Your Weekend Wine Shopping List! [South Africa] 30 August 2013

Friday not only brings the end of the week, it also brings your weekend wine shopping list! Here they are, the Top 10 Trending Wines on Real Time Wine!

#1) Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011 by Haute Cabriere R74
#2) Pinot Gris 2012 by De Grendel R75
#3) Baronne 2011 by Nederburg R45
#4) Rubicon 2007 by Meerlust R280
#5) The Wolftrap 2012 by Boekenhoutskloof R38
#6) The First Lady 2011 by Warwick R69
#7) Pinotage 2012 by Diemersfontein R97
#8) Whole Berry 2010 by Springfield R103
#9) Brut by Graham Beck R116
#10) La Fleurette by J.C. Le Roux R52

Remember to let us know how these went down by rating and reviewing them over at: www.realtimewine.com

Maties hold on to the title of Vino Varsity Champions

Haha! We love that students get so involved in wine. And scarily enough, they probably know more than you and me on the street. Here's coverage of the BacksBerg Vino Varsity Challenge that happened recently...

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Low-lying clouds and gripping cold surrounded Backsberg last Friday as Vino Varsity 2013 was about to kick off. It wasn’t long until the heat was turned up. The UCT bus arrived with a group of supporters, wearing warrior face-paint and chanting deep-pitched war cries. Tuks entered the arena with a four-man strong team and one supporter, walking tall and sussing out the competition. Nothing could intimidate them. They were here for one thing – the trophy! Maties arrived fashionably late, dressed in red and black attire, sporting top hats. They filled the venue, looked confident and repeatedly belted out Maties songs of encouragement!

The first round comprised 30 general knowledge questions covering wine history, winemaking and international wines. Maties had their A game on and dominated this section.

All was not lost; the second round commenced and Ikeys confidently announced that this would be their round for the taking. Teams tasted through ten flights of wines. Each flight comprised three wines. Teams had to identify cultivars, origins, vintages, RS levels and faults, amongst other questions. Someone quipped that the only fault to a wine is “that it has not been drunk yet!”

Round three would decide the competition. Teams debated the topic of alcohol advertising and the effects of the proposed ban. Arguments were varied and all three presentations differed in style, delivery and content. Tuks wowed us with a concise and to-the-point, factual slideshow presentation. Maties looked at the other side of the coin by asking “well what if we don’t ban alcohol advertising?” and Ikeys posed an argument relaying it back to real-life saying that alcohol does not cause alcoholism – individuals cause alcoholism. All very interesting angles and the judges had a difficult time deciding on the overall best. It was decided that the flow, content and presentation of Ikeys was the best.

After three rounds, back-and-forth war banter between the teams, a few sips of vino, and a well-deserved boerie roll, the winning team was announced.

Maties! Winners of the fifth Vino Varsity Challenge for the fourth time! Cheers erupted and the winning team enjoyed the spoils of their win – a 1987 bottle of Backsberg Klein Babylonstoren and their names etched into the Vino Varsity Decanter Trophy.

Tuks achieved second place and UCT third by only a couple of point’s difference. It was a great day. The judges imparted great advice and extensive wine knowledge. Angela Lloyd, Mark Norrish and Chris Williams were an asset to the judging panel and there was no shortage of wit either. 

Weekend Wine Shopping List! [South Africa] 23 August 2013

Whoop whoop! It's Friday, and that means it's time to stock up on some weekend wine! As per usual, we recommend that you select from our Top 10 Trending wines on Real Time Wine. So without further ado, here they are!

#1) The First Lady 2011 by Warwick R68
#2) La Fleurette by J.C. Le Roux R52
#3) Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011 by Haute Cabriere R73
#4) Baronne 2011 by Nederburg R45
#5) Rubicon 2007 by Meerlust R280
#6) The Wolftrap 2012 by Boekenhoutskloof R39
#7) Matt Black 2007 by Bilton R78
#8) Pinotage 2012 by Diemersfontein R97
#9) Pinot Noir 2012 by Creation R168
#10) Professor Black 2012 by Warwick R101

Naturally, we want to hear all about your experience with these wines, so make sure you tell us over at www.realtimewine.com!

