Category: Wine

  • Fall in love (again) with Delheim Cabernet Sauvignon

    Fall in love (again) with Delheim Cabernet Sauvignon

    Renowned Stellenbosch wine estate releases its 2018 vintage 

    February is a time of first loves. For wine cognoscenti, that passion belongs to Delheim Estate and its Cabernet Sauvignon, whose 2018 vintage has just been released.

    The 2018 vintage was a recovery year for the vines, recalls winemaker Roelof Lotriet. They were emerging from years of debilitating drought. Ideal conditions during vineyard growth phase meant the bottled results are exceptional.

    It has already claimed Gold at Veritas 2021 and awarded 91 points by Master of Wine Tim Atkin.

    “The wine shows classic Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics on the nose,” says Roelof. “There’s the lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf and blackcurrant, which follow through on the palate with an inflow of ripe red-berries and fine tannins. Its finish is long and silky.

    “It will continue to improve long after vintage,” he adds.

    It is perhaps a fitting metaphor for Delheim Estate’s own great love story – that of Spatz and Vera, founders of the estate’s Sperling legacy in Stellenbosch. Among their many contributions, the couple were co-founders of the Stellenbosch Wine Route, South Africa’s first of its kind, in 1971.

    Vera still often tells the tale of how Spatz proposed marriage only two weeks after they’d met. He caught everyone off-guard, even Vera, by making the announcement at a small, informal gathering one afternoon in the gardens at Delheim. “When he’d told everyone we were to be married, he looked at me and said quietly, ’I hope you don’t mind!’,” Vera chuckles.

    Their journey continued to improve long after “vintage” too, but not without many challenges along the way. In the case of their prized Cabernet Sauvignon, vineyards had to be replanted in 2010 and a massive veld fire tore through the area in 2016. 

    Spatz passed away in 2017, though his love for Vera had nonetheless stood the test of time. 

    He recognised the rarity of this union when he named Delheim’s Vera Cruz vineyards. It’s a subtle play on the Mexican state of the same name, but Spatz always said it referred to the cross – or Cruz, in Spanish – that Vera had to bear in choosing him to share her life’s journey.

    Spatz arrived in South Africa from Germany in 1951. At just 20-years-old, he’d signed up to help his uncle and aunt on their farm, Delheim. Over decades he got to understand the terroir of the farm and Simonsberg landscape, gradually refining the best sites and associated grape varieties.

    “Delheim has been making wine for over 80 years and has understood the value of having a good foundation for not only for success but making world class wines. That foundation has been Cabernet Sauvignon,” says Roelof.

    He says the parable of the wise man building his house upon rock was instilled in him at a young age. “The location we have on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg mountain, the right soil and meticulous attention given to the vines and wine makes Cabernet Sauvignon the rock we build our house upon.”

    The first single variety Cabernet Sauvignon wine bottled under the Delheim name was produced in 1958. The vineyards that produce Delheim’s premium Cabernet Sauvignon at Vera Cruz were established by Spatz after he acquired the 80ha of prime red-wine land on Klapmutskop. 

    Further reflecting Delheim Estate’s commitment to the variety is its membership of the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective, a collaboration of select wineries to whom quality is paramount. Its premier aim is to establish international recognition for the world-class standard of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon through rigorous peer review.

    The Delheim Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 sells for R250 and is available online from https://www.delheim.com/shop-online/, with free delivery on all orders over R1 200. The wine may also be found on winelists of leading restaurants and wine shops around the country.

    For more information or direct wine orders contact Delheim Estate at tel: 021 888 4600 or email: info@delheim.com. Delheim is on Twitter and Facebook as @Delheim, and Instagram as @DelheimWines.

  • A Taste of Franschhoek

    A Taste of Franschhoek

    *Disclaimer: I have been hosted at both wineries. All views are my own and not paid for. All extra expenses were paid for by myself* 

    The valley of Franschhoek has many things to offer the avid foodie, wine aficionado and even the keen adventurer. Having lived most of my life in the beautiful Cape, I am not as well travelled as I would like to be, however this leaves me with an excuse to venture out and explore our bountiful province as much as I possibly can. A few weeks ago, I was invited to visit La Motte for the Harvest experience and GlenWood Winery for their gourmet sushi and wine offering and words cannot express what a lovely experience it really was, with that said have a look at these photos I took along with what I can best describe as being, utterly delicious! 

