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Monday, November 4, 2019

The October 15 Event: Sustainable South Africa – Wines of South Africa (WOSA) trade show portion

The Date and Time: Tuesday, October 15, 2019  11:30AM - 4PM
The Event: Sustainable South Africa – Wines of South Africa (WOSA) trade show portion
The Venue: Steamwhistle Brewery, Roundhouse Hall
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: the show was in both Toronto and Montreal, and not all wines were at both places. The catalogue noted the wines and the vintages, but not all the wines had arrived. Prices (if available) had to be obtained at the tables.
The Quote/Background: The seminar at 11:30 was led by John Szabo, and was about the sustainability of the WOSA wineries. My ratings on these wines are folded into the notes below.
The Wines: There were 30 wineries, I did not taste them all nor all of the other wines. This time I tried mainly the whites, following on the lead of the seminar which had only two reds.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Asara The Terroir Series Granite Chenin 2018
-Asara The Terroir Series Viognier 2018
-Asara Speciality Range White Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
-Boekenhoutskloof Vinologist Chenin Blanc 2018  $12.95  Univins
-Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2016  Univins
-Whalehaven Conservation Coast Chardonnay 2016  $45
-Creation Reserve Chardonnay 2018  $49.95  Gradwell   Cons
-De Trafford Wines Sijnn White 2017  $35.95 Gradwell Cons
-Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2017  Dionysus
-Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay 2018 Vintages Essential  +367698  $15.95
-Kloovenburg Eight Feel 2017 White $25.95 Gradwell Cons
-Ken Forrester Wines Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 $18  Dec Vintages
-Ken Forrester Wines Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2007 Library
-Le Bonheur Sauvignon Blanc 2018  $24.95  Select
-Meerlust Rubicon 2016  $57.99  Lifford Cons
-Mullineux Wines Old Vines White 2018  $38  N Pearce
-Overhex Survivor Chenin Blanc 2018 $19.95  Trajectory Bev Co
-Pearce Predhomme Chenin Blanc 2018 $19.95  N Pearce
-Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2017 $45  N Pearce  PO
-Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2010   Woodman
-Simonsig Chenin Avec Chene 2017  $34.95   Azureau  PO
-Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2017  $34.95  Sylvestre  PO
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Spier Seaward Sauvignon Blanc 2019  $15.95   Sylvestre
-Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2018 $17.95  N Pearce
-Reyneke Organic Chenin Blanc 2019  Univins
-Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2018 $24.95  Loyal Imports
-Overhex Survivor Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $19.95  Trajectory Bev Co
-Fairview Amos Sauvignon Blanc 2019  Noble
-Meerlust Chardonnay 2018 $39.95  Lifford PO
-Asara Pickled Fush Sauvignon Blanc 2018
-Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap White 2018  $14.95 LCBO
-Bottega SA Family Wines Idiom Viognier 2017  ~$35
-Bottega SA Family Wines Idiom Semillon 2016  ~$35
-Whalehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $20
-Bruce Jack Sauvignon Blanc 2018  $15.99 Lifford Cons
-Creation Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2019  $19.95  Gradwell   Cons
-Kloovenburg Unwooded Chardonnay 2019 $16.95  Gradwell  Cons
-L'Avenir Single Block Chenin Blanc 2018  Select
-Le Bonheur Chardonnay 2018  $14.95  Select
-Leeuwenkuil Reserve White 2017  Univins
-Leeuwenkuil Heritage Chenin Blanc 2017  Univins
-Mullineux Wines Kloof Street Chenin Blanc 2018   N Pearce
-Waterford Estate Single-Vineyard Chardonnay 2016   Epic Wines & Spirits
 
The Food: Daniel et Daniel did the catering which featured the usual meat platter (duck breast, salumi, sausages, and boerewors), cheeses, breads. Veggies and dips.
The Downside: I had to miss the opening of the seminar.
The Upside: A chance to re-connect with many WOSA wines (it had been a long time since the last trade show).
The Contact Person: keenan@propellorpr.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89

Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
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Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://winewriterscircle.ca
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.

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