Category: Wine News

Pacific Wines embraces bricks and mortar specializing in US Wines

The online retailer Pacific Wines has just announced plans to open an inaugural store in London at the end of August. The store will be located on Islington High Street and will exclusively offer wines from the US, including boutique labels from California and Oregon.

The business was set-up by former math teacher Rachel Gilbert and her father, Graham Gilbert. The father and daughter team have been successful with online sales for the past nine months, and after a recent trip to California, Rachel decided to move into exclusively US wine.

“Pacific Wines will boast a range of wines from California, with Napa and Sonoma well represented, including Napa Cellars and DeLoach Vineyards, as well as some lesser-known wineries such as Keep Wines and Field Recordings” States Rachel Gilbert and Graham Gilbert

There will also be a wide selection of labels from Oregon, giving wine drinkers a chance to discover some of the state’s excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

In addition to listing over 150 different wines, the US-inspired store will also offer an events space at the back which can hold up to 30 people.

“This is a very exciting time for us. We are the first UK retailer to focus exclusively on North American wines and I’m very excited to share my passion for wines from the area with others,” said co-founder Rachel Gilbert.

“Lockdown gave us the opportunity to set up Pacific Wines online and start to develop our range of wines, and living locally, I had my heart set on opening a store in Islington. When this store became available, I knew the time was right.”

@pacificwines.uk #pacificwinesuk #americanwine #californiawine #winelovers
#winenews #womeninwine #londonwineshop #wineshop #camdenpassage #islington
#oregonwine #winetime #winetasting #womeninwinebusiness

Andre Morgenthal, Old Vine Project – South Africa

Andre Morgenthal, Project Manager of the Old Vine Project (South Africa) give a brief overview of the Old Vine Project, and we taste six wines from The Certified Heritage Vineyards. What a great experience!

This unique initiative aims to preserve old vines in South Africa and was launched by consultant vineyard manager, Rosa Kruger in 2016.

South Africa has 92 067 hectares under vineyard, of which 3303 hectares are vineyards of 35 years and older, according to SA Wine Industry and Systems (SAWIS) 2019 statistics.

In the past few years, these wines have received many accolades and awards both nationally and internationally. For instance, 22 OVP wines achieved a 5-star rating in the 2021 Platter’s South African Wine Guide.

The OVP currently has over 80 members. The old vine blocks vary from 0,01 to 24 hectares each with Chenin being the biggest component. The oldest vineyards in South Africa are also OVP members: Eben Sadie’s ‘T Voetpad; two Cinsaut blocks which the Mullineuxs farm; Semillon in Franschhoek (Boekenhoutskloof, Thorne and Daughters, Alheit, Naude) and Muscat on Welgevonden (Daschbosch). Stellenbosch has the biggest hectares of old vines.

Inaugural “Old Vine Day” August 1 2022

The Old Vine Project (OVP) team announced today that they, their members, and wine lovers all over the South Africa and the world, will be celebrating the inaugural Old Vine Day this year on August 1, 2022 (and every year thereafter), this being the founding date of the OVP in 2016.

Join in and celebrate Inaugural Old Vine Day August 1, 2022! #OldVineDay #OldVine #CertifiedHeritageVineyards 🍷

#oldvineproject #certifiedheritagevineyards #oldvinesyoungvibes #oldvines #viticulture #vineyards #wine #winetime #winelover #winestagram #vino #wijn #vin #corkdork #drinksouthafrican #southafrica #spectacularsouthafrica #oldvines #oldvineday #oldvineday2022 #winesofsouthafrica #WOSAoldvineday #WOSAoldvineday2022
#winelandmedia @oldvineproject

For further information:   https://oldvineproject.co.za/
 

 

The Oude Werf Hotel, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This week I’m staying at The Oude Werf Hotel, which is in the heart of the Winelands, in Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is surrounded by the picturesque vineyards of the Cape Winelands and the mountains of Jonkershoek and Simonsberg. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa, dating back to 1679.  The town has oak-lined streets and Cape Dutch architecture, giving me a true sense of South Africa’s Dutch colonial history.