    La Motte

    In the vineyard

    Enjoy an introduction to the various varietals from Cabernet Sauvignon to Cabernet Franc, harvest processes are passionately and carefully explained for the layman or wine professional.Spot the differences between the various varieties and taste the sweetness of the ripe berries.

    Interesting fact – La Motte practices biologic production. Additional grapes are obtained from other affiliated family-owned farms and La Motte-managed vineyards situated in various regions. This adds versatility to the grapes supplied to the La Motte cellar. Passionate about terroir, La Motte enjoys WWF Conservation Championship status, with the objective of keeping biodiversity intact.

    In the cellar

    Experience the hand-sorting of grapes, crushing, pump-overs and other cellar activities, concluded with a tasting of grape must (fermenting grape juice) from a fermentation tank.

    In the tasting room 

    Sit down to a tasting of La Motte’s award-winning collection of wines – five wines from the La Motte Collection as well as the two wines from the estate’s renowned Pierneef Collection. My personal favourites are the 2018 Pierneef Syrah Viognier, the exquisite 2015 Hanneli R Syrah based blend and of course what would life be without a fantastic glass of MCC, the La Motte Methode Cap Classique is an absolute knock out of a bubbly!

    What followed was a tranquil brunch underneath the age-old oaks. A special harvest lunch prepared by award-winning Chef Eric Bullpit and his talented team to end of a wonderful experience at La Motte. I couldn’t leave without a few bottles of the syrah viognier and of course their famous mosbolletjie loaf! I would drive the 35 +- minute trip just to visit again any day! Their Harvest experiences runs every year open to the public from the second week of February to the end of March. Bookings are essential. 

    GlenWood 

    The wine and the estate.

    Situated in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley (and slightly off the beaten track). Developed in 1984, GlenWood has established itself as a sought-after wine producer in local and international markets. With 25 ha under vine from which they produce close to 90,000 bottles annually, adhering strictly to sustainable farming guidelines, applying best labour practices and protecting their indigenous fynbos. The farm is surrounded by beautiful scenery, lush oaks and lawn with plenty of space of your furry friends and kids to play on. Owner Alastair Wood served us a glass of their Grand Duc Chardonnay, refreshingly light with a touch of body, a perfect accompaniment to their utterly delicious sushi. 


    The Food

    With a high-end sushi restaurant situated on the premises guests get the opportunity to enjoy sushi accompanied by their wines in an idyllic outdoor setting looking out to the grand Franschhoek mountains, this certainly makes for a unique sushi and wine experience. GlenWood proves to have the ingredients for a memorable winelands lunch experience. 

    To book your unique sushi experience: 

    GlenWood 

    Email: info@glenwoodvineyards.co.za

    Telephone: +27 (0)21 8762044

    Physical Address: Robertsvlei Road | Franschhoek | 7690 | South Africa

    Special thanks to the La Motte and GlenWood teams for the warm and gracious hospitality!

    Cheers x

  • Wines unboxed

    Wines unboxed

    Disclaimer: These wines featured have been sent to me as media drops. This post is not paid for and reflects my own unbiased opinion.

    With another nationwide ban on alcohol, the industry as a whole has been shaken to its core yet again. Now more than ever the industry needs our support. If you do have the means, please consider supporting the South African wine industry by purchasing your wines online directly from wineries stores or through many local wine boutiques.

    I am incredibly grateful that I am able to write about wine professionally and call this my job! I will strive to be as honest as I possibly can whilst honouring each winery with the respect that it deserves. Without further ado, Here is a list of a few local wines that have landed on my desk for me to review.

    Boland Cellar’s Top 2 of 2020

    • Reserve Merlot 2018 – retails for R149 a bottle

    The focus is purely on the stage name ‘Reserve’, the winemaking method and varietal. The grapes are handpicked at about 24° Balling, followed by destemming and cold-soaking for three days. The fermenting wine underwent pump-overs and after primary fermentation, malolactic fermentation took place in mostly second-filled barrels with a portion in new barrels. This richly structured and concentrated Merlot was further matured in 300-litre French oak barrels for 16 months to gain complexity. A small portion of 20% of the wine was not matured in wood in order to enhance the final blend with the ripe primary fruit flavours.

