The Date and Time: Thursday June 1 11AM to 3:30PM
The Event: Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa (PIWOSA) showcase seminar
The Venue: St James Cathedral, Library Room
The Target Audience: wine writers, agents, and sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: most wines available through LCBO distribution (including Destination store).
The Quote/Background: We had two seminars, about 30 people in each. The AM seminar concerned Noble Whites with presentations by principals for Raats, Ken Forrester, Glenelly, Journey's End, and Jardan/Jardin speaking about their microclimate and terroir at the winery and the wine we were tasting (there was one wine per presenter). In the PM, we had Paul Cluver, De Grendel, The Drift, TWOGH Radford, and Klein Constantia, with Unique Terroir being featured through two whites and three reds. PIWOSA is similar to other "family" groups in that they are small and independent, featuring innovative programs and events. The LCBO had a PIWOSA function later that night in their "taste and buy" series.
The Wines: There were 10 wines tasted.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2016 +231282 $17.95
-Glenelly Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2014 +382200 $15.75
-Journey's End Destination Chardonnay 2015 +497321 $22
-Jordan (Jardin in NA) Jardin Nine Yards Chardonnay 2015 $36 Abcon
-Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2013 500mL Halpern
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2016 $22 Lifford
-Paul Cluver Riesling Dry Encounter 2015 +494237 $20
-De Grendel Op Die Berg Pinot Noir 2014 +Churchill Cellars
-The Drift Farm Single Vineyard Gift Horse Barbera 2015 Imprese
-The Winery of Good Hope Radford Dale Black Rock 2013 +485490 $29.95
The Food: light lunch of spicy slices of chicken breasts with salads, multu-grain ciabatta buns, and strawbs skewered with pineapple. And some white wine from the first seminar.
The Downside: only 10 wines were available (the paying customers at night got to sample about 40 wines).
The Upside: a very enjoyable and enlightening seminar.
The Contact Person: keenan@propellerpr.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 93.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
No comments:
Post a Comment