Uitkyk Estate is 600ha in size with 140ha under vines. An interesting variety of cultivars are planted on the estate.

Neethlingshof Sauvignon Blanc

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival The Pivot Courtyard Southern Sun Montecasino
Neethlingshof Sauvignon Blanc exhibits tropical fruit and green figs are backed by a hint of green pepper asparagus and grass, crisp and refreshing with prominent tropical fruit and green fig flavours that linger long after the last sip.


The Neethlingshof estate in Stellenbosch takes its name from its 19th century owner, Marthinus Laurentius Neethling, who served as mayor of Stellenbosch and was also a member of the Cape Parliament.


A member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, acknowledged for its protection of indigenous habitat, the 378 ha winery has set aside 127 ha for conservation. It cultivates both red and white varietals, with the bias marginally in favour of whites.

Tukulu Sauvignon Blanc

http://www.montecasino.co.za/whatson/Events/Pages/SpringSauvignonBlancFestival.aspx

Tukulu Sauvignon Blanc is a lovely mixture of grassy and tropical aromas on the nose, packed with litchi and guava flavours, fresh and vibrant.

The Tukulu range is one of South Africa’s foremost empowerment labels and takes its name from the deep red Tukulu soils in which the grapes are grown. Grapes are sourced from Papkuilsfontein Vineyards in Darling.

Since the first Tukulu wine was launched in 1999, the range has received widespread local and international acclaim with multiple ABSA Top Ten winners as well as Veritas double- gold and gold medals. Tukulu is also a past winner of the WINE Magazine Pinotage Challenge run in association with Tops at Spar.

Sunkissed Constantia Glen at Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival Montecasino

www.constantiaglen.com



Friday, 31 August – Sunday, 2 September 2012

Constantia Glen, the magnificently appointed boutique wine estate known for its superb cool climate Sauvignon Blancs with great ageing potential, will provide an elegant taste of the Constantia Valley at the Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival at Montecasino www.montecasino.co.za held at the Pivot Courtyard from Friday, 31 August to Sunday, 2 September.

The Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc 2011 will be showcased alongside some of South Africa’s finest, offering a refreshing taste of Spring. Full and rich with abundant flavourconcentration that is beautifully balanced by crisp acidity and well-defined minerality, the Sauvignon Blanc 2011 is a classic Constantia wine with beautiful elegance and length. “A small portion of Semillon (10%) adds weighty texture and the mouth-coating richness is accentuated by the maturation of the wine on the lees for five months after fermentation,” says winemaker Justin van Wyk.

Cool climate Sauvignon Blanc wines benefit dramatically from bottle ageing before release and the Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc is a prime example of this phenomenon.

Tickets for the Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival at Montecasino cost R120 and are available at Computicket or the Montecasino Box Office.

For more information on the festival, visit http://www.montecasino.co.za/whatson/Events/Pages/SpringSauvignonBlancFestival.aspx

Constantia Glen is open daily from 10h00 till 17h00 on week days and from 10h00 till 16h00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Look out for the Constantia Glen signs towards the top of Constantia Main road. Call 021-795 5639, e-mail wine@constantiaglen.co.za or visit www.constantiaglen.com for further information. The GPS co-ordinates are S 34º 0’39.6” E 18º 24’30.6”.

Spring Sauvignon Blanc Festival 31 August - 2 September 2012

http://www.montecasino.co.za/whatson/Events/Pages/SpringSauvignonBlancFestival.aspx

Star studded 2012 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction line-up

www.capewinemakersguild.com


A full house of 52 exceptional wines signified by creativity and great diversity of styles in small volumes, will go under the hammer at the 28th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction at Spier in the Stellenbosch Winelands on Saturday, 6 October.

This prestigious auction, which celebrates the Guild’s 30th anniversary this year, is recognised as South Africa’s leading wine auction open to the wine trade and the general public. With four fewer wines and 431 fewer cases on offer than the previous year, the 2012 Guild Auction boasts one of the most exclusive selections of wines to go under the hammer in recent years.

This year’s auction wines, all poised to become rare collector’s items, include 38 red wines, 10 white wines, 2 Méthode Cap Classiques, one dessert wine and a Port. “Judging by the great variety of wines on offer, our more relaxed selection criteria seem to be paying off allowing winemakers more room to experiment with different varietals and styles lending a more creative edge to our auction.