    Tasting note: tons of red fruit such as red cherries, plums and red berries. Layers of oak, spice and wood shavings are integrated with savoury and tomato notes mingling together with a long and lingering finish. A firmly structured and full-bodied wine which will benefit from careful ageing and will perfectly complement grilled sirloin and rump steaks.

    • One Formation White Blend 2020 Retail price: R87

    The range consists of a White Blend (Chenin/Sauvignon/Grenache), a Red Blend
    (Shiraz/Grenache/Viognier), a Chenin Blanc, a Shiraz and a Grenache Noir. This blend in particular consists of 65% Chenin Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Grenache Blanc. The Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache Blanc underwent brief wood maturation in older small French barrels for three months in order to add a bit of complexity to the blend. The final blend was left on the lees for a further two months with regular batonnage before bottling, resulting in a rich, full wine with both structure and finesse.

    Tasting note: Shows ripe pear and melon flavours as well as green pepper notes are evident on the balanced palate, followed by a gentle lingering finish. The old bush-vines of the Chenin Blanc yield ripe, creamy stone fruit flavours which are complemented by the crisp green fruit of the Sauvignon Blanc. The addition of Grenache Blanc in this blend provides richness and texture with ripe pear flavours. Finely flavoured dishes of seafood and poultry will complement this wine.

    Garden Route Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – Retails for R86 a bottle

    Produced and distributed through De Krans. Harvesting takes place mid-March during early morning to ensure the coolest possible berries. The fruit is handled with extreme care and only berries are hand selected. At the cellar the clusters are destemmed and lightly crushed into a closed tank and left on the skins till the next day. The free run juice is separated and fermentation takes place at cool temperatures for about a month. The wine is left on the lees for another 6 months before bottling.

    Tasting note: The palate shows refreshing tropical fruits and cut grass/green pepper with a flint finish, well balanced acidity and a lingering finish. The perfect poolside tipple for the sweltering summer heat. Food pairing suggesting: serve with fresh cob or stump nose, served with a lime dressing. This wine also works well with any pâté or crisp summer salads.

    Middelvlei’s Cinsaut Rosé 2020 – Retail price: R105 (not pictured here)

    Made from 100% Cinsaut grapes, the fruit is sourced from only the best vineyards in the Western Cape.

    Tasting note: on the palate shows delicate bursts of summer berry and juicy watermelon. Pale salmon pink in hue with a delicious fruity finish. Another poolside tipple for the win. Can be paired with grilled seafood or chicken dishes. Pairs well with a black olive tapenade, or any seasonal inspired salads. Also partners perfectly with grilled herbed lamb chops, lamb burgers with Moroccan spices or sweet and sour salmon teriyaki.

    Do let me know in the comments if you have any questions or would like to see more of a particular topic on my blog.

    Yours in Vino x

  • Experience The Elgin Valley

    Experience The Elgin Valley

    The Elgin Valley, synonymous with award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals that sing with cool climate melodic notes. Situated about 70 km’s from Cape Town. It’s incredibly easy to drive by if you’re not a local and just take in the scenic drive en route to another nearby town. In case you’re not familiar with South Africa, the Western Cape is a treasure trove of so many wondrous and beautiful wineries, each region takes on a different and own unique typicity of terroir. This fact excites me and could get me reading and listening about wine in a geographical sense for hours! Don’t get me started 🙂

    Why Elgin you ask? For our honeymoon, we ended up touring a few of my favourite regions, such as the Walker Bay, Swartland and Bot River regions. So in reliving the magic, we decided on our first anniversary this year, we would explore another favourite, Elgin. The valley of not just cool climate wines, but the home of Appletiser, apples and, who can’t forget Peregrine!

    Peregrine (not pictured here) has grown from a deli/farm stall into a tourist attraction for their fresh produce, freshly baked loaves of bread, wine section and restaurant. Outside a small grassy patch with a little park for the kiddies and pooches to be entertained and refreshed. This is one pitstop you cannot miss. Be sure to stock up on lots of delicious freshly pressed apple juice, sourdough, mosbolletjie bread, last but not least, the pies are LEGENDARY!

    Our first winery stop, was at Oneric. O N E I R I C; pronounced “Oh! – ne – rik” borrowed from Greek terminology and roughly translated as ‘dream’ is exactly that – a gem nestled in the heart of the cool-climate Elgin Valley. Warmly received and graciously hosted. We found not only the view from the small estate but the Chardonnay quite a dream.

