With a reputation like An evening at South Africa’s Wine Opera: jazz, classics and way more… it was no marvel the final Discovery Theatre at London’s 2023 Decanter Nice Wine Encounter drew the crowds.
Not solely was the session full, however even after greater than six hours of visiting stands within the Grand Tasting and Cellar Assortment room, company lingered after the session to get pleasure from the previous couple of sips of their eight tasting samples and to queue for an opportunity to talk to the presenters.
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of the PIWOSA Discovery Theatre wines
Ken Forrester, proprietor and winemaker of Ken Forrester Wines, and Tom Hanson-Smith, a director of Journey’s Finish Vineyards, made an enticing double act in showcasing the various wines of PIWOSA – the Premium Unbiased Wineries of South Africa.
PIWOSA is a various but like-minded group of 12 producers from throughout the Cape winelands: Avondale (Paarl), De Grendel (Durbanville), Glenelly Property (Stellenbosch), Jordan Wine Property (Stellenbosch), Journey’s Finish Vineyards (Somerset West), Ken Forrester Wines (Stellenbosch), Klein Constantia (Constantia), Paul Clüver Household Wines (Elgin), Raats Household Wines (Stellenbosch), Radford Dale (Stellenbosch), Springfield Property (Robertson) and The Drift Property (Overberg).
Ken Forrester, proprietor/winemaker of Ken Forrester Wines, and Tom Hanson-Smith, a director of Journey’s Finish Vineyards. Credit score: Ellen Richardson
Many are family-run companies, others from bigger firms; some with greater than three centuries of historical past, a number of who’ve been working for simply twenty years. However all are united of their purpose of creating premium wines, sharing them with wine lovers world wide and, in so doing, flying the flag for all South African wine.
And South African wine had one thing for everybody, it doesn’t matter what your style, Ken Forrester informed the Discovery Theatre attendees. Identical to music, the explanation behind his naming this Discovery Theatre An evening South Africa’s Wine Opera: jazz, classics and way more…
‘However if you wish to play jazz – or rock, pop, something – it’s essential be taught the classics,’ he defined. ‘It’s solely when you’ve a classical background you could begin being experimental.’
He mentioned the eight wines on this Discovery Theatre (sadly, an hour was not sufficient time to current a wine from every of the 12 PIWOSA members) was an try and take attendees ‘on a journey via South Africa of the areas, grape varieties, extremely thrilling winemaking methods and quirky, particular person winemaker personalities’.
DFWE 2023: PIWOSA wines and music
The eight PIWOSA wines tasted on the DFWE 2023 Discovery Theatre. Credit score: Ellen Richardson
We’ve got taken the freedom of attributing an artist and music model to every of the eight wines within the tasting together with some basic Ken Forrester quotes. However music choice, as with wine, is all a matter of non-public style, so if our comparability doesn’t resonate with you, do nonetheless purchase and take a look at the wines for your self. And in case you suppose there’s a greater music match, do tell us at editor@decanter.com
- Klein Constantia, Clara Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia 2022
Maria Callas (Opera): ‘The richness of a effective olive oil with a straight-backed backbone of acidity’ - Avondale, Cyclus White, Paarl 2019
Ella Fitzgerald (Jazz): ‘All kinds of notes you’d by no means thought would go collectively’ - Ken Forrester, Soiled Little Secret 4, Piekenierskloof MV
Pink Floyd (Prog Rock): ‘Particular person, experimental’ - Jordan Wine Property, Assyrtiko, Stellenbosch 2022
Kraftwerk (Electronica): ‘Pragmatic, pioneering.’ - Paul Clüver, Seven Flags Chardonnay, Elgin 2022
Eroica/Beethoven’s third (Symphony): ‘A symphony of flavour and texture’ - Journey’s Finish, The Griffin Syrah, Stellenbosch 2018
Luther Vandross (R&B) ‘Easy’ - The Drift Property, Ghost within the Machine Shiraz, Western Cape 2021
REM (Different Rock) ‘Imaginative’ - Glenelly Property, Woman Could, Stellenbosch 2017
Three Tenors (Opera) ‘Stately, spectacular’
Sustainability and social uplift
PIWOSA members are united of their dedication to sustainability. All have eliminated chemical compounds of their vineyards, recycle water, embraced cowl crops to spice up soil heath and are serving to defend the Cape’s famend plant range by rewilding. Moreover, 5 members are World Wildlife Fund Conservation Champions and Journey’s Finish Vineyards was one of many first wine farms within the nation to transform to solar energy.
Social uplift, too, is a key pillar of PIWOSA membership – being a drive for good and serving to native communities. This spans the whole lot from housing and soup kitchens to anti-bullying workshops in colleges, gender-based violence rehab clinics and foetal alcohol syndrome crêches. Schooling, nevertheless, is an enormous emphasis, whether or not that’s creating colleges or by way of bursaries – all the best way as much as the three-year Cape Winemakers’ Guild Protégé Programme in oenology and viticulture.
DFWE 2023: PIWOSA Discovery Theatre tasting of South Africa’s ‘wine opera’
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