Each winning wine in the Santam Paarl Shiraz Chenin Challenge will be stationed with its winemaker who will pour, swirl, sniff, sip and discuss the wine with guests - until the sound of the gong at the ten-minute mark. At that point it’s time to move on and the process starts again; the guests’ colour-coded glasses dissuading thoughts of lingering! Canapés will be served throughout and lucky draws will be held towards the end of the evening. Guests will be given the chance to vote for their own top ten in each of the categories. This year’s winning wines in the Santam Paarl Challenge comprise a great variety of flavour, style and oaking regime; though shared between them, says Mellesat owner Stephen Richardson, is elegance and purity of fruit. Stephen’s Dekker’s Valley Shiraz is a top ten laureate – the overall category winner being KWV; while Windmeul once again took out the Chenin Blanc category. The tasting will take place at the Taj Cape Town from 6.30pm to 10pm on Thursday 8 November. Tickets are available for R180 at www.webtickets.co.za until 3 November 2012, this to include the tutored tasting, canapés and lucky draws for wines. For further information see www.paarlwine.co.za, Facebook @Paarl-Wine or Twitter @paarlwineroute.