    There were so many wineries on my list, and of course this was pre-lockdown, which also meant the valley was mostly empty. There next winery, I am a loyal admirer and consumer of, Elgin Ridge. We were fortunate enough to be hosted for a tasting by the Winemaker himself, Kosie van der Merwe. having been treated to a tasting of their incredibly delicious 2018 vintage 282 Chardonnay via a Coravin! (drools) Any oenophile will know when I say to own a Coravin is a dream indeed. I curiously ask in and out about the difference between organic and biodynamic viticulture, Kosie is visibly passionate about biodyamic viticulture in order to get the best out of the typicity that Elgin Ridge as a farm has to offer it is best to let the wines do the talking with minimal interference.

    Today, Elgin Ridge is proudly certified biodynamic by Demeter (since 2016) and certified organic by ECOCERT (since 2012) and CERES, (since 2019). At current they are the only certified organic producer in the Elgin valley and one of just two certified biodynamic producers in the whole of South Africa! Visit purely for their range of gorgeous wines. The 282 Pinot Noir has a bright ruby colour and displays a raspberry and dark cherry fruit core with subtle hints of floral scent. On the palate, the acid adds an uplifting freshness to the cherry fruits and floral scent on the nose. Indulgent, special and one of those wines you open to celebrate something, be it, a celebration of life! The Crunch range, the everyday drinking range, but that’s certainly not to say it lacks in quality and taste. 50% whole bunch natural fermentation and aged for 7 months in concrete egg before bottling. With aromatics of intense raspberries and cranberries that carries over to the pallet with a salinity that leaves your mouth watering for more. The Crunch Sauvignon Blanc is equally delightful too!

    Iona wineries was a bit of a trek up a 5km gravel road up alongside the hill that separates the main town from this (at the risk of sounding clichéd) hidden gem. I remember tasting their Sauvignon Blanc at the FNB TOP 10 awards, and was completely blown away, hence my eagerness to visit the estate. Greeted by a very fervent ridgeback pup leading us straight to the small but warm tasting room with a classic car emboldening the space but definitely not taking up space as one would think. The trek to find the winery was well worth it!

    In the endeavour to produce a fine glass of wine from this stunning farm, Iona focuses on four quality wines; Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the One Man Band, an estate blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Mourvedré and Viognier.The philosophy at Iona is to make wine that expresses the soils and climate as closely as possible, making use of sustainable farming methods and to maximise the use of natural products in farming and winemaking. Everything is done in-house, from the vineyard to the wine distribution.

    Charles Fox

    Give me a glass of MCC any day and I will be more than content! I’ve heard very good things about this Elgin wine estate and of course needed to see what the fuss was all about. The tasting room dons many a memorabilia from days past from the owners adventures to photos paying homage to working with renowned French winemakers. Originally an apple and pear farm, The Furneaux Farm was purchased by Charles and Zelda Fox in 2005 after an intensive search for terroir that would be perfect conditions for growing chardonnay and pinot noir grapes and producing MCC. I do love a good Brut, the Charles Fox Reserve Brut Rosé was a token of which I decided to bring back home with me.

    Elgin Vintners

    The weekend we spent wondering and tasting our way through the valley were spent mostly at Elgin Vintners, to which they have a guesthouse with four luxurious suites. We had the entire guest house to ourselves, but stayed in the Browne Suite. The Manor house was built in 1927 to a Sir Herbert Baker design, the Manor House has been restored to its Victorian glory, with all the modern comforts. Accommodating up to 10 guests in luxury suites, the Manor House is child-friendly and gives guests the run of the property, including the swimming pool, tennis court, garden and braai area.

    Guests staying at the Elgin Vintners Manor House are offered the following complimentary services: 

    • Breakfast – a full Continental or hot breakfast on order, complete with coffee & tea
    • Complimentary use of the estate’s swimming pool and tennis court
    • A complimentary wine tasting of 4 Elgin Vintners wines at the Tasting Room
    • Bottled water
    • Wireless internet
    • Bathroom and swimming towels

    There were a few wineries like Almenkerk, Oak Valley and Paul Cluver that were unfortunately closed to visitors at that point before lockdown. But with level 3 in effect and with the hope of the virus coming to an end in the near future, I urge you to please plan your visits to as many of these wineries and perhaps if you can now, please order your favourite wines online from any of these magnificent wineries, in the Elgin region or any other local wine region for that matter.

