South Africa: Master Chef Judge hosts Nederburg Wine Class at Gugulethu Wine Festival
CAPE TOWN, GUGULETHU, 20 MARCH 2012 – The 2nd annual TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival, happening on the Friday 25th May and Saturday 26th May 2012 on the rooftop of the Gugulethu Square Mall, is going to be bigger and better, with a touch of glamour, full of fun, with a celebrity or three in the mix, and over 300 great South African wines to taste and savour.
Festival co-founders and high-profile local entrepreneurs, Mzoli Ngcawuzele and Lungile Mbalo from Mzoli’s Place, have promised visitors an impressive wine festival from the people for the people.
Says Mzoli, “Our TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival belongs to the people; it is for the people because we have grown it from the seed of an idea to this amazing experience that uplifts everyone who visits it or is involved in it. Every person that has aspirations and a desire to experience the best things in life with a glass of South African wine in hand is welcome.”
TOPS at SPAR are the Gugulethu Wine Festival’s headline sponsor for the second year running. Through their empowerment vision and values, they assist in making this festival a unique, impressive and sustainable event for all residents and neighbours to be proud of.
Says Mark Robinson, TOPS Group Liquor Manager, “The vision of the TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival is entrenched in our mission and values. Upliftment within communities by the communities is important, valued and supported. It is home-grown festivals like this that encourage sustainable entrepreneurship, which is close to home at TOPS at SPAR. We are really looking forward to meeting our customers and friends at the festival too.”
This year, TOPS at SPAR will also be creating the ‘TOPS Food & Fun’ chill-out space for the festival. Within the marquee, there will be four local restaurants serving different food styles to cater to different tastes, plenty of seating, a live band and a cosy ambience to seal the moment.
Nederburg, the festival’s lead wine sponsor and host of the popular Nederburg Taste Theatre is bringing a significant highlight to the festival this year in none other than Masterchef SA Judge, Pete Goffe-Wood.
Pete Goffe-Wood, a familiar face to foodies throughout South Africa, will co-present with Nederburg on the first day of the festival. Nederburg’s Taste Theatre is free to visitors and will explore the impact of various food flavours on wine. Visitors to the event will have the chance to sample various foods with a selection of wines to discover how they affect the taste of the wines.
Says Nederburg spokesperson, Wencke Grobler, “The taste theatre isn’t meant to create more rules surrounding wine; if anything, the aim is the exact opposite. We want wine lovers to free themselves from the burdens of do’s and don’ts involved with wine and food matching. All we want is to show how you can enrich the pleasure of the wine you drink by offering you the experience of combining it in a way that brings compatible flavours together.”
The Taste Theatre is open to festival goers on a first-come first-served basis. The presentation will be staged at 18:00, 19:00 and 20:00 on both evening in the main wine exhibitor marquee.
Cape Town Tourism is a proud partner to the TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival and says Skye Grove, PR and Communications Manager for Cape Town Tourism, “The TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival is an event that has started a new dawn for wineries and South Africa’s ever-expanding wine consumers. The innovation of food and wine is an integral part of what makes Cape Town an inspirational city and the TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival profiles the Mother City as an exceptional winter food and wine destination.”
Another exciting development this year is Saturday night’s new VIP Sponsor and television partner, DStv, who are well known for putting on fabulous evenings for VIP’s and visitors. Says Busi Msimango – Promotions, Marketing and Sales at DStv, “The DStv offering is so diverse that it has a natural fit with all spheres of society, cultures and lifestyles. We are extremely excited to be one of the brands hosting at the 2nd TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival and we promise to go far and beyond to surround you with entertainment. DStv – we raise our glass to Gugulethu and its vibrant people.”
Sensational new Wine Lounges this year are J.C. Le Roux, Pongracz and 4th Street wineries. These popular wine brands in particular add lots of fun and flavour to festival visitors.
Proud travel sponsor, South African National Parks (SANParks), will have a stand showcasing their incredible range of Parks and offering wine tasting from farms en route to and surrounding them.
The formidable City Press, who recently celebrated their 30th birthday, is our loyal and influential Media Partner and always creates a big splash at this festival.
All visitors will receive a free branded wine tasting glass and the festival wine buying guide on arrival plus there will be lots of prizes to be won on the night. Tickets are R80 per person per night and are available online at www.webtickets.co.za or at the door on the night.
For more information go to – www.gugulethuwinefestival.co.za