I learned that the Oude Werf Hotel is also steeped in history. It’s the oldest hotel in South Africa and stands on the landmark site of the country’s first church. The original hotel was built in 1687 and was later destroyed by fire in 1710. The “churchyard” then gave rise to the Cape Dutch-style Wium’s Inn, which was rebuilt and renamed the Oude Werf Hotel.

It’s a beautiful boutique hotel, right in the heart of Stellenbosch and I found it to be a wonderfully eclectic mix of contemporary boutique and old-world charm with friendly and helpful staff.

Perfect Location

This boutique hotel is located downtown Stellenbosch, in the center of the Cape Winelands – the premier wine region of South Africa.  There are so many beautiful wine farms to visit and it’s only 45 km from Cape Town, and 20 km from the Atlantic Ocean. I found it perfect for wine tourism and cultural exploration.

Website:  https://www.oudewerf.co.za

#southafrica #southafricantravel #winelover #travelling #winetravel #winetourism #womeninwine #wineexperience #winelovers #winetravels #winetasting #Stellenbosch #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveldiary #traveling #WOSA #oudewerfhotel #oudewerf #oudewerfhotel #wine @oudewerfhotel #michelangeloawards

1st day of Judging Michelangelo International Wine + Spirits Competition, SA

Photos from the 1st day of Judging Michelangelo International Wine + Spirits Competition, South Africa

#Lourensford #LoveLourensford #wine #winelovers #winetasting #winejudge #winecompetition #winejudging #internationalwinejudges#winelover #travelling #winetravel #womeninwine #wineexperience #winetravels #vineyards #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveldiary #traveling  #winesofSouthafrica #southafricawines #WSA

Welcome Event: Michelangelo International Wine + Spirits Competition, South Africa

On Sunday evening, invited international judges attended a “Welcome Party” to kick off the 26th Michelangelo International Wine + Spirits Competition at the beautiful  Lourensford Wine Estate, South Africa.

This year’s Michelangelo judges line-up include: Otto Batzer, Austria; Georgi Mihov, Bulgaria; Liz Palmer, Dame Chevalier de Coteaux de Champagne from Canada; Karel Novotný, Czech Republic; Thomas Rydberg, Denmark; Charlie Arturaola, France; Moshe Cohen, Israel; Michele Shah, Italy; Chris Alblas, importer of organic and biodynamic wines in Europe, from Netherlands; Wojciech Gogolinski, Poland; Achim Dörr, Germany, Nuno Jorge, Portugal; Heidi Duminy, Wilhelm Pienaar, Greg Mutambe and Cape Wine Master Elsie Pells from South Africa; Andrej Ondrejmiska, Slovakia; Dr Marin Berovic (OIV Commissioner and Chairman of European Wine Competitions from Slovenia); Jesús Bernad Dueñas, Spain; Per Karlsson, Sweden; Richard Phister, Switzerland; Serhat Narsap, Laura Clay (IWC Senior judge) and Geoffrey Dean from the UK.

The 2022 Distilled Spirits panel include:

  1. Bernard Schaefer, professional spirits taster and Master of the Quaich from Germany;
  2. René van Hoven, spirits and Rum specialist from the Netherlands;
  3. Johan Venter, former Master distiller and blender, South Africa;
  4. Ivan Dixon, drinks consultant and spirits buyer, United Kingdom
  5. Arthur Nägele, international spirits judge and trainer, Switzerland

“It is such a thrill to have a full team of international drinks experts serving on the judging panels again this year,” says founder and organizer of the competition, Lorraine Immelman. “25 of our judges have been sourced from other international competitions in Europe and the USA, based on their experience and standing in the industry.

#Lourensford #LoveLourensford #wine #winelovers #winetasting #winejudge #winecompetition #winejudging #internationalwinejudges #winelover #travelling #winetravel #womeninwine #wineexperience  #winetravels #vineyards #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveldiary #traveling  #winesofSouthafrica #southafricawines #WOSA