Archive for March, 2009

King of South African wines, Kumkani, added to its already impressive medal tally when the Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 and Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2008 were both awarded silver medals in the 2009 Santam Classic Wine Trophy competition.

Kumkani is continuing its winning streak this year. The previous Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc vintage was named the best Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa at the SA Terroir Wine Awards, made the WINE magazine / Tops at Spar Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 list, and performed consistently well at renowned competition such as Decanter Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge and International Wine & Spirits Competition. The Kumkani Cradle Hill 2005 won gold at the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and was described by wine fundi Michael Oliver as a “beautiful beast of a wine”.

The Santam Classic Wine Trophy, adjudicated in a blind tasting by a panel of French judges, only awards a specific number of medals, ensuring that the winning wines meet the highest quality standards.

Red wine may contain chemicals that help control weight gain, new research suggests.

Experiments at the University of Porto show that animals given red wine gained significantly less weight over an eight week period than animals kept under the same conditions, but given no red wine.

The key may be a chemical that occurs naturally in red wine that increases levels of oestrogen in the body. Oestrogen plays a role in the metabolism of fat, and also fat distribution.

Resveratrol, a substance abundant in red grape skins, is a form of oestrogen, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

The problem is that after a few glasses of red wine, my diet goes out the window and I start to nibble on snacks and ‘forbidden’. It is these sin snacks that are killing my diet.

 

Source: marieclaire

Rosé wine has become increasingly more popular in the UK and is now officially part of the UK’s inflation basket.

This “inflation basket” serves as an general indication of  the typical basket of goods of UK consumers. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses this basket  to monitor inflation.

The list is reviewed annually to ensure it represents consumer spending with changes made for reasons ranging from improved technology to popularity.

Other products that have also been added to the basket includes hot cooked chicken and online DVD orders. The items leaving the list include boxes of wine and rentals from DVD stores. 

The ONS indicated  that hot cooked chicken has been added to the list to represent the increasing market for hot take away food, freshly prepared in supermarkets

The inclusion of Rosé wine follows a boom in sales to young women in the 25-45 year old age bracket.

Sales of the pink wine rose from £114 million in 2002, less than 3 per cent of the wine market, to £200 million in 2005, nearly 7 per cent of the wine market.

It seems that Rosé wine is truly the “flavour of the month”. The increase in sales and the subsequent market share improvement has put these wines on the map.

So, in order to be a new true Brit, how about ordering a DVD online and enjoy the DVD with a hot chicken and glass of Rosé wine?

 

Sources:

timesonline

Bloomberg

South Africans are spoilt for choice when it comes to a diverse wine variety. Yet, many consumers are resistant to change and avoid steering away from their tried-and-trusted to experience something new.

The other day at a dinner party one of my guests insisted that he only drinks Sauvignon Blanc and none of the other white wine varietals. This rigidness is typical of many South African wine consumers – and many simply opt for a crisp Sauvignon Bland when in doubt.  

But South Africa has another very versatile cultivar, namely Chenin Blanc.

According to the 2009 John Platter Wine guide, this white cultivar accounts for 19% of SA vineyard area.

American wine columnist, Edward Deitch, wrote: “Chenin Blanc is to South Africa what Chardonnay is to California”.  He added that “there is no better source for good, inexpensive Chenin Blanc than South Africa.”

So the Americans perceive SA to make great (value for money) Chenin Blancs, yet South African wine consumers are still stuck in their rigid white wine preferences. Also, with tough times ahead economically, consumers will probably tend to be more conservative and stick with what they know.

My simple suggestion to South African consumers is to try something new every once in a while. There is an abundance of great Chenin Blancs, Rosé wine and other unusual blends on the market, so why not give it a try.

The famous quote goes “Life is too short for bad wine”.  I would like to amend it slightly: Life is too short to only drink one kind of wine.

Source: msnbc

The current recession is taking a massive toll on the US wine industry.

The poor economy has turned the wine industry into a buyer’s market with good wines at cheap prices.

Expensive bottles of wine are not flying off store shelves like they used to, so retailers have to look at other ways to spark interest in their products.

