Cape Town - It’s party time! The countdown to POT – aka Pinotage-on-Tap – has begun. A highlight on the vinous social calendar, this Diemersfontein fest has, in 10 short years, blossomed into one of the country’s major jols, with events taking place in Joburg, Durban and Cape Town, and the first international fest held in the UK in 2012. It recently attracted the top award as Best Wine Event in the World at the 2014 Drinks International Tourism Awards in London.
This year’s POT bash at its home base, the scenic Diemersfontein estate, also marks its 10th anniversary, and promises to be bigger, better and more fun than ever before.
The famous red wine with its unmistakable coffee-chocolate flavours was created in the Wellington cellar 14 years ago, and soon found favour with legions of fans. As the only local wine to boast its own dedicated event, the POT parties grew in popularity, spawning similar events in Joburg and Durban.
The programme is well-established, offering visitors endless pinotage on tap alongside an abundance of delectable food, live music from top names, entertainment and games . Ticket prices include a goodie bag, snacks, lunch and desserts, while those who splash out on the VIP tickets are treated to exclusive seating, private waiters, bubbly, oysters and a mystery gift. They also stay on for the celebrity after-party and take home a case of the mocha pinotage.
Booking has opened for all three POT parties. The Joburg and Durban POT festivals are scheduled for September 13 and October 4. The Cape Town event takes place on October 11. For more information, see www.diemersfontein.co.za or follow the fun on Facebook. Book at computicket.
Chenin Blanc’s time has come – cultivar champion
It just goes on getting better – the SA chenin story, that is, as quality and diversity of these appealing white wines increase, along with their popularity.
The top 10 winners in the inaugural Chenin Blanc Challenge were announced at a function at Delaire estate and the list includes wines from Stellenbosch, Paarl and Tulbagh, with retail prices ranging from R44 (Stellenrust) to R160 (KWV The Mentors).
Chenin Blanc Association chairman Ken Forrester, a tireless champion of the cultivar, feels that the wines are, at last, getting the recognition they deserve, and that chenin is “a grape whose time has come.”
Standard Bank will continue to act as headline sponsor for a further three-years, and winners must use their R20 000 prize money to benefit their workers economically and socially.
As deadlines for this column preceded the awards event, I haven’t as yet sampled the chosen 10, but here is the list of winners, with a brief remark from the judges’ tasting report. The wines were tasted blind and results narrowed over two further tastings to arrive at the top-scoring 10.
In alphabetical order:
Bellingham The Old Orchard 2013 – Rich and ripe.
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2013 – Very stylish.
KWV The Mentors 2012 – Concentrated and pure.
Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection 2013 – Powerful but well-balanced.
Remhoogte Honeybunch Reserve 2013 – Rich and honeyed.
Rijk’s Cellars Private Cellar 2009 – A blockbuster.
Simonsig Chenin Ave Chene 2010 – Rich and broad, really well executed.
Spier Woolworths Private Collection 2013 – Totally seductive.
Stellenrust 2014 – ‘Pure fruit and fresh acidity.’
Villiera Traditional Barrel fermented 2014 – ‘Citrus, peach and leesy complexity’.
To crown a week of chenin glory, results from the 2014 SA Champion Young Wine were also announced earlier this week, with the sought-after General Smuts Trophy going to Boland Cellar’s chenin blanc.
Weekend Argus