Welcome to the Western Cape Wineries - a kiwi's opinion blog

I originally set up this blog to help foreigners have an enjoyable experience when visiting the western cape wineries in South Africa.

I realised that it is very difficult for a tourist to choose where to go and which wineries to visit, when you have 600+ wine producers to choose from.

When I first moved to SA December 2010, my palate struggled to adjust to SA wine, b
ut after living here for a while and after visiting over 100+ wine estates, I have found many wines which I really like and can highly recommend.

Admittingly, when you come from another country it is hard not to compare the wine in SA to what you are used to back home. However, once you realise they are not the same (they have their own characteristics due to the different soil, climate etc) and appreciate their wines for being SA wines, it will improve your opinion and experience of the wines immediately.

If you are staying in SA for a while, don't dispair, your palate will change, and you will soon find yourself liking SA wine over your home countries wine!!

I hope my blog will help wine lovers have an enjoyable wine experience while in SA.

Please note: I am not a wine connoisseur. The comments I write about the wine is mostly for my own benefit of having them on record.



Sunday 15 April 2012

Taste of Cape Town – Green Point Cricket Club– 19 – 22 April

 


Taste of Cape Town – Green Point Cricket Club– 19 – 22 April

Pick n Pay Taste of Cape Town in association with Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum celebrates its 5th birthday in Cape Town with fun, food and fabulosity galore.

Your tastebuds will be treated to a 5-star experience at this year’s Taste of Cape Town at the Green Point Cricket Oval from 19 – 22 April. This gourmet event allows the public to nibble their way around fourteen of the city’s top restaurants at each Taste session.

The premise is quite simple: Cape Town’s finest chefs line up to showcase their culinary prowess with tantalizing signature dishes. All you have to do is hop from one to the other, sample the best cuisine the city has to offer, all while sipping on superb wines and cocktails. There are plenty of interactive food and liquor classes to attend and foodie folk to meet and greet.

The Festival showcases fourteen of Cape Town’s top restaurants and chefs, who have been tasked to serve the fabulous trend-setting signature dishes that have made them famous.

The impressive list of restaurants and their world class chefs guarantee that there will be something sensational for every palate. The list includes the following restaurants:

Azure Restaurant at the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa – Executive chef Henrico Grobbelaar
Bistro Sixteen82 – Executive chef Brad Ball
II Leone Mastrantonio – Daniel Toledo
Fyndraai Restaurant – Shaun Schoeman
La Colombe – Head chef Scot Kirton
Makaron at Majeka House – Head chef Tanja Kruger
Planet Bar & Restaurant - Executive chef Rudi Liebenberg
Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace – Executive chef Malika Van Reenen
Sofia’s at Morgenster & Overture – Chef/patron Craig Cormack & Chef/patron Bertus Basson
Taj Cape Town – Executive chef Shyam Longani
Savour Restaurant at 15 on Orange Hotel – Executive chef Sanel Esterhuyse
96 Winery Road – Executive chef Natasha Wray
The Westin Executive Club Restaurant – Executive Chef Johann Breedt
Taste Pop-Up Restaurant – featuring guest chefs the likes of Luke Dale Roberts - The Pot Luck Club, George Jardine - Jordan, Richard Carstens –Tokara Restaurant

Back by popular demand, the Pick n Pay Fresh Living Chef’s Theatre will again host Cape Town’s top chefs in fun and informative cooking demonstrations, culinary challenges, entertaining tutorials.  This year’s will also see the return of the Pick n Pay Wine and Canapé Experience, an interactive, hands-on area where guests will create three simple, stylish and utterly delicious canapés while an expert pairs each canapé with a wine to compliment the flavours.

More foodie features include The Westin Executive Club Restaurant, The Snowflake Pancake Feature and The Amazing Thailand Experience.  And don’t miss the DStv live Cook-Off in the Pick n Pay Fresh Living Chef’s Theatre on Saturday 21st April.

Be sure to check out the Fine Brandy by Design by Distell, Jimmijagga, Jagermeister, Redds and San Pellegrino/Acqua Panna features, all of which will showcase the drinks that complete a meal - it’s not just about quenching those “thirst buds”, but also giving visitors the opportunity to mix and match flavours to get the best of every bite.

Celebrate Cape Town’s local food heroes at The Small Producers Market where you will find delicious hand-made cheeses, pestos, homemade jams and sweets, as well as exotic ingredients and herbs to inspire home-chefs to create their own culinary masterpieces.  Visit By Nature for dried fruit and nuts, Yummi Brownies for delicious chocolate brownies, or pick up a cupcake from Queen of Tarts!

