WeeklySA_AdminPALATE: Visitors to the Tasting Room will dabble in the art of blending their own wine and sip offerings from the Stellenbosch winery
By Len Maseko
A tasting room can be likened to a bubble which a wine lover enters with both an air of suspense and sense of anticipation about the wines to be tasted, whether they will inspire awe, and whether the experience will be an everlasting one.
In fact, the whole tension invokes the experience of a blind date, where things can go either way, depending on the chemistry, and where satisfaction or love at first is not guaranteed.
Assuming the wine lover is predisposed to the idea of trying new things and simply getting a kick out of venturing into the unknown, the greater the sense of suspense ahead of the encounter. In contrast, the less adventurous types who prefer to stick rather to what they know to avoid surprises, will most likely be at ease, especially if they are familiar with the wines to be tasted.
Either way, Johannesburg newest wine enjoyment venue, the Spier Wine Experience at the Indaba Hotel Tasting Room, which was launched at the Indaba Hotel last week, is just one place to satisfy one’s curiosity about what’s new or what’s creating a buzz out of the Cape winelands.
In this particular instance, Spier has teamed up with Indaba Hotel to create a wine experience room with aim of immersing Gauteng wine lovers into the adventure of sampling best of wines from the Stellenbosch winery amid exquisite surrounds. The facility is fully stocked with wine and paraphernalia from Spier to create the same ambience a visitor would experience when visiting the farm.
Spier is one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, dating back to 1692, and boasts wines that have garnered numerous local and international awards. Wines can be savoured to the accompaniment of a variety of delectable snacks.
Spier cellarmaster Frans Smit said guests visiting the room will have the opportunity to sample, sip and savour wines from the historic Stellenbosch farm. Trained and knowledgeable staff are on hand to familiarise tasters with Spier’s various ranges, each available for you to savour on-site or to purchase for enjoyment at home.
A taster can order a set tasting, or wine by the glass, or if they feel peckish, order olive, cheese and cured meat boards. The experience is ideal for small groups of up to eight people, provided they book 24 hours ahead, to even engage in a fun blending exercise that illuminate participants about the intricacies of winemaking. The venue boasts an outdoor shade-dappled stoep amid the Indaba Hotel’s lush and tranquil garden. Societies, corporate groups and stokvel groups are most likely to find the experience all the more appealing for team-building toenadering or out-of-office party
Doors open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday (10H00-19H00). Spier Wine Club events will also be held at the venue.
“Stay in the know: follow the Tasting Room and Spier on Facebook to be updated about events and new seasonal tasting in a relaxing environment that you’ll find it hard to believe that it is a mere 20 minutes’ away from Sandton’s bustle!” says Luyolo Ngcwabe, the Tasting Room manager.
One of the old Joburg landmarks, Indaba Hotel, Spa & Conference Centre is nestled on the north side of the city, in Fourways. From the property, the highlight is gazing at the sun setting over the vista of the magnificent Magaliesberg Mountains in the distant, while sipping on sundowners.
WINE EVENTS
An event for wine and art lovers will take place at MM Arthouse in Craighall Park, Johannesburg on November 6.
Dubbed “Sip & Create”, it will feature a tasting of a full range of Zarion wines crafted by Sandile Maseko. Tickets cost R650, and can be booked at info@artroots.co.za.
*The Summer Gin & Wine Garden Show takes place at Farmall, Johannesburg north, on November 27.
Visitors to the show will taste Bellamy wines, Zarion wines, Mkhala Gin, Native Spirits and Vachellia vodka. Tickets cost R350 a person, and are available via Quicket.
*Unwined Lowveld Wine & Food Show takes place at the Nelspruit/Mbombela Golf Club tomorrow. The show, which starts at 12noon and finishes at 6pm, will feature wines from 25 wineries, including Ataraxia, Delaire Graff, Ken Forrester, Middelvlei, Leopard’s Leap, Guardian Peak, Tokara and Van Loveren. Tickets cost R180 a person.
*Pick n Pay Winemakers Table Virtual Tasting features the bubbly Pongrácz tomorrow, from 6pm.
The retail chain brings to your home everything needed for the tasting, including ingredients to create three delicious canapés for two, plus a bottle of Pongrácz Brut Rosé Cap Classique 750ml, Pongrácz Brut Cap Classique 750ml, and Pongrácz Noble Nectar Demi Sec 750ml. Pick n Pay Wine Club members get R100 off the price of their ticket. Tickets cost R600. More Info https://www.pnp.co.za/wine-clubb
*Awali Wine Festival takes place in Centurion on November 6. Awali wines presents artisanal wine houses with a complementary wine glass to sip in an outdoor and picnic setting. Activities include music, wine education concerning wine etiquette, wine tasting notes etc. Tickets cost between R280 and R1000. The venue is River Meadow Manor, Twin River Estates, 1 Jan Smuts Ave, Centurion.
*A total of 100 wines will be up for tasting at “Biggest Wine Festival in the Vaal”, which takes place at Kariba Ranch in Meyerton on November 6.
The event starts at 10am and ends at 3pm. Tickets cost R100.