Wine collectors will be well pleased as there is something for everyone. With members submitting more interesting wines in smaller volumes this year, we can expect lively bidding as buyers vie for these exclusive wines,” says Guild Chairman, Louis Strydom, whose Cabernet Sauvignon driven blend, Ernie Els CWG 2010, is on offer this year.

This year 37 of the 45 Guild members have either one, two or three wines on auction making up the tally of 52 different wines and a total number of 2 517 cases (6 x 750ml case equivalent).

Two members of the Guild make their Auction debut this year: Gottfried Mocke, with his Chamonix Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011 and Miles Mossop with his Tokara Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010.

On the white wine front Chardonnay takes the lead with four wines on auction, followed by two Chenin blancs, two Semillons, one Sauvignon blanc and one blend. In addition two Méthode Cap Classiques and a dessert wine will go under the hammer.



The line-up includes new vintages of top selling whites from previous auctions such as Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011, Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2010 and Ataraxia Under the Gavel Chardonnay 2011.



The only Bordeaux-style white blend on auction this year is the Cape Point Vineyards Auction Reserve White 2011, whilst the only Sauvignon blanc is the De Grendel Amandelboord Sauvignon Blanc 2012.

Both Pierre Wahl and Teddy Hall are back from last year’s auction with new Chenin blanc vintages, the Rijk’s CWG Chenin Blanc 2011 and Teddy Hall Hendrik Biebouw Auction Reserve Chenin Blanc 2011. The Teddy Hall Eva (Krotoa) Muscat de Frontignan 2009 Noble Late Harvest is the only dessert wine on auction this year.

The two Semillons are from Saronsberg and Cederberg, whilst the two Méthode Cap Classiques are a Blanc de Blanc 2007 from Simonsig and a Chardonnay Pinot noir blend from Graham Beck.

Amongst the reds, Bordeaux-style blends and Shiraz are the biggest categories this year, each with eight wines on auction, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon with seven.

Non-Bordeaux-style blends and Pinotage are well represented with four wines each, followed by three Pinot noirs, two Merlots, a Cinsault and a Nebbiolo. Top selling auction stalwarts such as Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir 2009, Hartenberg Estate Auction Shiraz 2009 and Luddite “The Reserve” Shiraz 2008 as well as new vintages of previous stars, Etienne Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2009, Jordan Sophia 2009, Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010, Kanonkop CWG Pinotage 2010 as well as the 2007 and 2009 vintages of Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer should make for competitive bidding. Both Merlots on offer, Hartenberg Loam Hill Merlot 2009 and Spier Merlot 2009 were contenders at last year’s auction.

The new varietals on offer this year include a Cinsault from Adi Badenhorst, AA Badenhorst Family Wines Shatoe Ramnasgras 2011, on offer in the regular 750 ml and a magnum, and the John Loubser Garibaldi Nebbiolo 2009.

Other interesting blends include the Graham Beck The Catalyst Shiraz Viognier 2010 and the Luddite Oscar Shiraz Mourvédre 2009.

The only Port-style wine is the Carel Nel Cape Vintage Auction Reserve 2010. All the wines have been crafted specially for the auction by members of the Guild and are subjected to rigorous scrutiny by the Guild’s tasting panel to ensure that they are free of any defects and meet the highest standards of wine health measurement.

Since its inception in 1985, the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction has become a quality benchmark and the CWG label is an authentic assurance of quality recognised by leading wine buyers both locally and from abroad.

While the vast majority of buyers at the auction are local, there has been a surge of international interest in recent years and overseas pre-auction tastings will be held again this year in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Hong Kong and New York.



Local wine enthusiasts can taste the auction wines at Auction Showcases at the CTICC in Cape Town at 18h00 on Thursday, 23 August and at 18h00 at The Atrium, Nedbank Sandton in Johannesburg on Thursday, 30 August.

Tickets cost R170 and are available from www.WebTickets.co.za

The 28th Nedbank CWG Auction, conducted by Henré Hablutzel of Hofmeyr Mills Auctioneers for the 15th consecutive year, is open to the public and will be held at the Spier Conference Centre in the Stellenbosch Winelands on Saturday, 6 October 2012.

Prospective buyers who are unable to attend the auction on the day, can register in advance with the CWG and take advantage of their telephonic and proxy bidding facilities.

