Are there more technologically advanced tastings out there?
On Wednesday evening, SuperFANS from around the country joined up via Twitter again for another Incogvino Twitter Tasting. This time, Vilafonté stepped up to the plate with the 2012 release of their Series M and Series C (which is in its 10th vintage). This time, the team from Vilafonté really upped the ante by adding a live stream of the tasting, with Mike Ratcliffe at the helm. Wine fans around the country: check. Social media channel for interaction: check. Audiovisual enrichment via live feed: check. The live stream was also used to answer questions that were posted via Twitter, on the #TasteVilafonte hashtag.
Admittedly, it boggles even my mind how these tastings have evolved, and keep evolving. From what began as a few people in Cape Town and Johannesburg tasting one or two wines and discussing it through a few Tweets to elaborate planning, pairings, dinners and intense discussions. The winemakers and teams involved in each Twitter tasting need to be on their toes, because our SuperFANS come prepared with questions and comments. A few days before the tasting, emails fly through cyberspace, enquiring about the best pairings to go with each wine. Dinners are planned and, in some cases, restaurant reservations are made. On the night, culinary prep commences with aplomb, wine is decanted (sometimes into the poor man’s decanter and sometimes in more luxurious ones) and now, with the live feed, screens are set up. iPads, TV’s, laptops, phones, monitors. Screens to follow the hashtag on, screens to watch the live feed and backup screens in case of battery death.
The Vilafonté team outdid themselves. Incogvino Twitter tastings were taken to another level. If you missed it, here are some of the highlights, in Tweets:
Airing our @vilafonte series c for tonight’s @WeAreIncogvino #TasteVilafonte event ~ #excited 🙂 pic.twitter.com/XmAsTCSxwG
— samuraibunny (@samuraibunny) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte > @RJuckes: @nkulu81 @WeAreIncogvino @mikeratcliffe @Vilafonte ready to Rock & Roll!! pic.twitter.com/pF4sjKaDjb
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
Tonight, we’re putting another live Twitter show with #TasteVilafonte – and live streaming straight from @WarwickWine – come watch & drink!
— Andy Hadfield (@andyhadfield) October 22, 2014
Incredibly excited to taste through this wine tonight! #TasteVilafonte @Vilafonte @WeAreIncogvino pic.twitter.com/djQkUZk8wI
— Darran Stone (@darranstone) October 22, 2014
Sharing a meal with @Vilafonte #tastevilafonte (yes, im pairing it with pizza) pic.twitter.com/QVfPuhlOPk
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) October 22, 2014
We’re going onion marmalade at JHB HQ > RT @Pinballas: Starters to start the tasting with #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/qq9KCCAftY
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
Team is ready @Vilafonte #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/C1iL7y4EIs
— Johan Marais (@Pinballas) October 22, 2014
Our first Twitter tasting with a “Live Stream” – check it out here > http://t.co/5SPBEGSksd #TasteVilafonte
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
@JCLeRoux 2002 Scintilla MCC before our @Vilafonte 2012 Series C and Series M #TasteVilafonte @SaneleZondii @RJuckes pic.twitter.com/ilbAA6CXrr
— Nkululeko Mkhwanazi (@nkulu81) October 22, 2014
1st up is @Vilafonte Series M… Let’s get those glasses poured. @mikeratcliffe & team, say HI & tell us a bit about the wine #TasteVilafonte
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
Dr Phil Freese live on Twitter tonight #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/uGVF3oiKP0
— lovefinewines (@loveswine100) October 22, 2014
Translating the live stream. #TasteVilafonte Series M is a Merlot Malbec Blend. 100% yummy. Apparently 🙂
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte RT @Vilafonte Series M 2012 48% Merlot 35% Malbec 17% Cabernet Sauvignon 100% #YUM?
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
100% yummy series M, we agree @Vilafonte #TasteVilafonte
— Johan Marais (@Pinballas) October 22, 2014
Virtual tasting of @Vilafonte wine tonight – proper geekiness going down @WeAreIncogvino @loveswine100 @greenlydia #TasteVilafonte
— Colleen Norkie (@rookie_wino) October 22, 2014
Series M is a fantastic wine. Savory flavours and rich, ripe fruit! #Yum #tastevilafonte
— Darran Stone (@darranstone) October 22, 2014
@WeAreIncogvino @Vilafonte @mikeratcliffe Guys I came prepared. ALL the questions. #TasteVilafonte
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) October 22, 2014
Heaven in a bottle #tastevilafonte
— Rodney Juckes (@RJuckes) October 22, 2014
Series M – Its the Jenifer Lawrence of the wine world. She has the looks, but must do her time before she can wine an Oscar.#TasteVilafonte
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) October 22, 2014
We are really enjoying the Series M amazing stuff @Vilafonte @mikeratcliffe @nkulu81 @WeAreIncogvino #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/xHiTRJj3Ah
— Rodney Juckes (@RJuckes) October 22, 2014
Did you know that @Vilafonte was the 1st winery in the world to include GPS on the cork? #terroir #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/0CoKK6PBEU
— Mike Ratcliffe (@mikeratcliffe) October 22, 2014
Dr Phil Freese on the live stream giving the history of #TasteVilafonte – small vines, big wines! Tune in > http://t.co/5SPBEGSksd
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte Dr Phil doing a live discussion on soil.