Visitors are invited to take a walk through the Taste & Buy Experience and discover a mouth-watering array of gourmet food suppliers and try delicious wines as well as speciality food and ingredients to take home such as Olive Pride, Three Streams Smokehouse, Sally Williams and Schecktersorganic Energy.

For the little folk, Pick n Pay Taste of Cape Town in association with Orbit Chewing Gum has created a KidzZone hosted by Party Tots on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of April.  Fun activities for all ages are the order of the day which should keep the kids entertained while Mom and Dad enjoy the delectable delights the festival has to offer.

In addition to all of this, Taste 2012 is serving up a dose of Green Awareness, along with naming sponsors Pick n Pay and Orbit Sugar Free Chewing Gum, who both place great importance on environmental issues and actively promote and enforce sustainability in their core activities. The Pick n Pay Taste of Cape Town in association with Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum has also partnered with green companies such as Interwaste and Green Home in order to ensure a more sustainable event.

“We are proud to be getting greener every year and to be doing so endeavour with the complete support and assistance of our environmentally aware sponsors, partners and exhibitors,” says Festival Director, Justine Drake.  “Taking the environment into account and ensuring best practice in terms of sustainability can only add to the flavour experience that epitomises Taste“, she continues, “It's our 5th year and we're bigger, better and greener than ever. This year we have some exciting new restaurants (and some old favourites), hands-on cooking classes, a chef’s theatre and more wine and exotic liquor than ever before.  There's plenty of parking, games for the kids, loads to eat and drink and much fun to be had…be there or miss out!”

The impressive list of participating restaurants, award-winning wineries, premium drinks brands and extraordinary exhibitors will guarantee that there will be something sensational for everyone. So get down to the Green Point Cricket Club from the 19th – 22nd April to enjoy one of South Africa’s most delectable Taste extravaganzas!

To avoid queues early booking is advised, so book now- Visit www.tastefestivalssa.co.za
Or go to www.itickets.co.za


 - ENDS -
_____________________________________________________________________

For further information please contact:

The Pick n Pay Taste of Cape Town in association with Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum
The Taste Team on 021 418 4516 or 011 463 0355
For Marketing, please contact alex@tastefestivalssa.co.za
For Corporate Hospitality, please contact daniella@tastefestivalssa.co.za or nicole@tastefestivalssa.co.za

For any queries regarding publicity, please contact Eddy Cassar on 082 4503151 or eddy@eddycassarpr.co.za







What, Where, When, How…

Festival times:
Thursday 19th April: 18h30- 22h30
Friday 20th April: 18h30- 22h30
Saturday 21st April: 13h00- 17h00; 18h30- 22h30
Sunday 22nd April: 12h00- 17h00

Tickets:
Tickets are limited and booking is recommended – for further information and bookings visit www.tastefestivalssa.co.za or go to http://www.itickets.co.za/ or call 0861 000 291 for more info.
Standard tickets cost R80 (including a tasting glass)
Premium Tickets cost R200 (which includes R120 worth of Festival Crowns and a tasting glass)

A Taste Club House presented by DStv ticket costs R685 – includes fast-track entry, unlimited access to the Taste Club House which serves as your base for the show, R180 worth of Crowns (the official festival currency), 3 complimentary drinks, a crown bar facility and a free tasting glass.
Corporate Hospitality - Includes an exclusive area which serves as your base for the show – your branding may be placed in the area upon request*
R180 worth of Crowns per person (The official festival currency)
A Taste of Cape Town gift
Fast track entry
A tasting glass
Complimentary premium bar

As part of the package, you can book an exclusive 30-minute wine tasting with the inimitable and highly respected Wade Bales.
Well-known wine connoisseur, Wade, and a top SA wine maker will take you on a tantalising journey where you will get to sample a selection of iconic South African wines.
*Subject to the number of guests

Taste of Cape Town Festival Crowns:
Crowns are the Festivals’ official “currency”, which can be purchased at the festival from the Taste Bank or Crown Sellers walking around the festival grounds.  Visitors use these Crowns to purchase food and drinks from the restaurants, bars and exhibitors.  Each Crown is worth R5.  Change is offered in Crowns only.

Visit http://www.tastefestivalssa.co.za/ or purchase tickets from http://www.itickets.co.za/ or call 0861 000 291 for more info.

ENDS.

Issued by Eddy Cassar Public Relations on behalf of Pick n Pay Taste of Cape Town in association with Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum.

Tel: 021 438 2595
eddy@eddycassarpr.co.za




3 comments:

  1. I went to this event last year and loved it!! There is a great selection of wine and food!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loved the Limelight Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. At TASTE I tried De Wetshof wine. And I really liked the Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011 at R35 a bottle. I bought one bottle while at the event, I drank it last night at a friend’s place, while we were having a Braai, and it was perfect for the occasion. I highly recommend this wine.

    ReplyDelete