Real Time Wine is closing (but that's not yet the end of the story)...

Hello Wine Fans! Let's cut straight to it. I've got good news - and I've got bad news.

The Bad News.

It’s a sad day, but unfortunately I have decided to close down the Real Time Wine app. Turns out we built an amazing product and an incredible community – but just didn’t manage to monetize quickly enough. In the South African landscape, socially active wine (and beer) drinkers with smartphones who wanted to change their buying and discovery habits… just wasn’t a big enough market.

The app will be shut down and the domains redirected on Monday 5 May. Read on to see where they'll be redirected.

It has been a helluva ride. And I have YOU to thank for that. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined the quality of the community that came together around this product. Here are some highlights for you:

• 4,407 Wine FANS
• 116 SuperFANS
• 13,725 reviews and 31,760 ratings
• 12,058 wines on the system
• 3,340 farms/producers (including a few international ones, you Wine Fans travelled a bit)
• 1 Published Book

Thank you for everything, from the bottom of my wine soaked heart!

I will be writing a bit more about this in the coming weeks. While trying to avoid the schmaltzy boo-hoo of a closure email, I think there are some incredible stories to tell about the business side of Real Time Wine. Call it catharsis or call it wanting to give a little back to the ecosystem that supported everyone involved in the project. Keep an eye on www.andyhadfield.com

But wait, there’s more…

The Good News.

Firstly, we’re open-sourcing everything – all code to the apps and mobile sites. We won’t even wipe the wine stains off it. If you’re a developer and you want to have a hack, if you’re a SuperFAN and you want to tinker, if you’re a mad Wino and you want to launch something similar – be my guest! I’ll post more about this in time on www.andyhadfield.com.

Secondly, the REALLY Good News: We just couldn’t let the community go. The SuperFANS, the relationships we’ve built up with amazing people in the wine industry and all the content and passion we still have to share. It’s all just TOO COOL. So I won’t let it go. Hah.

Today, I’d like to announce a partnership with Marthelize Tredoux (SuperFAN and winner of SA Young Wine Writer 2013).  Together, we’re going to use the social community built up over the last 2 years to launch a brand new venture: INCOGVINO. This will offer a platform for wine writing, news, reviews, events and the odd competition or two. It’s also the place where the SuperFAN Club (and our infamous Twitter Tastings) will continue! We’ll still have a place that is firmly focused on experiencing all the wonderful things this wine country has to offer. A place where my (and our) passion for wine can live on.

incogvino adj. without being known for predictable tastes and opinions, wine-drinker in disguise, an assumed character exploring the realm of wine without pretence, prejudice or pedanticism.

Come visit us – and tell your friends as you reminisce over those crazy wine reviews you wrote. Then write more!

That’s a cool end (and beginning) to the story hey? See you on Incogvino.

Love you all,
Andy Hadfield
Chief Wino

Win tickets to the Winter Sculpture Fair presented by MasterCard

The Winter Sculpture Fair presented by MasterCard will return to the NIROX Sculpture Park near the Cradle of Humankind on the 10th and 11th May 2014, where a selection of South Africa's best contemporary sculpture and Franschhoek's finest food and wine will be showcased.

Situated in a 15 hectare private nature reserve, the highly-acclaimed NIROX Sculpture Park will be home to the 'NIROX SCULPTURE | WINTER 14' exhibition. Visitors will be able to meander through the park to view nearly 100 sculptures by more than 50 contemporary artists, before picnicking in the countryside with family and friends.

Exquisite food and fine wine produced by 38 exhibitors of Franschhoek's most popular restaurants, producers and wineries will be on offer. A selection of Franschhoek cheeses, charcuterie, and chocolates will also be available to purchase, ahead of winter.

This year, visitors are set to experience an unmatched culinary and cultural day out with friends and family while:

• meandering through the exquisite landscaped park, taking in nearly 100 sculptures of the highly acclaimed 'NIROX SCULPTURE | WINTER 14' exhibition, curated by Mary-Jane Darroll
• tasting exquisite food and fine wine produced by some of Franschhoek's most popular restaurants, producers and wineries
• enjoying a relaxed picnic alongside the breath taking view

Tickets cost R100 and are available through www.webtickets.co.za, with a 10% discount if they are purchased using a MasterCard branded card. Limited tickets will be available at the door. Children 12 years and under enter free. For more information, visit www.wintersculpturefair.co.za.