— lovefinewines (@loveswine100) October 22, 2014
Enjoying the Series M 2012 with @Vilafonte @mikeratcliffe @nkulu81 @andyhadfield #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/TCgIY5kRGb
— Rodney Juckes (@RJuckes) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte no pairing, @Vilafonte too good to have food with -had some delicious canapés before @WeAreIncogvino pic.twitter.com/hZDZaWQXgf
— Lizé Oosthuizen (@LizeOosthuizen) October 22, 2014
You gotta get on to #livestream #TasteVilafonte – Phil Freese giving us the down low on viticulture, soil and place @Vilafonte #super
— Colleen Norkie (@rookie_wino) October 22, 2014
Fascinating little insight into the tissue covering #TasteVilafonte – like a “seal”, check quality. I thought it was just XMAS 🙂
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
Cant’t believe that tissue can be that important in preserving a wine. What’s the science behind that? @Vilafonte #TasteVilafonte
— Brian Arentsen (@Bargainstein) October 22, 2014
@SaneleZondii listening to @mikeratcliffe & Dr Freese with a glass of @Vilafonte 2012 M #Riedel #TasteVilafonte #WW pic.twitter.com/VNAfifUzGs
— Nkululeko Mkhwanazi (@nkulu81) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte our @Vilafonte is in the cellar. #aging pic.twitter.com/5CqjD6qJxH
— Philip Norton (@phinor) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte pairing #1: Fillet topped w/ pancetta, Camembert cheese flambéed w/ cherry, sherry, brandy reduction pic.twitter.com/rlTIm2jRnv
— samuraibunny (@samuraibunny) October 22, 2014
Amen! To @mikeratcliffe on when to drink wine… “If it doesn’t taste good when it’s young, it won’t when it’s old” #tastevilafonte
— Jaap Pijl (@jaap_stb) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte pairing #2: Fillet medallions topped w/ sliced chourico, cooked in a peri-peri, wine and garlic sauce pic.twitter.com/LES5GjtGOM
— samuraibunny (@samuraibunny) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte with each bottle I am reminded why @Vilafonte is without a doubt my first choice! Just excellent @WeAreIncogvino
— Lizé Oosthuizen (@LizeOosthuizen) October 22, 2014
“@darranstone: @mikeratcliffe Any policy on length of time in bottle before release? #tastevilafonte” minimum 12 months in bottle
— vilafonté rocks (@Vilafonte) October 22, 2014
@WeAreIncogvino Remarkable. Far deeper. Is smells like I imagine Enya’s music to smell. #TasteVilaFonte
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) October 22, 2014
Go to #DallaCia and sneak up the back stairs! Shh don’t tell any1“@greenlydia: Do you have a tasting room? Like visitors? #TasteVilafonte”
— Brian Arentsen (@Bargainstein) October 22, 2014
Series C – Anne Hathaway, She can sing and be a cat-woman all in one. Star quality yet fun and very likable.#TasteVilaFonte
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte ooo series c: lightly musty jammy, deeper wine. Think it needs a lot of time still. A more feisty drink than series M
— Sean (@GrapeWhine) October 22, 2014
Series C #TasteVilafonte. The Aston Martin compared to the M. Deep, dark, film noir, cherries, berries, malt chocolate and more… Tres #YUM
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
Fomo reading #TasteVilafonte tweets! Here I sit without a food pairing, sipping a Jameson whiskey.
— Helen Evans (Dawson) (@helendaws) October 22, 2014
@helendaws you just got mentioned on the live stream, you’re famous 🙂 People are toasting you on the live stream. #TasteVilafonte
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
Series C – Malty, toasty, little bit of dates. I think THIS will be amazing in a few years. #TasteVilaFonte pic.twitter.com/UqEuPcYHBW
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) October 22, 2014
I feel like many great novels could be written while being intoxicated with Series C. #TasteVilaFonte
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) October 22, 2014
Meet @Vilafonte wine club manager Sophia Hawkins @loveswine100 #TasteVilafonte @WeAreIncogvino pic.twitter.com/OfEMg0xuZx
— vilafonté rocks (@Vilafonte) October 22, 2014
Winegrowing happens in the vineyard..what happens in the cellar is a continuation of the process #thatsdeep @Vilafonte #TasteVilafonte
— Colleen Norkie (@rookie_wino) October 22, 2014
The @Vilafonte vineyard team. Phil & Edward. The heavies. #tastevilafonte pic.twitter.com/2PpR2DHkwX
— vilafonté rocks (@Vilafonte) October 22, 2014
Big news. @Vilafonte moving towards “price parity” for Series M and C… #TasteVilafonte
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) October 22, 2014
#TasteVilafonte C beautiful, perfect balance -fruit bold & supported by smooth tannins! I could certainly suffer in silence @WeAreIncogvino
— Lizé Oosthuizen (@LizeOosthuizen) October 22, 2014
Why choose. #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/YFguI6yVke
— lovefinewines (@loveswine100) October 22, 2014
Platter 5 star scores coming out on Monday. Any predictions? #TasteVilafonte @mikeratcliffe
— vilafonté rocks (@Vilafonte) October 22, 2014
Great tasting. The LiveStream was definitely a winner! #tastevilafonte
— Darran Stone (@darranstone) October 22, 2014
Something new coming for Feb 2015. Members only. Any guesses? #TasteVilafonte pic.twitter.com/VoYc2bLXxP
— vilafonté rocks (@Vilafonte) October 22, 2014