Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Soweto braces itself for the long anticipated annual Tops Soweto Wine Festival .

More than 70 wineries will be taking part in the Tops Soweto Wine Festival, together bringing more than 950 wines to the show.
Now in its seventh year, the festival is being held at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus on the evenings of 1-3 September.

Derived from the Xhosa word meaning ‘king’, Kumkani  is one of the brands that personifies the true African heritage. This iconic wine will again be showcased at this year’s festival.

Visitors are welcome to visit our stall and taste the award winning wines

For more info on the event visit sowetowinefestival.co.za

Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold, tannin-forward red wine that is often paired with red meat. This variety of wine actually was created centuries ago from a much older grape, Cabernet Franc, which is still used to make red wine today. Both Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines are served in much the same way.

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

Wine

Corkscrew

Decanter

Stemware

1. Properly chill the wine. It is a common misconception that red wine should be served at modern room temperature. Instead, it should be served at the slightly chillier room temperature of centuries past. Chill the wine to around 13 or 15 degrees.

2. Decant the wine. It is important to let the wine breathe, either by popping the cork at letting it rest for 15 to 30 minutes, or by pouring it into a decanter and letting it rest for the same amount of time.

3. Consider the best pairings. Foods that pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon include steaks or roasted leg of lamb. Cabernet Franc also pairs well with red meat, as well as pork and pasta with red sauce.

4. Pour the wine into a wine goblet with a wide, deep bowl to better release the “nose”.

5. Finish the bottle within 3 days, to prevent flavour loss due to oxidation.
The multi award-winning Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is a great South African Cabernet Sauvignon and a perfect gift for any wine lover.

Source: ehow.com

We’re having another Market Day wine sale at our Welmoed cellar door in Stellenbosch.

Dates: 2 June -5 June 2011

Venue: Welmoed Cellar door. Directions to Welmoed

The following wines will be on sale:

If you’d like more details regarding the sale, please contact the Zoliswa at our cellar door on 021 881 8062

South Africa looks set to maintain its eco-focused global leadership in wine, after last year’s launch of the world’s first industry-wide sustainability seal to guarantee the production integrity of its bottled wines.

WOSA recently launched this sustainability seal video at Prowein, Dusseldorf Germany.

King of South African wine , Kumkani , supports this WOSA  initiative and all Kumani wines have the Sustainability seal.

Good Fellas is a hassle free alternative to drinking and driving and it is the preferred choice of thousands of responsible South Africans.

They started in 2004 in Port Elizabeth and have expanded to all the mayor South African cities. With the festive season in full swing, there are plenty of opportunities to use a service like this.
This service is available in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.

For more info visit www.gfellas.co.za or
Contact the National Call Centre on (0) 861 433 552 .

We support this initiative and urge consumers to make use of this service.

 South Africa is a relatively new player in the international wine markets but some wine analysts suggest that this ‘late entry’ is a distinct advantage in comparison with other New World wines.

In a recent article about the current dynamics of the US wine market , wine consumer purchase perceptions with regards to cultivars and country of origin are investigated and it draws some interesting conclusions.

The article suggests that Argentina, Australia and New Zealand become successful and large wine exporters because of one single grape (cultivar).

These single grapes by the different countries include Malbec from Argentina , Shiraz from and  Australia and Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. This created  marketing and new consumer perception problems  as the rigid reputation stem growth in sales of new wine styles.

South Africa does not have such a restrictive single cultivar reputation which will help us in future years.

Kumkani is one of the iconic South African wine brands with a full range of award winning wines from different styles , cultivars and methods.

Source: morssglobalfinance.com

Keep Flying is a simple idea. An idea that matters. And an idea that belongs to all of us .It believes that its all of our responsibility to fly the flag. Every South African Brand; Every South African, and to recognize what the flag symbolizes: Us, and our unity.

