The first thing winelovers will notice is a cork key ring adorning every bottle from mid-June. Featuring the message: “Soon to be extinct”, these limited-edition packs are intended to draw attention in a humorous way to the need to protect cork trees but also the advantages of screwcaps. “Research shows that screwcaps generally make for taint-free wines that maintain flavour and freshness,” says brand spokesperson, Vanessa Kok. Graça has also announced a three-year sponsorship involvement in the popular Nando’s Comedy Festival that takes place in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban during August and September. Graça will be the official wine sponsor of the annual festival. Graça is also the headline sponsor of the Comedy Showdown feature of the main Nando’s Comedy Festival. The initiative is intended to give a platform to up-and-coming comedians to strut their stuff in the three major cities five weeks prior to the main festival. The winner in each city will be rewarded with a show during the main festival. Go to www.comedyfestival.co.za for more. Graça was launched in 1983 as South Africa’s first Mediterranean-style white wine. Light, fresh and youthful in style, it was inspired by the famous vinho verde wines of Portugal. It fits so well into the local lifestyle that in nearly 30 years it has never once changed its appealing positioning. The brand has built up a loyal following of consumers based on its compatibility with virtually any food, but especially seafood. Graça Rosé was launched in the early 1990s and proved to be an immediate hit amongst consumers. Graça and Graça Rosé sell for around R28 a bottle.