MasterCard is giving away two double tickets to the Winter Sculpture Fair.

Competition question: Which payments and technology company is the Winter Sculpture Fair presented by? Email info@realtimewine.com with your answers and we'll do a draw after the competition closes!

Competition closes on 28 April 2014. Tickets are valid for Saturday, 10 May 2014 only. Tickets are not transferable. Terms and conditions apply.

Wine experiences and wine things to do in Johannesburg

We had a really interesting discussion inside the SuperFAN Club around things to do and experiences to have in the wine world... in Joburg, about as far away from wine country as you can get before crossing a border.

The suggestions were so interesting, we had to pull everything together and make a post out of it. So here they are, run off and explore some wine in Johannesburg.

• Cape Wine Academy runs wine courses out of the Michaelangelo in Sandton and Miele SA in Bryanston. Look out specifically for their "Wines of the World" course.
• Le Souffle Restaurant in Fourways/Pineslopes has monthly wine-pairing dinners featuring a particular estate.
• Roots Restaurant at Forum Homini (near the Cradle of Mankind) does wine pairing dinners. Warning: strictly no kids. 
• The International Wine Centre, you'll find good 'ol Cathy Marston there doing some of the more technical and interesting WSET wine courses. Apparently these courses make their way up to Joburg more and more. Enquire!
• KREAM in Pretoria has a super intimate chef-cooks-right-next-to-you-while-you-meet-the-winemaker evenings. Don't miss 'em. They also appear to have a great deal with a driving service to get you back to wherever you live in Joburg at about R5/km. You'll need it.
• De Kloof Restaurant, L'Epis Dore and Zest Bistro (Pretoria area) also do wine and food pairing evenings. All three come highly recommended. Something about being out of the winelands that makes these restaurants go the extra mile to creating a great evening experience.
• And then of course are the Wine Clubs. The most recommended one to check out is Cellar Rats. Bring liver tablets :) We joke, we joke... 

Any other great Johannesburg wine experiences? Let us know in the comments!

WineStyle's Summer Winedown @ Tintswalo. 7/8 February 2014 (JHB). Win tickets!

It's here again, our friends at WineStyle have their quarterly Winedown. It truly is one of the best wine events out - probably because it's still pretty small, intimate and provides the perfect opportunity to meet up with other Real Time Wine FANS. Come rub wine glasses with the SuperFANS, we'll be there in force :)

Win some tickets to come along. Hop over to our Facebook page and enter in the comments!

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WineStyle’s  Summer Winedown! Celebrate the Summer in style.

On the back of our successful Summer and Spring Wine Parties in Cape Town, and our 2 recent Winedown events in Joburg, we are bringing the fun back to Gauteng by popular demand on the 7th and 8th February 2014!

This is 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.

Come dressed in your Summer whites & unwind & relax – amazing wines to taste & buy – live music & delicious food. Buy a few of your favourite bottles, grab a seat on the lawns, order some food & enjoy the day with friends or family. Also remember to bring your dancing shoes! It is a wine party, after all!!

Guests also get an opportunity to purchase these wines, at a special Winedown price. So come and stock up your collection!

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.  Come dressed to our theme; “White with a touch of Bright” and stand a chance to win prizes for best dressed!

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to celebrate the Summer season, with this premium wine event in Gauteng.