Happy wine-ing!

WineStyle Spring Winedown - 13/14 September 2013

It's back! The Real Time Wine SuperFANS and app users made their mark at the Winter Winedown. Join us again!

Shake off the cobwebs in Jozi this Spring at WineStyle’s Spring Winedown.

The Winestyle Spring Winedown is an opportunity to unwind and relax, it not just another average wine show – we are offering you the opportunity to taste some of the ‘Best of the Best’ and to rub shoulders with the wine professionals involved in creating your favourite wines all on the backdrop of the gorgeous Tintswalo hotel @ Waterfall Estates.

This beautiful destination has a spectacular 360? degree view with rolling lawns, big windows and a stunning open terrace to enjoy a Jozi Spring day, with great food and wine, live DJ and chilled out vibe. Bring your family and friends, and come spend the day with us.

The “Spring Winedown” is a wine party, not a wine trade show. It’s a celebration of food and wine and for people who like to have fun. The event is unlike a traditional wine show, and encourages guests and exhibitors to engage, unwind, eat, drink and pick up a few wine tips in the process. Guests also get an opportunity to purchase these wines, at a special Winedown price. So come and stock up your collection!

On the back of our successful Summer and Spring Wine Parties in Cape Town, and our first Winedown event in Joburg, we are bringing the fun back to Gauteng by popular demand.

A ticket gets you entrance and a tasting glass, to roam around and taste for free, buy wine by the glass or bottle, order some delicious platters, picnic style tapas or sushi, find a spot on the lawn and relax with friends and family for the day. Remember to pick up a few cases of wine to take home too!

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to shake off the cobwebs, leave Winter behind and celebrate this Spring in style!

Venue: Tintswalo Waterfall – Kyalami, Gauteng

Date: 13^th & 14^th of September 2013  (Friday 5.30-10pm & Saturday 12-7 pm)

Tickets:

R100.00 per person attending, including a glass (Webtickets)

R120.00 at the door per person including a glass

Tickets available at Webtickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=405813082

Weekend Wine Shopping List! [South Africa] 9 August 2013

Time for your Weekend Wine Shopping List! And being Women's Day, we hope all the gents are heading out to the store to pick up something extra special! Find it here on the list of the Top 10 Trending wines on Real Time Wine!

PS - Look who's back on top!

#1) The Wolftrap 2012 by Boekenhoutskloof R39
#2) Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011 by Haute Cabriere R71
#3) Pinotage 2012 by Diemersfontein R91
#4) Pinot Noir 2012 by Creation R168
#5) The First Lady 2011 by Warwick R68
#6) Nr 7 2012 by Hermanuspietersfontein R100
#7) Merlot 2012 by Protea
#8) Rubicon 2007 by Meerlust
#9) Viognier 2013 by Creation R93
#10) Pinot Gris by Usana

Remember to tell us what you thought of the wines over at http://ow.ly/nMp4i

Happy celebrating and enjoy the long weekend!

Weekend Wine Shopping List! [South Africa] 2 August 2013

Well well well! Last week Friday saw Hermanuspietersfontein with the top three spots on the Real Time Wine Top 10 Trending list, and this week we have Creation with the top three! With 98 YUM ratings and only 1 YUK between the three of them, you can be guaranteed that these are super delicious wines!

Make sure you add these three wines, along with the rest of our Top 10 Trending wines to your weekend shopping list! For your drinking pleasure, here they are!

#1) Pinot Noir 2012 by Creation R166
#2) Viognier 2013 by Creation R93
#3) Chardonnay 2012 by Creation R129
#4) Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011 by Haute Cabriere R71
#5) Viognier 2012 by Creation R70
#6) Creative Block 5 2008 by Spier R90
#7) Malbec 2011 by Neethlingshof R71
#8) Nr 5 Sauvignon Blanc 2012 by Hermanuspietersfontein R150
#9) Lord T Edition 1 by Brenaissance R79
#10) SMV 2010 by Waverley Hills

Make sure you tell us what you think of these wines on our app or by heading over to www.realtimewine.com!

Have a great one!