Many wine stores have information about the wines they sell posted in their stores. It’s a good tool for consumers, helping them find wines they like at a price that fits their budget.

The impact of this on South Africa will probably be two fold.  First the US consumers will be less reluctant to try something new (i.e. SA wines). The reason for this is that they can’t afford to be wrong.

Secondly the local market will become more important (and more competitive)  as many smaller wineries will have to focus  on closer-to-home-sales as their exported quantities (profits) decline.

The retailers still holds the key and the question remains if the so called better deals will be past to the consumers? Maybe online wine buying will become more competitive as they (online wine retailers) will be able to pass on the lower prices to the consumers.

 

Source: msnbc.com

I stumbled across this recipe and it is a true winner – not only does it taste great, it’s also very easy to prepare. After you’ve the smallest amount of work, the dish practically takes care of itself so it’s ideal when you don’t have time to slave away in front of the stove yet still want to impress guests.

 Ingredients

1.5kg  rump of beef, trimmed of its fat
Sea salt and black pepper
50ml olive oil
2 yellow onions, peeled and chopped
4 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
4 celery sticks, trimmed and chopped
4-6 fresh bay leaves
1 small bunch of thyme
1 small bunch of rosemary
8 cloves of garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
750ml good-quality red wine
1 litre chicken stock

Preparation

Start by seasoning the meat generously all over, then form it into a roll and tie with string. Heat the olive oil over a medium heat in a heavy-based saucepan large enough to easily hold the meat. When the oil is hot, add the meat and brown really well all over, this will take about 10 minutes. Lift out and set aside on a plate.

Next add the vegetables to the same pan along with the herbs and garlic, and turn the heat down to low. Cook the vegetables, stirring every now and then, for 15 minutes or until they have softened and are sweet to the taste.

At this point return the meat to the saucepan. Pour over the wine, followed by the stock. Place the lid on the pan and turn the heat down to its lowest possible setting and leave, if you can, for five hours.

Next, take out the meat and bay leaves then strain the sauce through a colander, pressing firmly with the back of a ladle to pass the vegetables through. This will serve to thicken the sauce. Return the meat and bay leaves to the pan and pour over the strained sauce. Turn off the heat and allow to cool. Before serving, reheat the meat gently, it should by now be falling apart and so soft that it can be eaten with a spoon.

Serve in warm bowls accompanied by whatever you fancy; buttermilk mashed potatoes, crusty bread or just a simple salad and a glass of really good red wine.

 I served this dish with Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. It’s a well-balanced wine with a fresh blackcurrant nose, and the ripe fruit and oak flavours are complemented by the soft tannins.

  

Source: The Independent

These days, anyone who goes out to eat — and certainly anyone who orders wine at a restaurant — is looking for value. Here are some tips that will help you find value in wine at restaurants. Obviously, there are many exceptions to every one of these suggestions, but if we were going to give some overall advice geared to the moment, this would be it.

1.  Do not order the second cheapest wine on list.

Restaurateurs know that the customers do not want to be perceived as cheap by ordering the cheapest wine on the list. So they opt for the second cheapest one. The least expensive wine is actually a pretty good deal at many restaurants.

2. Avoid wine by the glass.

The restaurant owners like to make enough on a single glass to pay for the whole bottle. This is great for them but not so good for you. And it wouldn’t be so bad except that so many wines by the glass are poured from bottles that have been open for too long and mistreated after opening.

3. Avoid the “when in doubt go for Sauvignon Blanc” theory

It seems that when in doubt, South Africans generally opt for Sauvignon Blanc.  Restaurateurs know this and add a little to the price of these wines. In many cases there is much better Chenin Blanc, blends or even Chardonnays on the list. 

4. Do not ignore house wines

Many restaurateurs take pride in their house wines and this can be your best bet.

5. BYOB – Corkage

More restaurants than ever, eager for business, are relaxing their rules on BYOB and lowering corkage fees. Check around for restaurants that allow you to bring your own wine. And if there is a restaurant you know well, ask if you could bring your own wine and pay corkage. Remember that the point here isn’t just to save money, but to have wines that the restaurant doesn’t offer or that you might otherwise postpone opening.

