One of the special features at IFE-2008 Food and Wine Show to be held in Pragati Maidan on December 2 is the Guided Tastings where one can taste and learn about the wine producing regions as well. Wines Of South Africa is one such event, writes Subhash Arora.

This year Wines of South Africa is also participating at IFE along with many individual participants. As one of the key presentation during the seminar sessions by Andre Morganthal from WOSA, South Africa , a diverse range of wines will be tasted on Dec 3rd  at the Guided Tasting Auditorium.

The "Variety is in our Nature" theme will be well represented across price points and styles,  with easy drinking wines from the First Cape stable - currently in the Top 10 selling brands in the UK.

Kanonkop has recently been acknowledged as the Best Wine Producer of the Year by  Platter Guide 2009. The multiple award winning Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2003 has firmly positioned itself on the international wine landscape as a South African icon, while its peers, the Pinotage and the Cabernet Sauvignon from the same marquee continue to garner accolades.

This will be the only opportunity to see and taste this special, blended wine although some of the others might be available at the stands of the partipating producers and the Wines of South Africa (WOSA) stand at the IFE-India show where one can discuss in depth and learn  more about the South African wines.

Enjoy the Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve 2006 and find out why  Pinotage has always appealed as a food wine, especially when youthful and bursting with flavours of plum an cherries, with cedar and vanilla folded in, beckoning for spicy Indian cuisine.  The rigid backbone and firm but supple tannins of a well shaped Pinotage, carries the vibrant flavours of both dry and wet curries.

On the white side the Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc 2008 is a seriously positioned, limited production wine at the high end from the spectrum – fresh and racy, exuding style.

The Waterford Estate Kevin Arnold Shiraz 2006 is another high end wine made from selected barrels and is an expression of the winemakers passion. Also taste the same varietal, same vintage from another historical winery with a different terroir, Allée Bleue Winery from Franschhoek.

South Africa also produces wines with Chardonnay. Taste Namaqua 2008 as one such example. Oak Valley will showcase the capability of a South African winery to emulate and produce Bordeaux blend.

Be sure not to miss this tasting and a slight window of some of South Africa's best wines.

Here are the wines to be tasted:

The Tasting is slated from 04:00– 05:00 pm on December 3 at the specially created wine tasting auditorium and is open to the wine professionals (hotel and restaurant personnel, importers, distributors, retailers, producers, wine journalists and other related trade people)
If you would like to avail of an excellent opportunity not only to learn about how South Africa is emerging as the new favourite wine producing nation exporting to India, and  taste some of their  wines made from different terroirs attend this session on a First-Come First Served basis. You may register at Info@indianwineacademy.com

There are several other exciting Tastings. Here is the complete schedule:

Date/ Time                               Country/Region                                 Moderator

Dec 2    2:00-3:00 pm               Wines of Italy                                      Subhash Arora
Dec 2    4:00-5:00 pm               Wines of France                                  Laurent Guiraud
Dec 3    1:00- 2:00 pm              Wines from California                         Eric Pope
Dec 3    2:30- 3:30 pm              Wines of Australia                               Michael Carter
                                                & New Zealand                                   Puneet Dhall
Dec 3    4:00- 5:00 pm              Wines of South Africa                         Andre Morganthal

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