    Start planning your wine adventures, it’s never too late.

    Take care and keep safe out there x

  • How to Best Spend 24 Hours at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch

    How to Best Spend 24 Hours at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch

     

     

    **Disclaimer: I was hosted at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate‘s expense in exchange for this review on the experience. My view is unbiased and reflects the my opinion on my stay on the farm and not that of the winery**

     

    Situated in the bustling town of Stellenbosch lies the lush and beautiful winery of Blaauwklippen. An estate that is shaped by 300 years of commitment to quality winemaking and passion. The farm was founded in 1682 by Gerrit Jansz Visser, but it wasn’t until 1688 that the first vineyards were planted in the fertile soil of the estate. Fast forward to 1899, when Cecil John Rhodes became the owner of Blaauwklippen, but only for one day! In 1971 the renowned Stellenbosch Wine Route was founded, with Blaauwklippen becoming one of the first members. The Route is still going strong today as one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Western Cape.

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    By 1977 the very first Zinfandel grapes were planted on Blaauwklippen, with the first wines produced three years later. By 1977 the very first Zinfandel grapes were planted on Blaauwklippen, with the first wines produced three years later. Blaauwklippen became the first winery outside of the USA to join ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) in 2008. And in 2015 Blaauwklippen Vineyards celebrated 333 years of establishment.

    The Blaauwklippen Blending Competition was founded in 1984 and over 30 consecutive years later remains the only wine competition in South Africa aimed at consumers and not producers. In the tasting room next to the deli you will find blending kits for purchase. The perfect gift for the wine geek in your life (or yourself).

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    My stay on the farm kicked off with a wine tasting consisting of their renowned Zinfandel, White Zinfandel, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and their delicious MCC crafted from their maiden varietal, the Zinfandel of course. My favourite out of the tasting selection would have to be the phenomenal Malbec and the delectable MCC. The Cab. Sauv. is in a league of its own too! With classic notes of eucalyptus and bell pepper on the palate. A typical award-winning Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon.

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    What followed was a tour of the famed manor house to refresh the senses and the legs. Each and every room had a luxurious airiness with an opulent aesthetic, I couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to stay in the some R40 000 a night large manor house. My favourite room? You guessed it, the kitchen! A kitchen made of dreams, envisioning many days of meal preparation spent feeling like domestic goddess Nigella Lawson.

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    Blaauwklippen takes pride having something available for everyone to indulge in. Not much of a wine consumer? Try their craft gin range and do a gin and nougat pairing. The tasting consists of three different types of gin, paired with three different flavours of locally crafted nougat to perfectly match the flavours that each gin holds. The pairing is R135 per person. I particularly loved the Zin Gin. The Zinfandel juice infused gin is rested for up to three months before diluted with Reverse osmosis water is added to reduce to bottling strength. Vapour infusion is seen as a more superior method than steep and boil since botanicals do not over-boil. The vapour slowly extracts the delicate flavour or essential oils of these botanicals to form the Gin. On the palate, you will find sweet red berries with cranberry juice, dry piny Juniper and tea-like tannins which reminds me of Christmastime and mince pies. The Gardin Gin is a typical dry gin with hints of orange zest and floral accents. I can definitely see myself sipping on this throughout summer. The Farm Gin, the last in the juniper berry laced trio, shows bursts of wild fig, pink peppercorn with slightly sweet and silky smooth herbal and floral notes. Really balanced and pairs well with the pecan nut nougat. I absolutely adore the fresh floral designs on each bottle. 

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    Friday nights at Hamm & Uys are quite the occasion, with pizza being the star of the show. Every Friday evening the farm-based restaurant hosts a pizza evening with live music as entertainment for the hungry hoards. Pizza is made fresh in-house in their wood-fired oven with delicious seasonal toppings. Why Hamm & Uys? I LOVE the aesthetic and of course, the delicious offerings they have on their menu, such as the generous serving of mussels served in a beautiful dutch oven with roosterkoek to mop up the white zinfandel laced juices! The beef burger with crispy wedges and roasted marrow bone is the ultimate! I enjoyed my pizza and burger with the winery’s unforgettably delicious Malbec.

