Archive for March, 2010
WOSA launches soccer video
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) has launched a two-minute animated video celebrating wine and soccer. This video was launched at the Prowien Trade Fair in Germany.
This video portrays many aspects of our amazing country and our stunning winelands. Kumkani Wines applauds the efforts of WOSA to promote South African wine and we hope this video is a huge success.
How atom bomb tests could help detect wine fraud
My initial thoughts were, “No way”, but recent research suggest that bomb pulse’ in grapes harvested since atmospheric tests can be dated to within a year.
A trace of Bikini atoll could join hints of black cherry and complex citrus notes in the sommelier’s lexicon for describing fine wines, research has suggested.
Harmless amounts of radioactive carbon have been found in wines made from grapes harvested since the last atmospheric atomic bomb tests were carried out in the 1960s.
But the “bomb pulse” of radioactive carbon lingering in the alcohol of wines produced since could be a good thing for wine dealers and collectors.
Scientists have been able to pinpoint a wine’s vintage to within a year by analysing the levels of radioactive carbon in the wine, a technique they say could help detect fraudulent attempts to repackage cheap plonk as a high-end tipple.
Last month, a group of French wine dealers were charged with conning leading US winery E&J Gallo into buying 18m bottles of plonk repackaged as pinot noir.
Some experts claim that around 5% of fine wines currently being sold are faked, either by being diluted with cheaper wines or sold under false labels.
Kumkani Brand News
The iconic Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 has been described as a wine with a fresh blackcurrant and ripe berry fruit on the nose. The palate is layered with ripe fruit and oak flavours and a soft tannin structure
Market Day Wine Sale
We’re having another Market Day wine sale at our Welmoed cellar door in Stellenbosch.
Dates: Thursday 25 March to Saturday 27 March 2010
Venue: Welmoed Cellar door. Here are the directions: Directions to Welmoed
The following wines will be on sale:
If you have any queries regarding the Market Day sale, please contact our cellar door directly on 021 881 8062
South African Wine – The swing is to red wines
For the most part of the first decade of the second millennium, the wine industry in South Africa experienced a significant swing towards red wine production – moving from 18% of planting in 1996 to 44% in 2008. This gave rise to a surplus production position putting downward pressure on producers’ prices according to SAWIS reports.
Given that the local demand for wine, red wine in particular, did not match the increased supply, the local industry was forced to enter the export market in a much more aggressive way than ever before.
No wonder then that export, as percentage of local production increased from 21% in 1999 to 54% in 2008. Despite fluctuations in the Rand exchange rates over this period, the general trend was downwards, helping to maintain export profitability.
The inflationary conditions coupled with pressure on disposable income have resulted in consumers trading down.
These obviously became much more price conscious. The South African wine consumer in general is regarded as more price conscious and less likely to venture into the higher priced products. In 2008 the demand for white wine has weakened while red wine sales showed a moderate increase.
However, as far as red wine is concerned, the supply/demand position has since moved into equilibrium.
Kumkani Brand News:
One of the iconic South African wine brands is Kumkani. This wine range produces award-winning red wines such as the magnificent Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon.
South African popping the cork record
Opening a bottle of bubbly has always been a thrill for me. But this guy has taken opening bubbly to a new level.
A restaurant manager in Sandton, Andrew Duminy, has successfully set a new Guinness World Record for opening the most sparkling wine bottles in one minute using a sabre according to the traditional ceremonial sabrage.
Sabrage is a lavish ceremonial technique whereby a champagne or sparkling wine bottle is removed with a sabre or sword. The force of the blade causes the cork and collar to shoot off the neck of the bottle in a show stopping display of bubbles and blasts.
The world record attempt began at exactly 5:00pm on Valentine’s Day at The Bull Run Restaurant. Exactly one minute later at 5:01pm Andrew Duminy had successfully opened 27 bottles of Pongrácz with his sabre, smashing the previous record of 21 bottles set by Canadian Andre Saint Jacques in 2005.
