For the past six years, April has been the much-anticipated month-long South African wine campaign to celebrate the country’s Freedom Day on 27 April. This year, the campaign runs for two months, until the end of May.
The campaign name of Discover South Africa has been changed to SPECTACULAR South Africa. After all, “spectacular” is a word that nearly every visitor to South Africa utters, no matter how many times they have been to the country. South African wine is as spectacular as its landscape.
With 360 years of winemaking history, South Africa is the oldest wine country in the New World. The industry has gone through ups and downs but now has firmly crafted a place in the international wine world. The three wines that have shaped the industry’s identity are:
- Cap Classique: South African sparkling wine made in the traditional bottle-fermented method with a minimum of 12 months ageing on lees. South Africans love their bubbly, and only 30% of Cap Classique is exported. The finest Cap Classique, with over 48 months on lees, has finesse and complexity that can rival vintage champagne.
- Chenin Blanc: South Africa has overtaken its homeland of Loire, France, to become the country with the most Chenin Blanc planted in the world. South African producers are giving this noble variety the royal treatment in the vineyard and cellar, and it is responding as nobility should – with grand personality, regal flavours and stately versatility.
- Pinotage: South Afria’s home-grown grape variety, created in 1925 by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. It wowed the world when the 1989 Kanonkop Pinotage took centre stage at the 1991 International Wine & Spirit Competition. New-generation winemakers are taking this grape varietal to the next level with different interpretations. Pinotage has never been so exciting!
During SPECTACULAR South Africa, Dynasty, Mirage and Le Bistro Winebeast in Wanchai are offering South African wine and food pairings.
In Kennedy Town, neighbourhood bar To Be Frank will turn itself into a truly South African wine bar and serve yummy braaibroodjie (South African grilled cheese sandwich).
Wooloomooloo Prime, Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, La Cabane Bistro, PONG, Roots Eatery and The Stadium will share their favourite South African wines with diners. Most of these outlets also offer delivery and takeaway services.
If you prefer to cook at home, just pick up some South African wine on special offer at YATA, Market Place by Jasons, Oliver’s, SOGO or The Bottle Shop in Sai Kung or order online at Babington Wines, MyiCellar, Wine Shop Asia, Victoria Wines or wine’n’things.
A series of activities has been planned for SPECTACULAR South Africa including wine dinners, wine and cheese nights, the unique Sips & Snips hair salon x wine event and pop-up tastings. Please visit the Wines of South Africa (WOSA) website or Facebook page for the latest updates.
This year has been challenging, but we hope the most difficult times have passed for Hong Kong. Let’s welcome May with sunshine, hope and smiles. Explore the many faces of South African wine and enjoy the special offers at participating outlets!
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