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Dear *|FNAME|*,
Our latest tasting series is now live! Syrah lovers are in for a treat, with vertical tastings from cult producers such as Northern Rhône legend Jamet and Polkadraai revolutionaries Van Loggerenberg Graft and Sons of Sugarland. With summer on the horizon, dip in the Med and discover delicious crisp, textured whites to sip in the sun. We’ll take a trip through Bordeaux and taste the 2020 vintage, and Pretoria, we’re coming for you with a three-course fine wine dinner. To satisfy our Champagne obsession, we’ll end the year on a high note with our annual celebration of Grower Champagne – a must for bubbly lovers.
A dip in the Med: Whites from Italy, Spain & Portugal vs. SA – R525
Cape Town: Wednesday, 4 October, Wine Cellar Observatory
Johannesburg: Thursday, 12 October, Dunkeld West Centre
Time: 18h00 - 19h30
We cannot wait for summer to arrive. Think crisp, zippy whites and complex mineral blends paired with grilled fish, fried seafood, lemony pasta and vibrant salads. These are the wines to do the job. We’ll dive into whites from Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Swartland, and beyond. The varieties on show include Albariño, Verdelho, Carricante, Malvasia, Viura, and Palomino.
A Tale of 2 Syrahs: Sons of Sugarland and The Graft – R550
Cape Town: Wednesday, 18 October, Wine Cellar Observatory
Time: 18h00 – 19h30
This will be a fascinating exploration of Winemaker versus Terroir. We’ll go on a vertical journey through the wines of Syrah fiends and friends Reenen Borman and Lukas van Loggerenberg, comparing the first five vintages of the Sons of Sugarland Syrah and The Graft Syrah. The wines come from the same vineyard and are picked on the same day, but they’re vinified differently.
Bordeaux & Beef: A Perfect Match in Pretoria – R1,750
Pretoria: Wednesday, 1 November, Pachas Restaurant
Time: 18h00 - 21h00
In an exciting first, we’re hosting a Bordeaux dinner at one of Pretoria’s traditionalist fine dining restaurants, Pachas. Bordeaux is known for its versatility with food. From heavy, textured red meats to local river perch from the Gironde, Bordeaux reds are a terrific match. Join us for a mini-tour of Bordeaux with some superb whites from the Right Bank, followed by a selection of great reds. We’ll conclude proceedings with a perennial overachiever from Barsac, Dosiy-Daëne. Your ticket includes a three-course meal, wine and coffee/tea. Not to be missed.
Cult Favourite: Limited Vertical Tasting of Jamet Côtes du Rhône Rouge – R650
Cape Town: Wednesday, 8 November, Wine Cellar Observatory
Time: 18h00 – 19h30
Join us for a vertical tasting of Jamet’s Côtes du Rhône Rouge – a classic cult wine and one of the most sought-after Côtes du Rhônes, described as a venerable ‘baby Côte Rôtie’ by Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate. In this single-bottle tasting, we’ll explore ten years of this 100% Syrah from the Northern Rhône.
Bordeaux's Finest: New Arrivals and the Magical 2020 Vintage – R1,250
Cape Town: Wednesday, 15 November, Wine Cellar Observatory
Johannesburg: Thursday, 2 November, Dunkeld West Centre
Time: 18h00 – 19h30
Bordeaux is back, and we’re looking forward to an incredible selection of wines from across the price spectrum. ‘2020 is by far the most consistent of the three vintages in Bordeaux’s so-called trilogy,’ notes Antonio Galloni of Vinous. With the lowest average alcohol of the magical trilogy (2018, 2019 and 2020), these fresh, structured wines promise decades of ageing. This is a rare opportunity to sample the newest member of Saint-Émilion’s Classé ‘A’ club, one of the giants of Pauillac, and some of Wine Cellar’s favourite châteaux.
Grower Champagne Celebration – ‘A New Era’ – R1,150
Cape Town: Wednesday, 6 December, Wine Cellar Observatory
Johannesburg: Thursday, 7 December, Dunkeld West Centre
Time: 18h00 – 19h30
We’re obsessed with this category! For decades, large houses have dominated the world of Champagne with their incredible consistency and luxurious Grandes Marques cuvées. But now the family-run, artisanal Champagne houses are shaking things up with fascinating and contrasting styles. This has catapulted ‘Grower Champagnes into a New Era’, says Antonio Galloni of Vinous. Discover the nuances and terroir expressions these small-batch growers have to offer at one of the most coveted tastings on our calendar.
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