WeeklySA_AdminICONIC: Much hype in Gauteng as 50 fine wines to be curated by the region’s crème de la crème…
By Len Maseko
A coterie of Stellenbosch’s renowned winemakers and personalities will indulge Gauteng wine lovers with a prime selection of their wines during two exclusive tastings billed for Johannesburg and Soweto next month.
The tastings – billed as “Stellenbosch Experience” – will bring a host of winemakers, winery owners and key ambassadors from the world-famous Cape winelands route to showcase 50 wines to the City of Gold on June 10 and 11.
Among them will be Nongcebo Langa of Delheim Wine Estate, Danie Steytler from Kaapzicht Wine Estate, Ntsiki Biyela of Aslina Wines, Bertho van der Westhuizen from Alto Wine Estate, Narina Cloete from Blaauwklippen Estate and many more.
Winner of numerous awards and one of South Africa’s iconic winemakers, Biyela has led the way for both aspiring and rookie black winemakers for more than two decades – all the while also forging a path to become a highly respected and widely admired name in the world of wine.
Biyela owns Aslina Wines, which is named after her grandmother whose influence imbued her with the traits of resilience, tenacity and wisdom to stay the course to her destiny.
Today Aslina is renowned for its range of premium wines and is the realisation of Ntsiki’s dream to create an exceptional world-class brand.
Last year, Delheim winemaker “Noni” Langa surprised many when scooping the coveted Diners Club Young Winemaker Award has steadily climbed the ranks at Delheim Estate over the years. Her promotion from assistant winemaker to winemaker at Delheim earlier this year marks a milestone in her career. She graduated with an MSc in Oenology at Stellenbosch University, where she was also part of a ground-breaking project on global warming and wildfires.
The event will provide guests with the opportunity to gain more insight into South Africa’s most awarded wine region, in an informal and convivial setting. At both events, the format is a walk-around tasting with canapés.
A two-hour masterclass will be held for those seeking to delve even deeper into wine to appreciate the link between Stellenbosch’s soil and climate, and wine quality. It will be presented by Dr Jonathan Steyn at the event on June 10.
Dr Steyn is among the lead collaborators on a long-running project of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes seeking commonality with what makes Stellenbosch unique and how terroir informs the region’s taste profile and varieties. Seats for the masterclass are very limited and must be booked separately.
“We’re very excited about this visit to Johannesburg. Not only is this an opportunity to share our stories, but it is also a celebration of culture and taste. From Sandton to Soweto, the refined elegance of Stellenbosch’s wine tradition meets the vibrant soul of Johannesburg’s north,” says Stellenbosch Wine Routes manager Elmarie Rabe.
“At the same time, we’re hoping to entice visitors to visit Stellenbosch itself, and particularly during our annual wine festival in August.
“The Stellenbosch Wine Festival is a two-day tasting that’s part of the Wine Town Stellenbosch festival.
It is really the time to experience the world-class farms, refined village lifestyle and all-round bliss of the Stellenbosch atmosphere.”
The June 10 event takes place at Sandton Sun Hotel in Sandown, Sandton, from 18:00 to 21:00, with tickets costing R450 per person (excluding the masterclass) and available via online booking platform Plankton. The masterclass with Dr Steyn, takes place from 15:00 to 17:00. Tickets are R800 per person via Plankton.
Meanwhile the June 11 tasting in Soweto, which takes place at Just Badela Restaurant in Orlando West, will include live music. Tickets are R330 per person and available via Plankton. Tickets to both events are now on sale.