Live bidding will also be available online for the first time this year through www.the-saleroom.com.

For further details and to attend the Auction, visit www.capewinemakersguild.com or contact the Guild Office on Tel: 021 852 0408 or info@capewinemakersguild.com







The 2012 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction – Wines on Offer




AA Badenhorst Family Wines Shatoe Ramnasgras 2011 26 x 6 x 750ml

AA Badenhorst Family Wines Shatoe Ramnasgras 2011 10 x 3 x 1.5 L

Ataraxia Under the Gavel Chardonnay 2011 50 x 6 x 750ml

Beyerskloof Traildust Pinotage 2010 42 x 6 x 750ml

Boschkloof Bakhand Shiraz 2010 40 x 6 x 750ml

Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir 2009 60 x 6 x 750ml

Cape Point Vineyards Auction Reserve White 2011 42 x 6 x 750ml

Carel Nel Cape Vintage Auction Reserve 2010 30 x 6 x 750ml

Cederberg Ghost Corner Semillon 2011 34 x 6 x 750ml

Cederberg Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2010 70 x 6 x 750ml

Chamonix Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011 50 x 6 x 750ml

De Grendel Amandelboord Sauvignon Blanc 2012 44 x 6 x 750ml

De Grendel Op Die Berg Pinot Noir 2010 26 x 6 x 750ml

De Trafford Perspective 2009 84 x 6 x 750ml

De Trafford Syrah 2009 30 x 6 x 750ml

Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010 70 x 3 x 1.5 L

Ernie Els CWG 2010 70 x 6 x 750ml

Etienne Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2009 80 x 6 x 750ml

Graham Beck Non Plus Ultra Cap Classique 2008 40 x 6 x 750ml

Graham Beck The Catalyst Shiraz Viognier 2010 66 x 6 x 750ml

Grangehurst Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2006 38 x 6 x 750ml

Groot Constantia CWG Shiraz 2009 40 x 6 x 750ml

Hartenberg Estate Auction Shiraz 2009 58 x 6 x 750ml

Hartenberg Loam Hill Merlot 2009 56 x 6 x 750ml

Haskell The Expatriate 2010 70 x 6 x 750ml

Haskell Paradigm 2008 40 x 6 x 750ml

John Loubser Garibaldi Nebbiolo 2009 42 x 6 x 750ml

Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011 90 x 6 x 750ml

Jordan Sophia 2009 90 x 6 x 750ml

Kaapzicht Cape Blend 2009 60 x 6 x 750ml

Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2007 40 x 6 x 750ml

Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2009 66 x 6 x 750ml

Kanonkop CWG Pinotage 2010 66 x 6 x 750ml

Kleine Zalze Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 20 x 6 x 750ml

Louis Laika 2010 40 x 6 x 750ml

Luddite "Oscar" Shiraz Mourvédre 2009 80 x 6 x 750ml

Luddite "The Reserve" Shiraz 2008 30 x 6 x 750ml

Neil Ellis Auction Reserve 2007 24 x 6 x 750ml

Overgaauw DC Classic 2009 40 x 6 x 750ml

Paul Cluver Pinot Noir 2010 24 x 6 x 750ml

Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2010 50 x 6 x 750ml

Rijk's CWG Chenin Blanc 2011 50 x 6 x 750ml

Rijk's CWG Pinotage 2010 50 x 6 x 750ml

Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 50 x 6 x 750ml

Saronsberg CWG Semillon 2008 26 x 6 x 750ml

Simonsig Cuvée Chêne Blanc de Blancs MCC 2007 44 x 6 x 750ml

Simonsig Estate Heirloom Shiraz 2010 66 x 6 x 750ml

Spier Merlot 2009 28 x 6 x 750ml

Spier Pinotage 2009 28 x 6 x 750ml

Teddy Hall Eva (Krotoa) Muscat de Frontignan 2009 Noble Late Harvest 30 x 6 x 375ml

Teddy Hall Hendrik Biebouw Auction Reserve Chenin Blanc 2011 50 x 6 x 750ml

Tokara Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 60 x 6 x 750ml

Waterford Estate Auction Reserve BB 2009 30 x 6 x 750ml

Taste Exceptional Wines at Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction ShowcaseJohannesburg

www.capewinemakersguild.com
Experience exceptional wines with a creative edge and great diversity of styles at the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase in Johannesburg on Thursday, 30 August, when members of the Guild present the wines that will go under the hammer at this year’s Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction.