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    The indulgent evening ended with a good night’s rest in our luxe cottages on the beautiful farm. Our Saturday morning proved to be a busy one starting with a short walk to the magical glass cathedral in the already sweltering 30 degrees C Stellenbosch heat. To fuel our next adventure we had an MCC and Almond Biscotti pairing in the shade followed by my brave yet really long attempt at sabrage. We were met by Viticulturist Jaco van der Westhuizen who graciously fielded our novice wine questions and showed us through the lush vineyards ready to be harvested soon.

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    YAY! I did it! 🙂 It only took over 2 minutes!

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    A scrumptious breakfast spread was set up in the beautiful manor house dining room.

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    Without reservation or bias, Blaauwklippen Wine Estate is a sensory experience to be taken in little by little, by staying over or visiting frequently. Family-friendly? Check! Wine enthusiast-friendly? Check! Craft gin enthusiasts? Check! Luxurious and comfortable accommodation? Check! Check! Delicious food on offer at resident restaurant Hamm & Uys? Check! Check! and check, please! I cannot wait to be back, whether it’s for the pizza evening’s or Sunday markets held every Sunday on the farm.

     

    A massive thank you to the amazing team at Blaauwklippen for their warm hospitality.

    To visit or make a booking:

    Strand Road, R44 Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7600
      • TASTING ROOM / CELLAR +27 (0)21 880 0133
      • HAMM & UYS EATERY +27 (0)66 495 0270 
      • GENERAL ENQUIRIES +27 (0)21 880 0133
    • OPENING HOURS Summer Times (1 October – 30 April) Mondays to Saturdays: 10h00 – 18h00 Sundays & Public Holidays: 10h00 – 17h00Winter Times (1 May – 30 September) Mondays till Saturdays: 10h00 – 17h00 Sundays & Public Holidays: 10h00 – 17h00

     

    Information in this post about the winery is supplied by their website.

  • Millennial Pink and the Rise of Rosé

    Millennial Pink and the Rise of Rosé

    I recently entered the Veritas Young Wine Writers competition last year. Unfortunately, my entry was unsuccessful. However, I thought I’d share one of the two pieces I wrote for the competition with you. I have recently enrolled at UNISA to study a BA in Creative Writing to improve my craft as well as my chances of getting hired more frequently for freelance work in the industry. Please have a read, and let me know what you think in the comments.

    Instagram is to Rosé what the Fairy Godmother was to Cinderella.

    We live in a world of sensory overload. Everything is a meme, a moment, a tiktok, a story. But all it took was a simple hashtag and just one influencer to get something trending and relevant. That’s the story of how rosé magically transformed from ugly step-sister into rose gold queen. 

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    Before 2017 rosé wine was a typically frowned-upon form of libation and seen as cheap and low quality. This all changed with millennials making the pink wine trend, specifically on social media. 

    Somehow pale pink rosé became an overnight sensation gaining traction as an ‘Instagrammable’ wine some may say a visually appealing prop for Instagram posts in the blazing summer heat. 

    Hashtags such as #rosé and #roseallday trended and suddenly became fashionable with many an establishment having to order their fair share of rosé far in advance for summer and in bulk to please many a millennial horde. It’s no surprise really that my fellow millennials took a serious liking to this now sophisticated pink wine with the generation making the hue culturally acceptable for all to wear and passively behold. 

    Annually, every second Saturday of June sees a full day dedicated to the celebration of rosé wine. The past five years we’ve seen a myriad social media posts using the blush pale pink wine to celebrate summer at their favourite wineries or quite simply at home with a homemade refreshingly cool ‘frosé’. Rosé put simply signifies the advent of long, hot balmy days. 

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    So here’s what we can expect to see in 2020 and beyond: 

    • Yes way, rosé: As summer gets underway in the southern hemisphere, we start to see the apoplectic joy of hosting ‘Pinknics’.  Where rosé simply calls for al fresco dining with your nearest and dearest in a divine setting.
    • Yes we ‘can’: at the end of 2019 wine in cans are already set to become the next big thing in the wine industry and amongst the younger crowd that look to convenience. 
    • Yes to CBD: Like everything else, rosé will possibly get a modern cannabis-infused spin soon enough. 
    • Yes to lower alcohol and fewer calories: We’re all a little more health-conscious these days, instead of cutting out alcohol completely, going for something lighter is a great option for most. 

    Cheers to 2020! x