Nov
14
Media Release
(11/11/08)
BEAT THE RECESSION WITH BEST VALUE WINES
The 2008 Best Value Wine Show which is hosted by Grand West Casino this year, takes place in the Market Hall, Entertainment Centre on Tuesday, 2 December from 17h00-21h00.
The show once again offers Capetonians the opportunity to taste and purchase around seventy value-for-money wines from twenty South African wineries under one roof. All wines included in the 2009 Best Value Booklet have been tasted and rated by Wine’s independent panel and cost less than R60 per bottle. Prices start at R18.
Participating wineries are: Avontuur Estate, Balance, Bergsig, Bon Courage, Bottelary, Buitenverwachting, Company of Wine People (Welmoed, Arniston Bay, Thandi, Kumkani), Du Toitskloof, Eikendal, Goedverwacht, Hazendal, Klein Constantia, Perdeberg, Raka, Riebeek Cellar, Rietvallei, Stellenrust, Van Loveren, Villiersdorp, Windmeul.
“Many of the wines on offer at the show are available on supermarket shelves, but one rarely has the opportunity to taste them at point of purchase. This show offers the wines for tasting by the winemakers or representatives from the wineries themselves and thanks to Grandwest’s efficient staff, the wines can be ordered, paid for at cellar door prices and taken home directly from the show,” says Cobie van Oort, one of the organisors.
An exciting culinary addition to this year’s show is the creation of an informal bistro restaurant inside the venue where visitors can enjoy a light meal at a reasonable price whilst waiting for their order to be made up. Alternatively the upmarket Quarterdeck restaurant in the main casino building, a short walk away offers Best Value Wine Show ticket holders a special on their lavish buffet of only R99 per person, for that night only! (Usual price R130 pp)
The cost per ticket is R60 per person, which includes the entrance fee, a tasting glass, a copy of the Best Value Wine Guide 2009 and an order form with all participating wines and prices.
Tickets are limited and bookings are essential. Contact Björn van Oort of CVO Marketing at (021)981 0216 or send an email to bjorn@cvomarketing.co.za to book. Tickets are also for sale at the Quarterdeck Restaurant in the Casino complex.
…ends/
RELEASED BY BJöRN VAN OORT AT 084-511-1806
Nov
11
Champagne Styles & Serving Suggestions
Filed Under Wine Etiquette | 1 Comment
In light of the Festive Season being just around the corner, we thought we should publish some details on Champagne Styles & Serving suggestions.
There are 5 Champagne Styles:
Extra Brut
No sugar is added resulting in a bone dry champagne
Brut
Liquer de dosage contains 1% of sugar producing classic, very dry champagne
Extra-Sec
Slightly more sugar, 1-3%, producing a med dry champagne with a hint of sweetness
Sec
Adding 3-5% sugar results in a decidedly sweet but not cloying champagne
Demi-Sec
8-15% sugar in the liquer de dosage makes this a very sweet champagne, most often served with desserts
It is always helpful to know the right way to serve Champagne. Herewith some helpful tips on serving Champagne to your guests during Festive Season:
1.) Prepare the ice bucket by filling it with half water, half ice cubes (great tip if your champagne is at room temp. and you need to chill it quickly, this should take a max of 20 min)
2.) Bring the bottle in its ice bucket and place it on a stand or a table nearby
3.) Show the bottle to the guest who ordered it and allow them the opportunity to feel whether it is cold enough
4.) Tear off the foil by pulling the black tab around the neck of the bottle
5.) Untwist the cage and loosen it
6.) Have a firm control of the cork by placing your thumb on top of it
7.) Turn the bottle and not the cork by holding at the bottom of the bottle
8.) Keep the bottle as flat as possible
9.) Gently release the cork with a soft slight pop
10.) Smell the cork to detect any bad taste
11.) Hold the bottle with your thumb in the bottom, the label fully visible to whom you are pouring and pour slowly
12.) Fill the glass no more than two thirds full (half full during summer is ideal), the bottle must not touch the glass when pouring and it is preferable not to tilt the glass
13.) Replace the bottle in the bucket with the label fully visible
Visit our website to view an extensive list of bubblies available form Carluccis Wine this season.