Archive for May, 2010

Stand a chance to win double tickets to The Wine Show Jo’burg which will be held at The Coca Cola Dome from 4-6 June 2010.

If you want to win the tickets and you’re living area and able to attend, all you have to do is leave a comment on our  Facebook page or upload a fan picture.

For more info about show,  visit www.wineshow.co.za

South African sayings can sometimes be confusing to foreigners but it is actually very simple to understand and to use. Braai, Ag, Eina and lekker is just a few of the uniquely South Africans words.

Here are some useful South African words:

Braai
What is a braai? It is the first thing you will be invited to when you visit South Africa. A braai is a backyard barbecue and it will take place regardless of the weather. So you will have to go even if it’s raining like mad. At a braai you will be introduced to a substance known as mieliepap (a traditional porridge made from corn)

Ag
This is one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the “ach” in the German “achtung”, it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: “Ag, I don’t know.” Or a sense of resignation: “Ag OK, I’ll have some more mieliepap then.” It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation.

Eina
Widely used by all language groups, this word,derived from the Afrikaans, means “ouch.” Pronounced:“aynah”.

Hey
Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the importance of what has just been said, as in “You’re only going to be in trouble , if you come in late again, hey?” It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying “excuse me?” or “pardon me?” when
you have not heard something directed at you, you can always say: “Hey?”

Izit?
This is another great word to use in conversations. Derived from the two words “is” and “it”, it can be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone
tells you something at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: “The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership.” It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: “Izit?”

Lekker
An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval. If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: “Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!” while drawing out the last syllable.

Howzit
This is a universal South African greeting, and you will hear this word throughout the country. It is often accompanied with the word “Yes!” as in: “Yes, howzit?” In which case you answer: “No, fine.”

Now now
In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: “Now now, it’s really not so bad.” But in South Africa, this phrase is used in the following manner: “Just wait, I’ll be there now now.” It means “a little after now”.

Source: onceinspired.co.za

Kumkani Brand News

Kumkani welcomes all the visitors to our lovely country and we hope this word guide will help you to enjoy your trip.

Wines of South Africa (WOSA)  received the trophy for Best Consumer Campaign at the 2010 Drinks Business Awards, held during the London International Wine Fair.  WOSA beat some very prestigious companies, including Hendricks, Hardys and Champagne Lanson, to take home the prize.

The award was given for their sustainability campaign, which included the Great South African Wine Trail – a sampling tour of eight major UK cities, with an eye-catching, carbon-neutral, green bus – and their work with Kew Gardens.

Iconic South African wine brand Kumkani, congratulates WOSA for winning this award and for their efforts to promote South African wine. 

Read more on www.wosa.co.za

I stumbled upon this great quiz about South Africa.

Try it, maybe you’ll learn something.

Take the Quiz

The modern South African kitchen is international. But there are some typical South African traditions and dishes.The most important of these culinary traditions is the “Boerekos“. This “farm food” stems from the Boerish settlers and is characterised by hearty meals with a lot of meat.

Very much alive is the Braaivleis tradition, a barbecue of lamb, beef and/or pork with sweet vegetables and salad. On warm evenings you can smell the grill fumes everywhere in the country. A fish barbeque, especially the “Snoek-Braai”, is a speciality of Cape Town.

From the days of the Voortrekkers originates Potjiekos. Lamb or any other meat is stewed for hours with lots of vegetables in a round cast-iron pot on three legs over a fire.

A simple meal, which is eaten daily in the entire country, is “Pap met Wors”, maize mash with fried onions and beef or sheep sausage, the “Boerewors”.

Also the “Melktart” (Milk Tart) and a “Waterblommetjie Bredie” (Waterflower stew) are typical dishes of the Boerekos.

Unique is the Cape Malay kitchen. The Malays who were forcefully taken as slaves to the Cape, brought their cooking methods with them and modified them with local ingredients such as raisins and pumpkin.

Typically, a Cape Malay dish contains lots of turmarin, here called “Borrie”, kardamom, cinnamon, ginger, garlic and raisins. Except for pork and wine, any local ingredient is used. Typical dishes are “Bobotie”, a mince meat/raisin bake with lots of cinnamon and laurel leaves, and “Roties”, wheat flour pita bread with a filling of deliciously spiced vegetables and meat.

Kumkani Brand News

To complement your South African dish you must try the king of South African Wines, Kumkani. This multi-award winning iconic South African wine ranges have a wide range of wines to suit any connoisseurs palate.

Read more on www.southafrica-travel.net

Sancerre in France’s Loire Valley has been known as the benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc with its low-key, minerally and tart style.

New Zealand’s vivacious, zesty Sauvignon Blanc has been become known for its grapefruit, kiwi and guava flavors.

A US wine writer suggests that if you are looking for something in between, consider a South African Sauvignon Blanc, one of the world’s most improved white wines this past decade. South African winemakers have for several years now been replanting Sauvignon Blanc vines in cooler areas, a secret of Sancerre and New Zealand quality. That replanting has finally been paying off.

Kumkani Brand News

One of South Africa’s best Sauvignon Blancs is the multi award-wining Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc. This wine derives from a single vineyard in the Groenekloof area (Darling).  This area yields wines with an intense flavour and crispness not found in some of the more inland regions.

Read more on lansingstatejournal.com

A co-operative effort between normally competing wine producers from the New World countries at the ProWein trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, this year was so successful that it has been agreed to repeat it next year.

This is according to Su Birch, chief executive of Wines of South Africa, (WOSA) the generic marketing authority for South Africa’s wine exports.

A spokesperson for Wosa said their joint exhibition, in-depth lectures, wine tastings and panel discussions at the show drew capacity crowds with latecomers having to be turned away.

The show attracted record crowds of more than 36 000 trade delegates from around the world and even though the seminar programme was repeated four times daily throughout the four day event the level of interest was so high the organisers could not meet the demand for seats. “We had hoped for a good turnout but the level of interest far exceeded our expectations,” a spokesperson said.

Kumkani Brand News

Iconic South African brand, Kumkani congratulates WOSA with this initiative and their efforts at the ProWien trade show.

Read more on busrep.co.za