6. Have it your way

You must enjoy the night. No wine, at any price, is a good value if you don’t enjoy it. Don’t be shy. If you think the red wine is too warm, ask for an ice bucket. If you want the waiters to stop pouring so much into your glass, tell them — nicely, of course. We are all in this economic mess together and everyone understands — or should understand — that a night out these days needs to be relaxing and personal.

Sure, there are many other ways to find value on a list, but we have tried to focus here on simple stuff and things we actually do ourselves. Just remember that, in good times and bad, wine always tastes better when it’s a good deal.

Do you have any tips or suggestions you’d like to share?

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Source: WSJ

 

Corporate social responsibility and ethical business practice are again the topic of heated debate in European wine industries. The French wine industry in particular is advocating moderate consumption as research indicates that there may be a link between regular wine consumption and cancer.

In the UK, supermarkets are to be held accountable for the working conditions of workers on wine farms in South Africa, due to their influence on the wine economy in South Africa. The majority of South African exports – more than 25% – are destined for the UK market. British supermarkets also dominate the distribution of wine.

The lobby group which aims to fight poverty – War on Want – indicated that British buyers are playing off the competition between the New World wine producing countries. The production costs in these countries are increasing and it seems that salaries and employment conditions of workers are the only variables for adjusting competitiveness of South African wines. War on Want is not at all suggesting that consumers boycott South African wines, but is requested that distributors, suppliers and everyone else in the production chain act and do business in an ethical manner to ensure that the rights of farm workers in the Cape are upheld.

In their reaction to these allegations, Tesco, one of the largest importers of South African wines in the UK, declared the following:

 “We take our responsibilities in the production channels of South Africa and all the countries where we act extremely seriously. Tesco sells a range of South African wines which carry the Fairtrade logo, supporting equitable business practices. We are also members of the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association which defends ethical practices in the wine industry, specifically cited by War on Want for its good practice. The salaries paid and the practical social functions carried out by our suppliers are always above the minimum requirements set by national laws.”

 One of the major wine producers in South Africa, the company of wine people^TM which owns the brands Arniston Bay, Thandi, Kumkani, Versus and Welmoed, is involved in a number of  social and economic developmental initiatives such as the Cape Winemakers Guild protégé programme and Charity Wines.  Thandi was the first wine in the world to be Fairtrade certified and profits are ploughed back into previously disadvantaged communities.

 

Source: winealley.com

According to a recent study, a couple of glasses of beer or wine every day are good for your bones. The scientist indicated that moderate drinking can significantly increase their mineral density.

But researchers at Tufts University, Boston, US, warned that binge-drinking damages bones and makes them weaker.

Regular, moderate consumption of beer and wine might keep bones strong with age. The results of an observational study from Tufts University finds an association between greater bone mineral density in men and women over age 60, who consume one to two servings of beer or wine daily.

Bone loss can lead to osteoporosis, in turn leading to increased risk of fractures and disability. However, exceeding the recommended dietary intake of beer and wine may accelerate the chances of osteoporosis in men over age 60.

Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as one drink a day for women, and two for men, according to 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the federal government.

The researchers found that alcohol can devastate the bones, but with moderate consumption, older drinkers seem to have stronger bones. The study is observational, and therefore, not considered conclusive.

Source: emaxhealth.com

 

The wine industry in France is groundbreaking and trendsetting in many instances.

If this is the case, wine marketing in New World wine countries such as South Africa should get ready for some big changes. The French health minister, Roselyn Bachelot, has proposed a law that would ban free tasting, open bars and wine advertisements on the Internet. Wine writers would be muzzled and the current official “drink with moderation” warning must be replaced with “the consumption of alcohol is detrimental to your health.”

Should this proposed law be passed, wine would find itself tied up by many of the same restrictions as porn and cigarettes. The French Parliament expects to vote on the law this week.

It seems that the South African government could follow their lead, especially if you consider the recent debacle surrounding The City of Cape Town’s liquor by-law.

What do you think the future holds for wine marketing in South Africa?