The Corkless Mind

Tag: News

Groot Constantia harnesses people-power to go solar with Sun Exchange
Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine-producing farm and a world-renowned tourist destination, has partnered with Sun Exchange (www.sunexchange.com), an innovative solar leasing platform, to harness the power of community and go solar. A crowdsale for a 165 kilowatt (kW) solar plant to power Groot Constantia’s winemaking facilities and restaurants is now being hosted on the Sun Exchange platform. Through this crowd sale, people across South Africa and the globe can easily buy solar cells for R64.00 per cell, which will be installed in the solar plant that will power Groot Constantia. Once the 43,448 available solar cells are sold, the solar plant is built and starts generating electricity. Via the Sun Exchange platform, Groot Constantia will pay solar cell owners for the clean energy they produce for 20 years. The solar project crowd sale will run throughout the month of July until all solar cells sell out.

The Sun Exchange model enables Groot Constantia to access solar power at a rate lower than standard utility rates, while solar cell owners earn a stream of solar-powered income and support the estate’s transition to clean energy. The solar plant will help avoid an estimated 4,700 tonnes of carbon emissions in its lifetime. “For centuries, Groot Constantia has been a place where people from across South Africa and the world come together to enjoy great wine and South Africa’s heritage and natural beauty. Now, we’re looking to the future and working with Sun Exchange to bring together a global community to be part of our solar project. This enables us to protect and conserve that heritage and natural beauty,” said Jean Naudé, CEO, of Groot Constantia. Groot Constantia is committed to conserving the environment in which it operates, and on which it relies, and has a long history of implementing initiatives to ensure it does no harm through its farming practices.

The estate has invested significant time and resources on refining responsible production practices by spearheading innovations in water, energy efficiency and climate adaptation, and integrated environmental management systems. Its transition to solar power is the next step in its commitment to conservation. “Groot Constantia is a cultural and historical icon and an environmental leader. We’re honoured to have Sun Exchange and our global community be part of their solar power journey,” said Abraham Cambridge, CEO, of Sun Exchange. “This project will set a precedent across South Africa’s wine and tourism industries, demonstrating that transitioning away from fossil fuels is the best decision not only from a climate perspective but also financially.”

Since its founding in 2015, Sun Exchange has enabled solar power for more than 60 businesses, farms, schools and other organisations in Southern Africa. Its solar projects have generated more than 12 Gigawatt-hours of clean energy, avoiding more than 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. Thousands of people from 180 countries worldwide use the Sun Exchange platform to buy and own solar cells, produce clean electricity and earn with purpose. The Sun Exchange vision is a world where all people and organisations can harness affordable clean energy to ensure a healthy planet for future generations.

Media Contacts
- Sun Exchange – Salomé Bronkhorst, salome.bronkhorst@thesunexchange.com, +27
  (0)79-388-2114 (www.sunexchange.com)
- Groot Constantia (www.grootconstantia.co.za) – Lila Jutzen, lila.jutzen@grootconstantia.co.za, +27 (0)78-275 -4898
July 26, 2022
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.

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.

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
January 8, 2020
Bonnievale Wine Estate Launches New Limited Release Wines at Gorgeous George Hotel in Cape Town

The launch for Bonnievale’s premium wine launch was hosted in the newly renovated ‘The White Room’ at the beautiful Gorgeous George Hotel in Cape Town last week. Bonnievale Wines launched two limited release, single-variety wines crafted from a selection of top vineyard sites that reflect the influence of the ancient soils, climate, and weather of the Bonnievale ward. The wines are a Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2017 vintage and a Chardonnay, from 2019 – both destined to be must-haves for the discerning wino. The new wines feature dedicated packaging and labels that reflect their premier status in the Bonnievale portfolio, as well as the quality of the contents.

The Luncheon, consisted of a five-course menu, with all meals paired with Bonnievale wines. The hotel oozes opulence with chic touches of modernity. The roof-top bar is as ‘Instagrammable’ as is the Bonnievale Rosé served on the day.

Now on to the bit, you’ve been waiting for, the Bonnievale Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 displays beautiful, clean red fruit, notably raspberry, supported by hints of liquorice and leather on the nose. The juicy red fruit carries through on the palate, supported by fine, ripe tannins that provide elegant structure and loads of depth to the wine. With 18 months maturing in mainly new French and American oak, the two types of oak deliver a balanced and well-integrated wine with a taste that lingers long after the last sip. The Limited Release Chardonnay 2019 has delectable citrus on the nose, especially of lime and grapefruit that extend to the palate. It is crisp and fresh with a distinct flinty finish. Here too, the French oak that was used to mature the wine for seven months is well integrated, supporting the fruit but also delivering a smooth, rounded mouthfeel.

Why these cultivars?

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay have long been stars in the Bonnievale Wines portfolio. Both cultivars also remain highly regarded and sought after in international markets. The two cultivars are also keenly sourced by many of South Africa’s premier winemakers for use in their own blends and brands.

Bonnievale Wines

This coming-of-age for Bonnievale Wines has led to a renewed focus in recent years on high quality and high value. First came the revamp of its portfolio and then, the launch of the premium River Collection range, which has accumulated a string of local and international awards.

The home of Bonnievale Wines is the eponymous village, located some 200km east of Cape Town. A renowned winemaking region, Bonnievale’s vineyards are influenced by amongst others the presence of two major rivers – the Breede and Riviersonderend – and micro-climates created by extensive hills and soaring mountains.

Where to purchase and what’s the cost

The wines produced here are available countrywide and available for order from Bonnievale Wines’ online shop at http://www.bonnievalewines.co.za.

The Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 sells from R140/bottle and the Limited Release Chardonnay 2019, from R95/bottle.

*Information supplied by Yolandi De Wet PR and Bonnievale Wines. *

December 9, 2019
Franschhoek Culinary Status Reaffirmed in South Africa

The list of nominees for the hotly contested 2019 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards have been released, and six Franschhoek restaurants have been included in the list of 30 finalists.

The Franschhoek restaurants to secure a spot are the following:

Chefs Warehouse at Maison

La Petite Colombe

Le Coin Français

Pierneef à La Motte

Protégé

The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal

The Eat Out Awards are regarded as one of the most prestigious in the industry, and this year the gala event to counting down from position 20 to 11 takes place at GrandWest on Sunday, 17 November. At the same event, which is attended by the who’s who of the foodie world, the Top 10 restaurants in South Africa will also be revealed.

At the 2018 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards, La Petite Colombe (#5), Le Coin Français (#14) and Chefs Warehouse at Maison (#16) each secured a spot on the sought after Top 20 list. The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal, with Executive Chef Christiaan Campbell at the helm, was last year’s recipient of the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award.

Without a doubt, Franschhoek is South Africa’s Culinary Capital, and for the ultimate in gastronomy experiences, be sure to book at one of these esteemed eateries when next visiting the valley.

October 30, 2019