Celebrating 30 years of winemaking excellence this year, the Guild, an association of some of the finest winemakers recognised for their high standard of craftsmanship, comprises 45 members who jointly represent the pinnacle of South African wine achievement. Only wines crafted exclusively for the Guild by these exceptional winemakers are sold at the annual Auction which is open to the general public, wine collectors as well as the liquor and restaurant trade.

The Showcases afford wine lovers the opportunity to taste these rare and innovative Auction wines as well as other acclaimed flagship wines of Guild members in an informal, walk-around tasting hosted by the winemakers themselves. You will also have the opportunity to bid on rare signed bottles from previous Guild Auctions during the Silent Auction in aid of the Nedbank CWG Development Trust. Founded in 1999, the Development Trust assists with education, training and empowerment of young people from wine farming communities and includes the Guild’s Protégé Programme, a mentorship scheme for young, upcoming winemakers.

Johannesburg Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase Thursday, 30 August 2012

The Atrium, Nedbank, 135 Rivonia Road, Sandton 18:00 – 21:00

R170 per person including a tasting glass

Bookings via www.WebTickets.co.za

The Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction will take place on Saturday, 6 October 2012 from 09h00 at Spier Conference Centre in the Stellenbosch Winelands and is open to the public.

To find out how you can attend the Auction to obtain these rare and exclusive wines, visit: www.capewinemakersguild.com, email info@capewinemakersguild.com or call Tel: +27 +21 852 0408.

Rianie Strydom from Haskell Vineyards interacting with wine lovers at the Showcase

Pierre Wahl from Rijk's Private Cellar shares some of his wines

Carl Schultz, from Hartenberg Estate pours one of his cellar gems at the Showcase

NEETHLINGSHOF SCOOPS TWO TERROIR AWARDS

www.neethlingshof.co.za

Neethlingshof has won two national awards in the 2012 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards for the estate’s 2012 Gewürtztraminer and 2011 The Maria. The Maria, which forms part of the reserve Short Story Collection range, was also chosen as one of the five top estate wines entered for the competition now in its seventh year.

Neethlinghof’s performance, along with that of one other producer, saw Stellenboschkloof win this year’s Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Area.

The Gewürtztraminer was selected as the best wine of this cultivar in the competition while The Maria was adjudged the best natural sweet wine.

A delighted De Wet Viljoen, Neethlinghof’s winemaker for the past ten years, said the awards must also be seen in the context of the estate’s efforts to restore the balance between farming operations and the natural environment, and to make wine that reflects the unique character of the farm.

“Our wines must have a unique, distinctive identity, and they must reflect what is popularly called, ‘a sense of place’,” he says.” If our wines don’t have a distinguishable character of their own, then there is no sense in bottling them under the Neethlingshof label.”

Neethlingshof recently became one of the small number of Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) champions in the Winelands. It has also just been informed that it came among the Top Ten in the international Sustainable Wine Growing Competition organised annually by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT).

De Wet said the grapes for the Gewürtztraminer came from a 25-year-old dryland vineyard delivering 5 tons per hectare of quality grapes year after year. “The wine shows the spicy aromas so typical of this niche cultivar, combined with tropical flavours balanced by good acidity.”

The Maria, named for the resourceful and feisty widow Maria Marais who dominated the history of the farm for close on 50 years in the 1800s, is a noble late harvest blend of Weisser Riesling and Sauvignon blanc. Both vineyards from which the grapes were harvested are more than 25 years old and produce only two to three tons of grapes per hectare. Both are in the path of south-westerly winds bringing moisture-laden air from over False Bay and their grapes are spontaneously infected with Botrytis cinerea year after year by spores present in the vineyards.

The 2011 vintage of The Maria recently scored 92 out of a possible 100 in a report on South Africa’s sweet wines by the International Wine Review, widely rated as one of the world’s most influential opinion formers on wine. Earlier this month The Maria also received a gold award in the annual ratings of the South African Wine Index (SAWI).  

