Ex Animo Wine Co.

I first met David Clarke a few years ago when I traded him lessons on wine (he is a sommelier, after all) for Afrikaans lessons. He’d just moved to SA – married to an Afrikaans-speaking local and he wanted to improve his local lingo. Packed schedules eventually got the better of us both and we only really had a few lessons, but his incredibly knowledge and honest, down-to-earth love for wine stayed with me. Back to present day, David and his wife Jeannette have started Ex Animo Wine Co. and they’ve been bloody busy since. They had their first trade show in early March and it was packed to the rafters with some of the most exciting and enjoyable wines I’ve encountered in ages.

First, a bit of an intro for Ex Animo. I think of them as “not just another wine company”. In their own words: “…work with and represent a select group of producers who are passionate about vineyards and aspire to reflect them in the cellar.” and “Our aim is to get South Africans to drink better wine, thus quality ‘in the glass’ is paramount.”. 

This vision translates into Ex Animo sourcing some of the most exciting, talked about and paradigm-shifting wines, wineries and wine-makers to be involved with. Each partner reflects the core idea that David and Jeannette have in mind: getting SA to drink better wine through service, knowledge and education. It’s impossible to miss the love these two have for the wine industry and it’s hard to not get excited when chatting to either of them about wine. Their trade show was a collection of the new, the unexpected and in some cases (I’m looking at you, Testalonga El Bandito), the downright incomparable. The complete list of producers featured at the trade tasting is at the end of the post. Choosing out special mentions is tricky (the merits of the likes of Julien Schaal, Testalonga El Bandito and Thorne&Daughters is no surprise to anyone), so I’ll just go for the ones I enjoyed the most – which is also tricky because the wines were all exceptional in their own way.

Craven Wines – I fell in love with their Pinot Noir last year, while continuing a stormy and tumultuous relationship with the heart-break grape. I still love it as much as the first time I tasted it. I also had the chance to taste their Clairette Blanche, which I found fresh and fascinating.

Lammershoek – They brought the longest wine list to the show and I worked diligently through all of them. They make a Hárslevelü (the only other winery I’m aware of that makes one is Lemberg in Tulbagh), the unusual nature of the wine is quite noticeable though it’s probably not to everyone’s taste. As recent self-appointed champion for rosé and Blanc de Noir wines, the LAM Rosé 2013 was a great find, good strong acidity and just the faintest hint of spice from the Syrah with a great finish. The Bush Vines Chenin Blanc was by far my favourite though, good body and a complexity that makes it moreish and engaging.

Spioenkop – Elgin based producer, crazy Belgian Koen Roose makes wines in more a French style (though I wouldn’t presume to try and box their wines in too tightly). The vibrant, cool climate Pinotage 2013 stuck with me, an elegant wine made more like a Pinot Noir than it’s progeny normally is.

I adore what Ex Animo are doing, I think it’s exciting to see people with the knowledge and the (ugh…I hate this next word, but in this case it is authentically appropriate) passion of the Clarke’s doing their bit to breathe new life into industry, adding to the mix in ways that ultimately means that we – the wine consumers – are in for a treat.

The Ex Animo Trade Tasting was held on the 9th of March, 2015 and feature the following producers: Craven, Intellego, JH Meyer Signature Wines, Julien Schaal, Lammershoek, Restless River, Skinny Legs, Spioenkop, Testalonga El Bandito, Thorne & Daughters, Trizanne Signature Wines. The Ex Animo website will be launched soon. For more information, contact David or Jeannette.

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Winestyle Summer Winedown 2015

Early Autumn is creeping around the corner slowly and the lovely people from Wine-Style have just the event to wind down summer. The Wine-Style Summer Winedown 2015 has it all. Gorgeous setting, all the wines you could wish for and the makings of a most fantastic, enjoyable and wine-filled day out. Block out 20-21 March in your diaries, because you don’t want to miss out on this indulgent day of relaxation.

