Whether you’re a newbie to the mysterious world of wine, or a seasoned wine enthusiast, wine shows present a great opportunity to check out new producers and wines, try something different or explore which varietals you enjoy most.
The Eastern Cape Wine Show at the Boardwalk next Friday and Saturday presents just such an opportunity, especially as its come to be known as a show where there’s enough space to move around and spend time really chatting to the exhibitors and finding out more about their products.
Attempting to sample every one of the more than 250 wines on the show in one evening would work out to a gruelling schedule of a sniff, swirl and sip every four minutes, so an alternative way to approach such a wide array of choices is to pick a theme.
Stick to red or white only, focus on chenin or chardonnay, or be adventurous and try something you’ve never had before.
For some, cabernet will always be king, but more and more winemakers are reviving long-forgotten cultivars or planting grapes rarely seen before locally, so if you say “zin-fan-what?” or don’t know your pinot noir from your pinot grigio – now’s your chance to find out.
Spelled cinsault or cinsaut (say “SIN-soh”), this delicious fruity-savoury light red is sometimes called “the pinot noir of the Swartland” for its embracing by the “revolutionaries” of that region.
Its other nickname of “poor man’s pinot noir” doesn’t really hold anymore. As its gained popularity – cinsault has gone from five listed in Platter’s in 2008 to 50 last year – so too have prices increased.
It shares savoury and sometimes earthy characteristics with pinot noir along with bright fruit flavours of cherries and berries, and a juicy character all its own.
Cinsault is a great red wine choice for summer – serve it lightly chilled – as it’s relatively light and easy to drink but still offers definite tannins and complexity of flavour.
Don’t take my word for it, though, check out Boland Cellar and Bonnievale at the wine show for their rosé cinsaults as an introduction to the varietal and when out shopping look out for cinsault from Leeuwenkuil, Darling Cellars, Fairview or Neil Ellis.
Pinot grigio has nothing to do with pinot noir. It’s a white Italian grape, introduced to SA by the late Anthonij Rupert, who believed that Mediterranean varieties, lovers of dry climates, were well suited to local conditions.
Try out its zesty crispness from the winery that bears Rupert’s name, under the Protea label.
Talking things Italian, visit Raka to experience sangiovese – a savoury full-flavoured red, darker and with more body than pinot noir or cinsaut – and Steenberg for their outstanding nebbiolo. A personal favourite, it’s all about smoky-savouriness and sour cherries. Yum.
For some interesting whites, look out for the viognier from Idiom, especially if you’re a chardonnay lover; (expect perfume, spice and creamy body); gewurtztraminer from Neethlingshof or Simonsig, especially for spicy food fans, and experience “the real deal” with German import Reichsgraf von Kesselstat Wiltlinger Riesling 2014 at Reciprocal Wine along with some other French and Italian treats.