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The 2019 harvest season ended in mid April, almost three months after picking commenced,and with volumes up 60 tonnes onlast year, it is described as an “an ultra-marathon” by head of production Johan Malan and cellarmaster Debbie Thompson.

One of the major influences on harvest 2019 was the preceding winter that saw 70% more rainfall than the previous year (regarded as one ofthe driest in the history of the Cape winelands). An unexpected warm spell in June 2018 saw temperatures rising to above 30°C, pushing the vineyards to uneven budding and patchy ripening as the berries gained sugar and colour. his resulted in certain varieties being picked in stages, while other grape cultivars ripened simultaneously, placing considerable pressure on the harvest and cellar-teams.

The Mulderbosch Cabernet Franc 2015 and 2016 was rated among South Africa’s top six Cabernet Francs in the recent Cabernet Franc Challenge.

Celebrated at an awards function in Franschhoek on Tuesday 16 April, Adam Mason took to the stage: “Cabernet Franc thrives on the free draining ‘koffieklip’ soils here at Mulderbosch Vineyards on the southern slopes of the Stellenbosch Kloof, 12-odd kilometres from False Bay.

Of the 2016, Mason adds: “One particular vineyard consistently impressed us, being annually the stand-out tank of red wine in the cellar. Aside from being an important component in our Faithful Hound red blend, it now also found a home as a single vineyard bottling of Cabernet Franc. We’re happy to see it pay off.”

Klein Constantia Wines to be served at 'Mandela 100 years' Gala Celebration in Washington D.C

As a proud supporter of the Mandela 100 Years campaign, Klein Constantia is delighted that its wines will be served at the Mandela 100th Celebration Gala being held at The National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington D.C. on 27 April 2019 (Freedom Day).

The gala will be the culmination of a unified campaign that kicked off in the United States on 18 July 2018, marking the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth. The campaign has seen Mandela’s four official legacy foundations collaborate to build ongoing, sustainable support for his legacy priorities: advancing equality, social justice and the well-being of children.

Klein Constantia is incredibly proud to be sponsors of the ‘Mandela 100 years’ gala dinner in Washington DC – a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Mandela’s birth & the 25th anniversary of the 1st democratic elections in South Africa.

Mandela’s legacy organizations (including the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital & Mandela Rhodes Foundation) have created a campaign to actively highlight the late great Mandela’s global contribution. From advancing equality, social justice and the wellbeing of children to inspiring support for the future.

To be held at the National Museum of African American History & Culture on the 27th of April, the evening will showcase a documentary on Madiba’s legacy.

I am a total sucker for sweet wines. Add a touch of Botrytis Cinerea to a Riesling grape and you have me captured. De Wetshof Wine Estate in the Robertson Wine Appellation is well known for its superb Chardonnays, a Pinot Noir and one or two other fine wines. This is also the home of the De Wetshof Edeloes 2006. The soils and the climate are all perfect for grape growing. Danie de Wet, the patriarch, and his sons Johann [Marketing & Vineyards] and Peter [Winemaker] own and manage this beautiful gem in the Robertson Valley.

The grapes for the De Wetshof Edeloes 2006 are harvested on the estate. This natural dessert wine is only made in years when higher than average humidity allows the Riesling grapes to develop to the exquisitely ripe stage when the feature known as Noble Rot sets in. 

If you are in the business of producing or selling a value-adding product, the brand is a most important thing. We all  try to take the commodity and make something special and unique, something that has a better perceived value to the end-consumer. But to the consumer, are brands as important as they used to be?

I was treated to a beautiful tasting of their latest releases at the E.Guigal stand at the recent Prowein wine trade fair, when a representative from Drinks International came to deliver a certificate. E.Guigal has been listed at number seven on the Drinks International 2019 list of Most Admired Wine Brands. Quite an achievement! The list reads like the who’s who of the wine word: Penfolds, Torres, Villa Maria, Concha Y Toro and of course, other than Guigal, the famous French Chateux – Margaux, Petrus, D’Yquem. 

Indulging in exceptional pork dishes when visiting the Prowein show in Germany has become somewhat of a tradition. While they are usually served with a selection of beautiful local beers, the variety of recipes and their interesting sides can make your wine choice quite interesting.

This year, the German’s expert touch with pork has even lead to this tongue in the cheek article by Emile Joubert about South Africans depleting local pork stocks! While the international wine trade can be seen enjoying eisbein, schnitzels and Kassler chops all over Düsseldorf for the few days of the show, it is exactly this versatility of pork that brings somewhat of a wine challenge.

One can’t help to feel slightly intimidated by the enormity of the global wine offering when walking through hall after hall of wine at the annual Prowein show in Düsseldorf. Still, measured by the activity on the South African stand, there seems to be a lot of interest in our wines. And I can’t say I am surprised. I think South Africa is the most exciting wine country at the moment. Yes, it is quite a claim, but I’ll explain my thinking.

I have tasted the complexity of E.Guigal, the brilliance of Sancerre, the charm of Provence – to name but a few of the wonderful wines available to sample at the three-day long event. 

Diemersdal Estate from Durbanville has received the first international accolade for its revolutionary Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc, winning a Gold medal at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon held this year in Udine in Italy‘s Friuli region. Diemersdal Winter Ferment 2018, the farm’s second vintage of this specific wine style, was one of six South African wines to win Gold at this year’s competition, which drew 1 010 entries from 36 countries.

Diemersdal Winter Ferment is made using an innovative wine-making process where the Sauvignon Blanc juice is frozen during the harvest in February and then thawed five months later, after which it is fermented to produce a wine with exceptional tropical flavours.