Hosted at the gorgeous Tintswalo Waterfall in Kyalami, the Summer Winedown promises to be more than just another wine event. The focus is on a lazy day out, celebrating the end of summer and lazing about with family and friends, enjoying the music, the vibe and (of course) the wine.

Normal entry is R120 per person but there are EARLY BIRD TICKETS available at R85 pp until the end of February. Tickets can be booked via Webtickets.

Grab your tickets, grab a few extra for those slow-poke family and friends who are always forgetting to do things and meet up to wave goodbye to summer in the most stylish way.

• Venue: Tintswalo Waterfall – Kyalami, Gauteng
• Date: 20t^h & 21st of March 2015 (Friday 6 -10pm & Saturday 12-7 pm)
• Dress Code: White with a touch of Bright
• Tickets: R86 (Early Bird) or R120

For more information, check out Winestyle’s website or contact Kalinka or Theshni

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FNB Whisky Live Showroom

While this website has its roots firmly planted in wine, the content and appreciation is definitely not limited to said precious liquid. We here at Incogvino do not discriminate between alcoholic beverages and especially not against whisky. Or whiskey. Whichever you prefer. With that in mind, it’s nearly time for the net FNB Whisky Live festival. These annual events are held in Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit, Sandton and now also Soweto. To celebrate the upcoming FNB Whisky Live Showroom in Soweto, we’re giving away two sets of double tickets to two Incogvino winos (Whiskiers? Whiskos? Whiskocvinos?)

The 2014 FNB Whisky Live Showroom in Soweto will take place at the Walter Sisulu Hall from the 15th to the 17th of August. Moving to a slightly smaller venue than the 2013 event, this promises to be a bit more intimate a setting for whisky lovers, but also means tickets will be limited. To make sure you don’t miss out on this event you can a) enter our Incogvino Twitter competition (details below) or b) secure your place by booking online.

Attendees can look forward to an impressive line-up of international whiskies, including Glenlivet, Bains Mountain Whisky, Balblair and Glenfiddich, to name only a few of many. This event is a great one for anyone to attend, whether you’re a long-time connoisseur or if you’re just starting on our journey of whisky appreciation, it will be a great opportunity to learn, enjoy and indulge.

Tickets for the festival are R150 if you book online and R170 at the door (if there are any left!). Ticket prices include a complimentary tasting glass (of course, how else would you taste the marvellous offerings?), a 2014 SA Whisky Handbook (that will come in handy!), a 500ml bottle of Valpré Spring Water (the key to a good whisky festival is hydration…), 15 tasting vouchers (that’s a lot of whisky) and a bonus 10% discount on any purchases made at the Showroom’s Whisky Shop OR on the Whisky Shop website.

Sound good? Keen to go? Feeling lucky? Then it’s competition time!

Entering for a chance to win one of two sets of double tickets to the FNB Whisky Live Showroom in Soweto (on the Friday 15 August) is as easy as falling off a whisky barrel. All you need to do is:

1. Tweet us @WeAreIncogvino using the hashtag #WantToWhisky and tell us why you want to whisky in Soweto on the 15th of August. Go nuts, be creative or just express your love for whisky in one crazy tweet.
2. For a bonus entry, comment below and tell us your funn(i)est whisky story. 

Entries close on Wednesday morning at 11:00. Winners will be contacted via Twitter and email. Please ensure that you will be able to attend the event in Soweto on the 15th of August. 

*Images and event information courtesy of Tribeca Public Relations*

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CWG Auction Showcase 2014

For the most part, I feel that day-to-day winos don’t really think much about wine auctions. Personally, I’m not too phased by the amounts spent on wine at auctions, it’s just that I don’t have that type of cash to spend (at least, not all at once), so the word “auction” inspires a mental separation of sorts. A bit of “that’s nice” and then I move on to something more relevant to me. Like the bottle of bubbly in my fridge. I started taking notice of the Cape Winemaker’s Guild auction last year when I attended my first CWG Auction Showcase. It was exciting, engaging and excellent. It’s almost time for the 2014 CWG Showcase, so let me tell you a bit more about what to expect.