NEDERBURG GOES NORTH AND DOUBLES UP FOR SOWETO FESTIVAL

www.sowetowinefestival.co.za

Nederburg is bringing two talented members of its award-winning winemaking team to Gauteng for the Soweto Wine Festival in September. They are internationally trained Wim Truter, who makes the white wines, and Wellington Metshane, who is a senior member of the team making the reds.  Both work under the direction of cellar master Razvan Macici.

They will present some of the exciting new developments that have been taking place at the famous Paarl winery, and also Nederburg’s entertaining and interactive Taste Theatre that explores the impact of various food flavours on wine.

Visitors to the event that runs from Thursday, September 6 to Saturday, September 8, will have the chance to try some groundbreaking new wines and also sample various foods with a selection of wines to discover how they affect the taste of the wines.

Nederburg spokesperson Wencke Grobler says: “Whereas in the past we had one presenter, we have decided to bring two, so guests have more chance to interact with us, either at the theatre itself or at our stand.”

The Taste Theatre has been conceived as a taste adventure and will highlight the impact on wine and food pairing, made by the five basic flavours – sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami (a Japanese term to describe a flavour that is intensely savoury).

“We want to show how something that seems as insignificant as a squeeze of lemon or a little extra salt added to your food can make a substantial difference to the way you experience an accompanying wine.”

She says the theatre isn’t meant to create more rules surrounding wine. “If anything, the aim is the exact opposite. We want wine lovers to free themselves from the burdens of do’s and don’ts involved with wine and food matching.  All we want is to demonstrate how you can enrich the pleasure of the wine you drink by offering you the experience of combining it in a way that brings compatible flavours together. So often you can taste a wine with a food that is not ideal and the result can lessen your enjoyment of both. It doesn’t have to be that way once you are exposed to some very easy guidelines that are more about common sense than anything else.”

She says popular red, white and dessert wines from the Nederburg range will be lined up in the Taste Theatre for visitors to try with foods such as beef, tuna, cheddar cheese and chocolate.

The Taste Theatre is open to festival goers on a first-come first-served basis. The presentation will be staged at various times on each of the three days.

Nederburg has the highest number of five-star rated wines in the 2012 Platter’s South African Wine Guide, a distinction it shares with two other wineries. In 2011, Nederburg was the Platter’s Winery of the Year. Last year, a Nederburg wine achieved the highest score on the inaugural Five Nations Wine Challenge, involving South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina.

Tickets, at R100 a head can be booked through WEBTICKETS, from Cape Wine Academy, Morara Wine Emporium and the Soweto Hotel.  For more details, go to www.sowetowinefestival.co.za.

The House of J.C. Le Roux closes for 4 months for a stylish make-over

www.jcleroux.co.za

Be sure to visit the House of J.C. Le Roux before the end of July for a taste of Le Good Life before this leading house of sparkling wine closes for four months to make exciting changes that will literally raise the roof of this stylish venue.

Already boasting stunning décor from the soft golden hues of the La Vallée Room to the flirty pink La Fleurette Room - the perfect place for bachelorette parties - visitors to the newly renovated House of J.C. Le Roux can expect an even more uplifting experience that will be unveiled for the festive season. New additions will include an al fresco deck where you can relax and sip superb bubbly such as the elegant J.C. Le Roux flagship, Scintilla 2003. The restaurant will also reveal a glamorous new appearance in December.

So, hurry to your favourite home of sparkling wine for the ultimate in sophistication before the end of July and indulge in heavenly nougat, marshmallow and meringue pairings that have made the House of J.C. Le Roux such a popular destination.

For more information, visit www.jcleroux.co.za or www.facebook.com/HouseofJCLeroux

J.C. Le Roux secures iconic status for second consecutive year

www.jcleroux.co.za

J.C. Le Roux, South Africa’s leading sparkling wine, has been voted the country’s top wine brand for the second consecutive year in the 2012 TGI ICON Brand Survey.

TGI ICON brands are typically South African brands that are loved, have a loyal following and instil a common experience in the hearts and minds of consumers irrespective of cultural backgrounds, income levels  and language.

As the country's first wine cellar dedicated exclusively to the art of making sparkling wine, J.C. Le Roux has cemented its status as South Africa's favourite bubbly by securing pole position in the alcoholic drinks wine category once again this year.

“J.C. Le Roux brings Le Good Life to the consumer’s doorstep and into their homes. It is a trusted, uplifting South African favourite, bringing style and glamour to every occasion,” says Brand Manager Lucindi-Jane Branfield.