Venue: Tintswalo Waterfall – Kyalami, Gauteng
Date: 7th & 8th of February 2014  (Friday 5.30-10pm & Saturday 12-7 pm)
Dress Code: White with a touch of Bright
Tickets:  R120.00 per person, including a glass Tickets available at Webtickets  and at the door   http://webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=407928056

www.wine-style.co.za

A VIP visit to De Toren. The perks of being a Real Time Wine SuperFAN

Ed's note: The SuperFAN Club is a little exclusive layer on the top of your "power to the people" wine app! Everyone who reaches Bottle Bandit status level or high is entitled to join the SuperFAN Club and chat with other wine influencers, get great deals, attend events and more. This, is the amusing account of one such perky invite :)

By Bryce Gillespie

Earlier in the year, SuperFAN Charl Engels and I were invited by another SuperFAN, Charlotte Spicer, to head over to De Toren for a special VIP tasting with them. The De Toren tasting is already pretty special, so I was extra excited for this one. I had absolutely no idea it would turn into what it did... This is my attempt at an enthralling "recap" of the afternoon's events.

We’re on our way to De Toren Wine Estate for a VIP tasting courtesy of our high-level status on the popular social wine review app, Real Time Wine. My expectations are well and truly through the roof and I’m beginning to doubt whether the unsuspecting marketing manager will have any chance of meeting them. Cutting to the chase, I soon realise that I am indeed going to be disappointed. There is no Book XVII lined up for the tasting this evening.

For those of you not in the know, Book XVII is a limited production wine made by De Toren that retails at a cool R1800 a bottle. How do you like them apples?

However, as we are taken through the recently developed cellar space where the Book XVII elixir is brought to life, the consulting winemaker/viticulturist/project leader/big-boss-man comes strolling into the room. After a brief introduction, Gregor Drescher questions our knowledge of French wines. Visibly unimpressed by our meek “hmms” and “uhms”, he reaches for a magnificent bottle standing open on the table in the centre of the cellar.

“You guys ever heard of this?” he asks as he pours a tasting into a wine glass the size of my head. It is the 2010 Visionnaire. A French wine falling under the Expression Unique portfolio managed by De Toren owner, Emil den Dulk, and Gregor Drescher. I'm assuming there are other players involved as well. The De Toren Book XVII, another wine called Red Granite (from somewhere in Europe) and the Visionnaire make up the portfolio of site specific wines of a nature and form you have never imagined.

The Visionnaire is a wine made from grapes that have received the kind of attention that numerous families would never even dream of giving their firstborn. In fact, from Gregor’s explanation of “diva” viticulture, the image in my mind is of him spending every waking moment with the vines as they go through their yearly cycle, with him being extra careful not to spit out his mouthwash on to the soil or roll into them as he's tossing and turning in his sleeping bag every night.

If I’m honest, smelling the wine does not prompt the nervous little girl inside of me to wet her panties with delight, and it seems rather uninviting. The wine’s caretaker dutifully informs us that this is simply a result of the wine still being a bit “closed off”, kind of like your girlfriend should you forget that thing she’s been reminding you about before you even started dating.

Yet lo and behold, as the wine graces my lips and tongue with it’s almighty presence, something far above and beyond a simple wine tasting experience emerges from my sensory organs. What seems like the Closing Ceremony fireworks from the 2010 FIFA World Cup combined with all the purple and black berries from every LiquiFruit advert ever made explode all over my mouth and my tongue just falls limp in joyous drunken shock. When I finally gather the courage to swallow the fluid that surely stems from the Fountain of Youth, I am anything but relieved of the moment of Utopian bliss from just a second ago. As if ghost wine now resides in my mouth, all the tastes and sensations remain, if not even heightened as a result of the influx of oxygen into the crevice that will no doubt ever be the same again, even should I be blessed with but one brief tongue tickling session with Rachel McAdams.

Whilst my brain and soul are dealing with sensory overload, there is some talking in the background and we move on to taste a few other wines. Needless to say, at that stage I was but a jealous lover who had no interest in any other vinous specimen, as they were in no way suitable to even think of being able to be sipped upon by me.

And thus, as a result, that day shall forever be known as “Unsurpassable wine drinking experience benchmark day that will never ever be beaten by anything ever in the world ever niki touch-backs, touch black can’t give back” day.

On a side note, I have tasted the De Toren wines in another setting, and they are superb.

So that's my story! Turns out this foray into Real Time Wine has its perks!

Ciao for now.

Bryce