But first, let me tell you about the Cape Winemakers Guild. It is made up of 45 members, representing arguably some of the top winemakers in the country. Not only are they often on the forefront of innovation and promotion of South African wines, but they also have a development trust supporting social development in the winelands, as well as a protégé programme which allows young, aspiring winemakers to work alongside the guild members, all masters in their field.

2014 will see the 30th CWG auction, so this has been around for a while. A well-known event in industry, the auction itself has enjoyed a growing popularity in the public eye over the past few years.  This is likely due  to the public tasting of the auctions wines, serving to not only introduce consumers to the guild and their wines but also drum up some excitement for the auction itself.

Last year’s auction smashed previous records, bringing in more than R8 million. 82% of the wines on offer were bought by local buyers, of which the biggest spender was Alan Pick of The Butcher Shop and Grill in Sandton. He shelled out R1 357 600 to claim his share of the loot. The auction also raised a shade under R200 000 on they day for their protégé programme, including a R60 000 price fetched for  a special 18-litre once-off blend called the 2011 Members’ Reserve at the Charity Auction.

Some of my personal highlights from the 2013 showcase included the following wines:

• AA Badenhorst Family White Grenache – Vuilgoed 2012
• Vriesenhof Pinot Noir 2008
• Saronsberg CWG Viognier 2011
• Mullineux Family White Blend 2011
• Boplaas Ox Wagon Auction Reserve Potstill Brandy 8 Year

The 2014 CWG Auction Showcase will be held in Cape Town on Thursday 21 August at the CTICC and in Johannesburg on Wednesday 27 August at The Atrium, Nedbank Head Offices. Tickets are R170 pp and includes a tasting glass. You can book for both events on WebTickets. Wines that have been selected for the auction will be on offer from the 45 member farms (see the full list below).

For more information, check out the Cape Winemakers Guild website or contact their head office on 021 852 0408. Images courtesy of GC Communications.

CWG member farms are: Kanonkop, AA Badenhorst Family Wines, Mullineux Family Wines, Paul Cluver Estate Wines, Hermanuspietersfontein, Nitida, Beyerskloof, Groot Constantia, Overgaauw, The Drift Fram, Boplaas, Hartenberg, De Grendel, Rust en Vrede, Kaapzicht, Edgbaston, Cederberg Private Cellar, De Trafford, Saronsberg Cellar, Cape Point Vineyards, Le Riche Wines, Spier, Jordan, Cape Chamonix, Boschkloof, Vriesenhof, Villiera, Grangehurst, Kleine Zalze, Simonsig, Steenberg, Waterford, Ataraxia, Louis Wines, Ernie Els, Boekenhoutskloof, Tokara, Neil Ellis, Lanner Hill, Luddite Wines, Bouchard Finlayson, Rijk’s Private Cellar, Graham Beck, Strydom Vineyards, Teddy Hall Wines.

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Wine Concepts

As someone who attempts to blog about their full-time hobby while holding down a full-time (unrelated) job, I’m the first to admit writing when you’re working 10-12 hour days is pretty tough at times. As a wine lover with the occasional opportunity to attend really exceptional events, I’m stubborn about putting content I care about out there, even if it is a couple of weeks after the fact. The Wine Concepts Burgundy Lover’s Festival is one of those events. I was aiming for a more constructive, informative and generally well composed piece, but in truth I adore Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir stole my heart years ago, so my analytical mind shut down shortly after the first drop of heavenly liquid hit my glass. For this round, I’ll leave the proper wine reviewing aside for a bit and just run through some of the more interesting and downright divine finds of the evening.

Knowing where my favourite wines were to be found and also which new ones wanted to try, I plunged into the fray randomly, approaching the first stand with a gap for me to fill my glass. This led me to Lothian Vineyards. I found their Chardonnay to be perfectly pleasant, hints of melon and lime and the most delicate touch of oak. Their Pinot Noir is well balanced, a mouthful of strawberry with a hint of tobacco on the other end of the spectrum.