A unity that brought the World’s Greatest Tournament to life in a way only we could. A unity that still reverberates across continents a world away. A unity that says to the  world, and ourselves: “Hear us, each one of us, as one. Our time has truly come”

“Keep Flying” is simply that. A call to fly the flag. A call to keep flying.

For more info on this initiative visit:  keepflyingtheflag.co.za

South Africa has received praises from all over for hosting an amazing World Cup. It is great to read about journalists, politicians and tourists raving about our county and what we have achieved.

One such a feel good article was published in the Vanity Fair and here is what Austin Merrill had to say about the World Cup.

“But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s pause for a minute and offer a nod to the 2010 host. South Africa spent much of the past few years fending off criticism and doubt—the country didn’t have the technology or sophistication to host the planet’s largest sports event; crime rates were too high; security would be too lax; infrastructure wouldn’t be up to par. There were rumors that FIFA was formulating a plan to move the tournament elsewhere. An attack by separatist rebels at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in January even had some people afraid that South Africa might fall victim to similar violence and bloodshed.

None of these fears were borne out. South Africa stood up to the challenge of hosting the World Cup and did so with flair and exuberance. The stadiums were gorgeous and mostly full, restaurants and shops did banner business, and the locals continued to embrace the games after their beloved Bafana Bafana were knocked out.

Merrill concluded by writing : “The ten days I spent at the tournament went off without a hitch. The only down side was that ten days weren’t nearly enough—my time there went by in a blur.”

The iconic and uniquely  South African wine brand , Kumkani, congratulates and thank everyone who made an effort the make this World Cup so special.

Source: vanityfair.com

Try this hot and spicy romantic recipe on your honey for Valentine’s Day. It’s sweetly spicy, inherently healthy, and couldn’t be easier to prepare or clean up. Piri-Piri is an African term for hot and spicy. Control the amount of fire by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper. This recipe is presented as mild-to-medium heat.

Piri-Piri Pomegranate Chicken

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 cup parboiled brown rice
1 cup water or broth
2 to 3 pieces chicken
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
Salt to taste
18 to 20 Brussels sprouts, trimmed with shallow “x” cut into stem end
1-1/2 cups baby carrots, halved
1 cup oyster mushrooms, sliced thickly
1/2 pomegranate, seeded
Fresh parsley

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 230 degrees C. Spray inside of 2 liter  Dutch oven and lid with olive oil.

2. Pour rice into pot and add liquid. Stir gently to coat grains and smooth into an even layer. Set chicken pieces in next in a single layer.

3. In a small bowl, mix together ketchup, honey, molasses, lemon juice, garlic and cayenne pepper. Drizzle 1/2 mixture over top of chicken. Drop in Brussels sprouts and carrots. Pour rest of mixture over all. Top with mushrooms and pomegranate seeds.

4. Cover and bake for about 45 minutes, or about 3 minutes after the aroma wafts from the oven.

Recommended Wine:

The Kumkani Chardonnay Viognier 2008 will complement this dish. This wine as aromas of lemon peach with a hints of vanilla oak flavours complementing a well balance elegant wine.

Notes:
You can use any combination of boneless, bone-in, skinless, or skin-on chicken pieces in this recipe.

Look for pomegranate molasses in specialty or health food groceries.

Source: www.sheknows.com

The wine:

Award-winning wine brand, Kumkani, will put a fashionable foot forward as it embodies African elegance when partnering with the Audi Joburg Fashion Week’s Autumn/Winter 2010 collections, which will start at the Sandton Convention Centre and will run until 23 January.

The company of wine people’s Brands and Business Development Manager, Corne Oosthuizen, said: “We are proud to be sponsoring our award-winning, premium wines for an event of this stature. It aligns perfectly with our uniquely South African brand, Kumkani, The King of South African wines and we are pleased to present our flagship wines to consumers.”

