Top 100 SA Wines Johannesburg Tasting Festival
Thursday, 24 May, 2012
Top 100 SA Wines
Top 100 SA Wine tasting public festival held at Hyatt Rosebank, Johannesburg on 10 May 2012.
Over two hundred local wine lovers attended the well-publicised and very successful wine tasting festival at the HYATT hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg, last Thursday. Ticket sales had to be closed off on the day! The stellar line-up featured South Africa’s top 100 wines with a number of winning vineyards’ wine makers in attendance. It could only be a huge success following on from the One&Only event in CT the week before.
The wine loving public and top wines can only promote a festive spirit and this is what it was in droves. The party atmosphere was enhanced by a keen intent from guests to learn more about the brilliant range of wines making up South Africa’s Top 100 winners. Wine makers and representatives were on hand to ensure that all questions could be well answered.
Thibault de Vries, F&B executive from Hyatt Rosebank, quoted: “This was our second year hosting the Top 100 SA Wine tasting festival. The quality of both the wines and the guests was simply outstanding. Clearly the event is already well known with a keen following and it is growing in stature and impact. We are delighted to host this prestigious event for Top 100.”
Allée Bleue Van Zyl du Toit added: “This was a very special event for us to participate in and to show our winning Pinotage and again our delightful white Isabeau blend this year. Showing both our great winning wines to a discerning public is what it’s all about.”
Boplaas’ Carel Nel complimented: “A very well organised and well run event. Our two winning Ports received a fantastic response and we are delighted with the opportunities to get them across to the right market.”
Bosman Family Vineyards Petrus Bosman had this to say: “With a total of four winning wines in the last two years, our consistency as a top quality producer is clear. Our Erfenis red blend and Optenhorst chenin were very much sought after by the tasting public and this is just what promotion of fine wine is all about.”
Ernie Els wine maker Louis Strydom was pleased: “The opportunity to showcase our three winning wines in this professional way, to a polished Johannesburg audience, fits brilliantly with our approach to brand management. We enjoyed outstanding feedback on the Proprietors Syrah and the Signature Bordeaux Blend. The Big Easy, a Best Value winner too, attracted huge interest and support. ”
La Motte’s Cellar Master Edmund Terblanche had this to add: “The Johannesburg public are keen on quality and our two winning Shirazes gained lots of appreciative attention. Our fine wine markets are alive and well and it’s truly great being an integral part of the Top 100 portfolio of wines again in 2012.”
Kobus Gerber from multiple winners Lomond contributed his thoughts: “The Johannesburg market is very important to us. With a total of four Top 100 winning wines in 2012, we were delighted to be able to show the three Sauvignon Blancs as well as the Conebush Syrah in this stylish and fitting manner at Hyatt. The response to our wines was really positive and supportive.”
Tokara spokesman Thys Lombard shared his insight: “The brand Top 100 is all about showing our greatest SA wines to connoisseurs and wine lovers alike. Once again this year we enjoyed the recognition of having our two Directors Reserve wines winning Top 100 SA Wine status. Tokara are very pleased with the promotion programme and the Johannesburg event was another success story with fabulous comments on our wines.”
Swartland Wineries Andries Blake offered: “Pinotage and Shiraz are increasing in popularity and our two winning wines gained tremendous attention from the discerning tasting public at Hyatt. It pleases us greatly to get our wines in front of the right calibre of people. Top 100, which is gaining in popularity, does this very successfully.”
Vondeling wine maker Matthew Copeland was jubilant: “Winning again in 2012, this time with The Baldrick Shiraz and our Sweet Carolyn, is an outstanding endorsement of our quality and we accept it as an accolade of note. Showing these great wines to the affluent Johannesburg market in this prestigious way is totally aligned with our market facing approach.”
This annual event, now successfully in year two, is clearly already a permanent Johannesburg fine wine fixture. It presents the unique opportunity for discerning public wine lovers to mingle with the countries’ best winemakers and to enjoy South Africa’s finest wines in a relaxed and contemporary fashion.
Ren Bootha Top, 100 SA Wines logistics manager, concluded: “The style and comfort of the surroundings gave these outstanding wines an ideal platform. It allowed the public to identify fully with the great qualities that each wine offers. Feedback from both the public and the vineyards clearly indicates the success of this great annual event and justifies the effort, commitment and investment in our fine wine future.”