The next new find was Winters Drift. Also from the Elgin Valley, I’ve seen the label around but had never tried their wines. The Chardonnay is very nice, smooth and lightly wooded with a honeydew fresh taste and good, soft acidity. The Pinot Noir is quite fruity, light and drinkable.

With great anticipation, I made my way to the Springfield stand to indulge in my longstanding love affair with their Wild Yeast and Methode Ancienne Chardonnay. Upon arrival, I was surprised to see they had a Pinot Noir on offer. I’m a great proponent of out-of-character wines in terms of styles, cultivars and where they are grown and made, but even so I wasn’t expecting a Pinot Noir (typically better suited to cooler areas) from Robertson, where summers can be merciless. I was delighted to find a sexy Pinot Noir in that bottle, slightly more muted and less fresh and fruity than others but with lots going on and lots to appreciate.

It was shortly after my stop at the Springfield station that I stopped taking pictures, finding conversing with my companions while discussing the exquisite wines far too consuming to keep snapping away with my phone. Other more than notable mentions include Vriesenhof, Creation (both their Pinot Noir and Reserve Pinot Noir are excellent) and Ataraxia (they had a sort of micro-flighted tasting, with their 2010 and 2013 Chardonnay available for tasting, a solid indication of what the younger wine could potentially grow into).

My absolute top finds of the evening were without question the Richard Kershaw Wines Chardonnay and both the Crystallum and Craven Wines Pinot Noirs. The Kershaw Chardonnay stops you dead in your tracks. A more composed, elegant and truly beautiful Chardonnay I have never encountered. Exquisitely wooded, complex fruit and a grounded character that invites you to just finish the bottle and make sure you pack a case in the car to take hom.

The Crystallum Pinot Noir is the stuff of dreams. If you love Pinot Noir, this is the one to seek out. And the Craven Wines Pinot Noir is magnificently exciting, a breath of fresh air from the seemingly new trend of “Young Guns” winemakers on the SA wine scene. Incredibly wine makers doing fantastically exciting things, shaking up the wine scene and producing tastebud-blowing stuff.

I’ll say it again. I love Chardonnay and I adore Pinot Noir. The Burgundy Lover’s festival was a treat, well organised and presented by the team from Wine Concepts. And if Sauvignon is more your thing, then you should keep an eye on their website for the Seductive Sauvignon festival coming up in September. It promises to be a spectacular collection of the best Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon around. I’m saving the date.

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Wine Concepts Burgundy Lover’s Festival 2014

If you love wine (surely everyone reading this does?), and you love the Burgundies, then you’ll love this: Wine Concepts is hosting the fourth annual Burgundy Lover’s Festival. And I can assure you, this year we are all in for a treat. Definitely an event all lovers of fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay need to take note of.

The Cape Town event will be hosted at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Newlands on Friday 13 June 2014, from 17:00 to 20:00. Incogvino has gotten a sneak preview of what’s in store at this year’s popular event.

The festival is all about getting the big names in the business of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in one room and offering tasters some undiscovered gems in between.

The 2014 Festival promises to have the very best in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on offer. 40 of the country’s top producers of these varietals will be offering their finest wines to festival goers. The wines will be complimented by snacks suited to the style of wine, enhancing the overall experience.

The Johannesburg festival was held on the 29th of May at The Wanderers Club in Illovo. One of our SuperFANS, Brian Arentsen attended the event and had the following to say about it:

“If you love small, focused, niche, boutique wine fests and enjoy Chards and Pinot then you would have died and gone to heaven at the Wanderers last Thursday! All the classiest Pinots were there, rubbing shoulders with a few French Bourgogne’s (shown off by Great Domaines). I could imagine driving from Elgin to Hermanus and up the Hemel and Aarde with all my favourite stops catered for. From Hamilton Russell to Creation and most inbetween, just heavenly Pinot Noir treats. The Chardonnays were a lot more diverse in location and in finished product. Big oak was present, but a good spread of lightly oak kissed and unoaked were all worthy of being thoroughly tested. My picks of the Pinot Noirs that offer good value were the new La Vierge and Oak Valley vintages while in the Chards I couldn’t look beyond the Jordan offerings, all 9 yards of them.