The fashion week features the crème de la crème of the local fashion industry, with renowned designers and provides a platform for fashion designers to build their brand; engage with buyers; the media; and speak to their consumers assisting them in creating a sustainable enterprise.

Guests attending Joburg Fashion Week will have the opportunity to sample African elegance at its best with varietals and award winning wines such as the Kumkani Infiniti Methode Cap Classique; Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc; Kumkani Cradle Hill; Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc; Kumkani Shiraz; Kumkani Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon; and Kumkani Chardonnay Viognier on offer.

Source: publicityupdate.co.za

Funky wine brand Versus and the iconic, uniquely South African brand, Kumkani, will be exhibiting at the Standard Bank Soweto Wine Festival this weekend.

Join us at the Versus and Kumkani stand in the Main Hall, Soweto Campus of UJ to taste some of our award-winning wines.

The Kumkani range maintains its proud winemaking tradition. Derived from the Xhosa word meaning ‘king’, Kumkani is an award-winning wine that celebrates South Africa’s rich heritage, eclectic mix of people and abundance of natural resources.

The Kumkani range comprises single varietals, dual varietals, the Reflections range and award-winning single vineyard wines.

Versus wine brand will wow the younger audience with its uncomplicated, easy-drinking wines, and consumers are also afforded the opportunity to sample the Versus new Naturally Sweet range.

Platter’s South African Wine Guide, has announced a record 41 five-star wines, defined as being ‘superlative, a Cape Classic’.

This follows a blind tasting by the assembled Platter’s tasting team of potential five-star wines for the 2010 edition, nominated by individual members during their sampling of South Africa’s wines over the past two months.

For the 2010 book, nearly 6 000 individual wines are featured.

In the course of this year’s evaluations, a record 105 candidate five-stars were identified, across a variety of categories, including reds and whites, dessert wines and port styles. Only bottled wines, available during the currency of the guide, were considered.

The book launch of the 2010 Guide will be in November. The guide’s Winery of the Year award will also be announced in November, along with the name of the ‘Superquaffer’ of the Year – the wine judged to be the most drinkable and well-priced of all the entry-level bottlings tasted for the current edition.

Analysing the results of the 2010 five-star wines, publisher Andrew McDowall said: ‘The best-performing categories this year were that of Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux-style Red Blends, with five wines in each. Four categories offered up four five-star wines each – Bordeaux-Style White Blends, White Blends, Shiraz and Unfortified Dessert Wines – while the Port-Style category has three five-stars. Of the white categories, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay yielded one and three five-stars respectively, while Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Blends offered two apiece, and Grenache and Pinotage one each.’

Two wines were voted Wine of the Year by the judges: Palladius 2008 from Sadie Family Wines, White Wine of the Year, and the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 from Le Riche Wines, the year’s top red.

A selection of the five-star wines will be shown to the European wine trade and consumers at the South African Mega Tasting in London during October.

The 2010 edition will be available from end November 2009 from selected book shops and retail outlets, as well as the website, www.platteronline.com. The recommended retail price is R149.95.

Source: winemag.co.za

Wine drinking may not be a competitive sport but the rivalry between countries to see who leads the world with the most influential palate, which wineries are leading their region, and which supermarket’s buying team is ruling the roost is just as intense.

Perhaps the most brutal way to examine the world of wine is by country.

The big news this year is that France is on the slide. The French were once the undisputed masters of the art, but their wine exports to the UK recently slid from second to third position, with the US in second and Italy in fourth.

For the nation that regards itself as the birthplace of wine, this is a royal spanking. France has amazing prestige in Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy, wondrous diversity in the Loire, awesomeness in the Rhine, aromatics in Alsace and some serious value emerging in the Vin de Pays category – look for brands such as La Difference. But the French system of labelling by place rather than grape still leaves a lot of UK wine fans bewildered.

Australia remains king of the UK export market, but my tips to watch out for over the coming season include New Zealand, Chile and South Africa.

Read more: dailymail.co.uk