Oenophiles from the Garden Route and beyond are invited to participate in the second Wine & Whatever Experience, taking place at Bahia Bleu restaurant at Mossel Bay’s Diaz Beach Hotel.
First launched in 2019, the Wine & Whatever Experience offers wine lovers the opportunity to engage with wine tasting in a different way. This year’s event, which is taking place on the 29th and 30th of October, will feature around 40 wines from 10 farms for tasting.
Organiser Alewijn Dippenaar, of Thousand Sensations boutique beer-fame, explains that the Wine & Whatever concept was specifically designed to offer an alternative tasting format, with its primary focus on experiencing singular varietals from various farms at the same time.
“This configuration means that we have one central stall where all the wines are displayed in a circle. People are invited to do the rounds, tasting all the Pinotages, all the Chenins, and so on. Our priority is introducing and marketing a particular wine, and then the participating cellars and distributors present.
An Emphasis On Experience
“Say there are six different Pinotages, hailing from the West Coast, Stellenbosch, Robertson and the Southern Cape respectively. What better way to taste the same cultivar from different terroirs than in the presence of wine masters and chefs, who pair it with food to complement its unique qualities?”
Dippenaar says they intentionally steered clear of the traditional ‘cheese and wine’ idea – thus the ‘Wine & Whatever’ – and that the emphasis is on ‘Experience’ rather than a festival. “The cheeses historically paired with wine seal the tongue’s taste receptors. Needless to say, we’re in pursuit of quite the opposite effect.”
All involved are set on informing and educating consumers, thus increasing the appreciation and enjoyment of budding connoisseurs. Apart from the delectable dishes served by Bahia Bleu in their normal line of duty, there will be three food demonstrations – one on the Friday and two on the Saturday – to send taste buds into a heavenly tizz.
A Western Cape Showcase
Wine estates participating in the invent include Boplaas, Bonnievale, Herold and Du Toitskloof Wines, with distributors including Brand Republic, South Cape Distributors and Garden Route Cargo.
Red wines raring to be tasted include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Sangiovese and Shiraz, and white cultivars comprise Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier.
Commenting on the event, Monkia Iuel, chief marketing officer of in partnership with WESGRO, who is a partner for the event says they are to support such a great initiative that will contribute positively towards the rebuild of our event and hospitality sector.
“The wine industry plays an important role in the Western Cape economy, and events like this provide a splendid opportunity to showcase our wines.”
Diarise October 29 (from 3-7pm) and 30 (12 noon to 7pm) at Bahia Bleu for this exciting event. Entry to the experience is R100 per person, which includes your glass. Visit www.onlines.co.za to book online.