Think I’ll try the Cape Town Burgundy Festival on the 13^th just in case I missed something.”

I think that testimonial speaks for itself, ladies and gentlemen. A wino traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town just so he can experience the festival again.

Other offerings to keep an eye out for include Richard Kershaw’s Chardonnay, Andy Mitchell Crooked Path Pinot Noir, Groote Post Kapokberg Pinot Noir, Craven Pinot Noir and De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay.

If by now you are as excited to be part of this delicious event as we are, go to Webtickets to book your spots. You can also buy tickets directly from Wine Concepts Newlands (021 671 9030 or [email protected]) and Wine Concepts on Kloof (021 426 4401). Tickets are R160 pp pre-booked and R170 at the door (subject to availability, of course). Best of all, wines will be on offer at 10% discount, so be ready to stock up on some hot buys for the cold winter. There’s even a lucky draw with some great prizes up for grabs.

And if you’re feeling lucky, you can click on over to wine.co.za where you can win tickets to the festival simply by naming a South African wine made in the Burgundy style. Two tickets up for grabs!

Watch this space, as we will be reporting back on the event and all the delectable finds.

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Nirox is essentially a retreat for artists, primarily sculptures – and you’ll be able to explore the entire park while quaffing away your troubles. Sound cool?

Nirox Sculpture Park

We ran a competition recently so 2 lucky readers and 2 SuperFANS are already booked to attend. We look forward to hearing back from them! Read on for all the details…

~Andy

Here’s the press release from the wonderful lads and lasses at MasterCard who are the primary sponsor. Hash tags for the event are #MasterCard and #WSF2014. Scroll down to the bottom for a taste of the wineries, restaurants and artists who’ll be at the event.

The Winter Sculpture Fair presented by MasterCard returns to NIROX

Enjoy a great day of art, food and wine in the countryside with family and friends

Johannesburg, South Africa – 2 April 2014: The Winter Sculpture Fair presented by MasterCard will return to the NIROX Sculpture Park near the Cradle of Humankind on the 10^th and 11^th May 2014 where a selection of South Africa’s best contemporary sculpture and Franschhoek’s finest food and wine will be showcased. 

Now in its second year, the Fair will offer visitors exquisite food and fine wine produced by 38 of Franschhoek’s most popular restaurants, producers and wineries. Restaurants such as Bread & Wine Vineyard Restaurant, The French Connection and The Kitchen at Holden Manz will be selling freshly prepared, deluxe lunches, and wineries including Haute Cabriere, Môreson, Leopard’s Leap, Vrede en Lust and La Motte, among others, will offer wine and bubbly by the bottle or glass. A selection of Franschhoek cheeses, charcuterie, and chocolates will also be available to purchase, ahead of winter.

“We are really excited to bring back this priceless experience to Gauteng’s food, wine and art lovers,” says Philip Panaino, Division President, MasterCard, South Africa. “This unique event will once again give visitors the opportunity to enjoy some of the country’s finest cuisine, wine and sculpture in a beautiful outdoor setting that is usually not open to the public.”

Situated in a 15 hectare private nature reserve, the highly-acclaimed NIROX Sculpture Park will be home to the ‘NIROX SCULPTURE | WINTER 14’ exhibition curated by Mary-Jane Darroll, and will showcase nearly 100 sculptures by more than 50 artists. Visitors will be able to meander through the park to view the artworks, before picnicking in the countryside with family and friends.

“Local artists, recognised as worldwide leaders in contemporary sculpture such as Marco Cianfanelli and Angus Taylor will once again feature their sculptures, and we’re particularly glad to welcome artists who are returning to South Africa after spending time abroad, including Johan Thom, Aliza Levi and Sean Blem,” says Ross Douglas, Director of Artlogic, the Fair organiser.