The House of J.C. Le Roux is acclaimed for its passion, craftsmanship and expertise to make the finest vintage Méthode Cap Classique and sparkling wines to suit every palate.

For more information visit www.jcleroux.co.za or www.facebook.com/HouseofJCLeRoux.

BAIN’S CAPE MOUNTAIN WHISKY CHOSEN AS ONE OF TOP WHISKIES TO TRY

www.bainscapemountainwhisky.co.za

The proudly South African Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky has been listed in Ian Buxton's 101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die, the UK's best-selling whisky publication for the past two years with the most recent edition which went on sale this week.

The book is a guide to broaden any whisky lover’s experience in discovering the various whisky offerings available throughout the world – from Sweden to Japan to South Africa and Scotland. Having worked in the whisky industry for more than two decades, Buxton has built up a reputation for his knowledge and this he shares in his unique book. The whiskies listed are according to him not an awards list but rather a definitive guide to whiskies that every enthusiast should taste to extend their whisky education.

 By including South Africa’s first 100% single grain whisky in his selection is an enormous achievement for its creator, Andy Watts, master distiller at The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington. And the whisky is no stranger to the limelight either. At the 2011 International Wine and Spirits Competition, judges praised the whisky for its “excellent, clean, lively entry into the mouth with sweet grain firmness and beautiful balance”.

Inspired by the Bain’s Kloof Pass and its natural beauty, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is crafted from the finest South African grain. It is South Africa’s first single grain whisky and its double-maturation imparts flavour and complexity, resulting in an exceptionally smooth and distinctive whisky.

The whisky shows an exceptional interaction between spirit and wood to produce a mix of toffee, floral and vanilla aromas, and flavours with a hint of spice softened by sweet undertones. The result is a warm and extended mouthfeel with an exceptionally smooth finish.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is distilled and matured at The James Sedgwick Distillery which dates back to 1886  is situated near the foothills of the Bain’s Kloof Pass in Wellington, in the heart of the Boland.  The whisky pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain, the pioneering road builder who planned and built Bain’s Kloof Pass which connected Wellington to the interior in 1853.


Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is available from leading liquor outlets and retails for about R200 per 750ml bottle.

Simonsig releases signature Frans Malan Reserve 2008 gold medallist

www.simonsig.co.za

Wine lovers can now enjoy Simonsig Estate’s Frans Malan Reserve 2008, a formidable Cape Blend which clinched a Veritas gold medal last year.

The Malan family of Simonsig created this wine as a tribute to the visionary patriarch, Frans Malan, a craftsman of superior wines who left an indelible legacy in the Cape Winelands. Simonsig Estate is one of the early protagonists of the Cape Blend, a truly South Arifrican wine with the Pinotage varietal as a key component.

“It is so rewarding to see that my father’s pioneering spirit lives on with great success. What started out as a mould-breaking experiment with Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon for the Cape Winemakers Guild way back in 1991, has since evolved into one of the ‘blue blood’ reds in our portfolio,” says Simonsig cellarmaster Johan Malan.  

This deep Persian Carpet red wine, akin to a complex and elegant tapestry, is hand stitched with sweet mulberry Pinotage (73%) notes, Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) pencil shavings and luscious Merlot (5%) black berries. Refined tannins unite with well-balanced oak thus completing the characteristics of these three varietals that make up this acclaimed Cape Blend. It is the perfect partner to succulent meat dishes such as delicious Egyptian dukka crusted beef fillet medallions, flavoursome springbok espetada or roast duck.

Simonsig Frans Malan Reserve 2008 is available from R155 per bottle at fine wine outlets countrywide or directly from the cellar.

For more information or wine orders contact Simonsig Estate at Tel: (021) 888 4915

CELEBRATE WOMEN’S DAY WITH A BLACK BOTTLE LEGEND

www.blackbottle.com



Make sure that you raise a glass of the bold taste of Islay, Black Bottle, this Women’s Day (9 August) to the memory of pioneering business woman and whisky legend, Granny Graham, and discover for yourself the slightly honeyed sweetness and smoky finish of this famous Scotch whisky.

Black Bottle is a blend of all the renowned single malts from the Isle of Islay, the famous whisky island located in the Southern Hebrides off the west-coast of Scotland, balanced by the finest Highland, Lowland and Speyside malt and grain whiskies, making it one of the most unique whiskies around.

