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It’s
only two hours away on a plane, but talk
about another world! Durban is hot,
literally, and humid. But the people are so
cool and laid-back - they would definitely
freeze-up if ever subjected to a harsh Cape
winter.
And
what a great one we have had up until now!
The vines must be catching-up on all the
winter sleep they have missed in the
unseasonably warm winters of the past two
years. Also, despite hailing from the Klein
Karoo, I am using the chilly spell to
rediscover the splendors of Stellenbosch
port.
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But back to Durban. Stellenbosch
American Express® Wine Routes joined
just about every other local tourism
organization at the annual Tourism
Indaba. Over 12 000 people attended
the event where some 1 600
exhibitors strutted their stuff by
showing the attendees what South
Africa has to offer.
Our wine stand generated a lot of
interest, we made hundreds of
contacts and had a great time. It
was also great to meet people who
did not know all that much about
wine, but knew where Stellenbosch is
and that wine is made here! A good
start. |
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Putting
on my analytical cap, I think that the wine
industry has to create a platform for a
discussion on wine tourism as one of the
fields of interest that receive specific
attention at the Indaba. It appears as
though wineries and wine tastings are deemed
as “just being there” instead of being
recognized as part of a vital and growing
industry worth R4bn a year.
Wine tourism has to make it onto the radar
screen. In conjunction with my colleagues
from the other regions, we are looking into
the needs, such as research, a central
information point with statistics, and
opportunities such as a conference. We will
keep you updated!
And then I was surprised at the lack of
enthusiasm about 2010 at this year’s Indaba.
I expected soccer balls flying all over the
place and vuvuzelas droaning throughout the
venue. Not a sausage.
I hope that the excitement we in
Stellenbosch are having about showcasing our
part of the world to the global village will
filter through to the broader landscape.
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IN wine terms,
the International Wine Challenge is
something of a world cup. This year
thousands of wines were entered from
all corners of the globe. Altogether
12 Cape wines won gold medals, with
Stellenbosch wines once again
leading the way.
The
Stellenbosch winners were: Brampton
Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Fleur du Cap
Sauvignon Blanc Unfiltered 2006,
Fleur Du Cap Viognier Unfiltered
Limited Release 2006, Hoopenburg
Integer Chardonnay 2005, Kleine
Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon 2005, Kleine Zalze
Sauvignon Blanc 2005 and the Marklew
Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. |
Congratulations to all these producers who
keep our flag flying on the international
stage. It is great to see Kleine Zalze
winning two golds in the same year as their
10th anniversary. Of course, there were many
more winners in the silver and bronze
categories. Full results are available on
www.internationalwinechallenge.com. |
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TALKING of
competitions, since its inception
three years ago, Stellenbosch
winemakers have won the SA Woman
Winemaker of the Year twice. In 2005
Debbie Burden from Simonsig came
away with the laurels, and last
year’s trophy went to Spier’s
Eleanor Visser.
The closing date
for entries for this year’s Woman
Winemaker of the Year is 2 July.
Full details can be found on
www.sawinewoman.co.za.
Let’s make it
three in a row, girls! |
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THE popular “R310 Passport”
launched last winter by five Stellenbosch wine farms
situated along the R310 was so successful that they
have decided to repeat the offering this season.
The idea behind the “R310
Passport” is to market the unique offerings at each
of the participating cellars, at a specially
packaged price, along the relatively short route.
Whether a seasoned connoisseur, or just starting to
‘sniff out’ your preferences, all lovers of wine are
invited to enjoy the pickings of the participating
wineries.
Vergenoegd Wine Estate, Meerlust,
The Company of Wine People (Welmoed), Spier and
Stellenbosch Hills are the wineries on the R310
route, Vergenoegd being the first estate on your
right hand side, having taken the Baden Powell/
Stellenbosch exit from Cape Town.
The offerings have been created
to suit the personality of each winery and are so
different that the intrepid traveller cum wine lover
will feel that they have visited five ‘worlds’ in
the space of a day.
Winery PRO’s (from left to
right): Lauren Caine (Meerlust) Jill Lackay (Spier);
Kim Hendricks (Vergenoegd); IsabelKhowa (Company of
Wine People); Anchen Barnard (StellenboschHills).
Be sure to place aside a good
part of your day to explore this route. At
Vergenoegd, well known for six generations of
classic, elegant red wines, you will be able to
taste their Old Cape Colony Vintage Port (usually
not available for tasting) along with a hearty bowl
of soup and freshly baked ciabatta slices.
Experience the icon wines of
Meerlust, where winemaking follows time honoured
tradition combined with modern techniques, and enjoy
their hospitality at the same time.
‘The Company of Wine People’ adds
sparkle to the day. Here dry rosés and sparkling
wines can be tasted with kettle fried chips.
Spier explores the close
relationship and balance between wine and cheese. A
wine educator will pair three regional cheeses with
three wines from the Spier Classic range.
An authentic South African taste
sensation awaits the visitor to Stellenbosch Hills
(flags from almost all major countries greet the
traveller at the entrance) where you can indulge in
a ‘Wine and Biltong’ adventure. Sip five
Stellenbosch Hills wines perfectly matched to five
variations of biltong. A new addition is the tasting
of five different types of nuts, including chocolate
covered Brazil nuts, with five specially selected
wines.
The “R310 Passport” costs R100
and is available directly from the participating
wineries. Times are 09h00 to 17h00 during the week.
Booking is essential on Saturdays.
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WE are also delighted to welcome two new
members to the Stellenbosch American
Express® Wine Route, namely Morgenhof
and Dalla Cia. And how great it is to
have two such diverse establishments to
showcase. Morgenhof is, of course,
situated on the R44 at the beginning of
Simonsberg. Georgio and the rest of the
Dalla Cia clan have found a new home in
the Bosman’s Crossing Development. With
Stellekaya a stone’s throw away,
Bosman’s Crossing could just become a
new sub-route, as well as being the
shortest wine route in South Africa and
possibly the world! |
As far as developments
go, I know they are not everybody’s cup
of tea. But Bosman’s Crossing, with its
residential, office and retail
components – and wineries - is a welcome
addition to the region. And the same can
be said for the new tourism development
centre in Kayamandi. Both developments
are also situated outside the centre of
town, which could have a positive effect
on the traffic flow.
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THE arrangements for this
year’s Wine Festival are in full swing. The full
program is now available on
www.wineroute.co.za/festival.asp,
and I can tell you that WINE Magazine has once again
come on board as a media partner. Jane Ferreira,
whom many of us know from her days with Caroline’s
Fine Wines, is now with WINE and is putting an
exciting Wine Theatre concept together.
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We also welcome Checkers, who
has come on board as a sub-sponsor for the festival,
with Cuisine on the Move! |
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Make sure that you come visit
us at Paul Roos from 2 to 5 August! |
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That is all for now,
friends. Make sure to keep warm, and
snuggle up in front of the fireplace,
with your favourite Stellenbosch wine!
Until next time,
Annareth Jacobs
CEO Stellenbosch American Express®
Wine Routes
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