At the launch of the inaugural Winter Sculpture Fair last year, MasterCard provided funding to the NIROX Foundation to commission a sculpture by a local artist. This piece, Frank van Reenen’s The Giant, will be on display for the first time at the 2014 Fair. 

“Through commissions such as this, we support local sculpture talent, and the advancement of South Africa’s reputation in the global contemporary arts arena,” says Panaino.

The 2014 Winter Sculpture Fair is open from 10h00 – 17h00 daily on both 10 and 11 May 2014. Book your tickets online to avoid disappointment, as limited tickets will be available at the door. Tickets cost R100 and are available through www.webtickets.co.za, with a 10% discount if they are purchased using a MasterCard branded card. Children 12 years and under enter free. For more information, visit www.wintersculpturefair.co.za; email [email protected] or follow @ArtlogicSA on Twitter.

The following Franschhoek wineries, restaurants and retailers will participate in the 2014 Winter Sculpture Fair presented by MasterCard:

Wineries: Akkerdal, Black Elephant Vintners/La Petite Vigne, Boekenhoutskloof, Four Paws, Franschhoek Cellar, Glenwood, Grande Provence, Haute Cabriere, Holden Manz, La Bri, La Chataigne Wines, La Motte, Leopard’s Leap, Lynx Wines, Maison, Môreson, My Wyn, Plaisir de Merle, Rickety Bridge, Solms-Delta and Vrede & Lust.

Restaurants:  Angala Restaurant, Bacon of the Month, Bread & Wine Vineyard Restaurant, Café Des Arts, Duncan for Dinner, Fromage de France, Fyndraai Restaurant at Solms-Delta, Haute Cabriere Restaurant, Huguenot Fine Chocolate, Le Verger – the Orchard Restaurant at Le Franschhoek and Spa, Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards, L’Ermitage Restaurant , Paulina’s Restaurant at Rickety Bridge, The French Connection, The Kitchen at Holden Manz and The Kitchen at Maison.

Artists participating in the ‘NIROX SCULPTURE | WINTER 14’ exhibition include:

Willem Boshoff, Marco Cianfanelli, Angus Taylor, Doreen Southwood, Richard Forbes, Hanneli Coetzee, Rodan Hart, Lwandiso Njara, Johan Thom, Aliza Levi, Sean Blem, Bronwyn Lace, Liza Grobler, Stephan Hobbs, Marcus Neustetter, Michelle Mathieson, Frank van Reenen, Jeremy Rose, Stephan Erasmus and Gordon Froud, among others.

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We had a really interesting discussion inside the SuperFAN Club around things to do and experiences to have in the wine world… in Joburg, about as far away fromwine country as you can get before crossing a border.

The suggestions were so interesting, we had to pull everything together and make a post out of it. So here they are, run off and explore some wine in Johannesburg.

The New York of South Africa

• Cape Wine Academy runs wine courses out of the Michaelangelo in Sandton and Miele SA in Bryanston. Look out specifically for their “Wines of the World” course.
• Le Souffle Restaurant in Fourways/Pineslopes has monthly wine-pairing dinners featuring a particular estate.
• Roots Restaurant at Forum Homini (near the Cradle of Mankind) does wine pairing dinners. Warning: strictly no kids.
• The International Wine Centre, you’ll find good ‘ol Cathy Marston there doing some of the more technical and interesting WSET wine courses. Apparently these courses make their way up to Joburg more and more. Enquire!
• KREAM in Pretoria has a super intimate chef-cooks-right-next-to-you-while-you-meet-the-winemaker evenings. Don’t miss ’em. They also appear to have a great deal with a driving service to get you back to wherever you live in Joburg at about R5/km. You’ll need it.
• De Kloof Restaurant, L’Epis Dore and Zest Bistro (Pretoria area) also do wine and food pairing evenings. All three come highly recommended. Something about being out of the winelands that makes these restaurants go the extra mile to creating a great evening experience.
• And then of course are the Wine Clubs. The most recommended one to check out is Cellar Rats. Bring liver tablets We joke, we joke…

Any other great Johannesburg wine experiences? Let us know in the comments!

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