Anne Jane Graham, affectionately known as Granny Graham, was a determined woman, who on the death of her husband in 1926, took over a thriving whisky business and ran it till her death 30 years later. She died in 1958, two years after  that significant day in 1956 when more than 20 000 women of all races and ages marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws, an historic event we celebrate every year in South Africa on 9 August as Women’s Day.

The story of Black Bottle started in Victorian times when three brothers, Charles, David and Gordon Graham, the sons of a small-town shoemaker, started their own tea blending company in Aberdeen in Scotland and soon branched out into blending whisky. In 1789 they proudly introduced Black Bottle Scotch whisky.

The business flourished but in 1926 the last of three brothers passed away and it was left to Charles’s widow, Ann Jane Graham, to carry on the family tradition and make her mark in what at that stage was very much a man’s world. This strong-willed and highly principled woman, almost always dressed in black, did so with great success. And she did it, not from the company’s offices in the centre of Aberdeen, but from her home, where all business meetings were held.

Over the years she became known as Granny Graham. She not only managed to keep the business going, but to grow it into a highly successful one. She had no male heirs, but so important was it to her that the name Graham should continue to be associated with the company that shortly before her death she convinced her nephew to change his name from Graham Horne to Charles Innes Graham so that he could take over from her!

Today the whisky is very similar to the one created more than 130 years ago and there are very few, if any, that come close in terms of style. Ordinary it is not. The daringly bold taste of Black Bottle has been praised by critics and whisky-lovers across the world, and over the years it has secured a cult following for its unique taste.

The major change has been in the bottle itself – the original black glass for the bottle was imported from Germany, an arrangement that ended in 1914 with the outbreak of the First World War. Since then it has been sold in a dark green bottle, retaining the distinctive pot-still shape.
Black Bottle is available from leading liquor outlets at around R200 per bottle.

Elegant Scintilla – sparkling flagship of The House of J.C. Le Roux

www.jcleroux.co.za

The House of J.C. Le Roux, South Africa’s first cellar dedicated entirely to the art of making sparkling wine, offers a sophisticated choice for discerning palates with its graceful flagship, Scintilla 2003.

Only produced in exceptional vintages, this signature Method Cap Classique is luxuriously smooth and well-balanced with an elegant, dry palate and an explosion of scintillating bubbles that will uplift any occasion.

J.C. Le Roux Scintilla 2003 is the ideal companion for those who know how to live Le Good Life. A classic blend of Chardonnay (75%) and Pinot noir (25%), the wine spent an unbelievable seven years on the lees, resulting in rich layers of complexity and flavours with a superior, smooth character.

“This outstanding signature J.C. Le Roux Cap Classique has a brilliant golden colour, displaying a rich fruitiness on the nose with integrated baked bread flavours, and will benefit from additional bottle maturation,” says cellarmaster Elunda Basson, who recommends enjoying this stylish wine with juicy braised Karoo lamb shank or tantalising salmon bruschetta.

Looking more sophisticated than ever with an elegant new look, J.C. Le Roux Scintilla 2003 is available at boutique wine shops and restaurants, selling for R150 at the cellar door.

For more information, visit www.jcleroux.co.za or www.facebook.com/HouseofJCLeRoux.

Simonsig Pinotage scores 90 points in USA’s Wine Spectator

www.simonsig.co.za

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2008 has added another feather to its cap of highly acclaimed accolades with a venerable 90 point rating from Wine Spectator, the leading New York based wine publication.

“Ripe and solidly built, with delicious blackberry, bramble and toasty spice notes framed by a mouth-watering liquorice snap note.  The long, spice-filled finish has nicely integrated grip,” is how Senior Editor James Molesworth describes this truly South African varietal wine which can be enjoyed now or stashed away safely for special occasions until 2015.

This wine also comes highly recommended with a 91 point score by the International Wine Review, another highly regarded wine report in the USA. At home, the 2008 vintage boasts two Veritas gold medals and a 4½-star rating in the Platter’s South African Wines guide.

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s top Pinotage wines. Enjoy it with family favourites such as Cape Malay bobotie, slow roasted pork belly or juicy oven roasted rack of lamb.

For more information on Simonsig Estate contact Tel: (021) 888 4915