I am concerned to find that, Annareth Bolton CEO of Stellenbosch Wine Routes, is a reputable affiliate with a site that hosts a forum where Stellenbosch Wine Route members are improperly criticized for bad service, experiences, including slants on the greater Stellenbosch tourism industry. Your affiliation causes the visiting public to assume your feelings are similar to those shared by the so-called “Wine Flies” on the site www.spitorswallow.co.za.

…

Mr Coetzee also post something similar on gumtree. I need to point out that the only affiliation Spit or Swallow had with Stellenbosch Wine Festival was a link Annareth added on their website http://wineroute.co.za/welcome.aspx, which was subsequently removed.

We also need to clarify, Mr Coetzee, that most of the reviews on http://spitorswallow.co.za are actually positive and complimentary towards the wineries. Just because your farms got “criticized for bad service, experiences, including slants” do not assume its the same for the whole of the Stellenbosch area. Maybe if you pull your head out your ass and focusing on treating the South Africa public with a bit more respect, they will stop slinging shit at you.

The rest of the email criticized the new format of the festival and at the end he criticized how bad the pervious format was. Sometimes it’s just astonishing how disconnected people can be from reality.

Anyhow, if you were at the festival, feel free to tell us how it was for you. Read our experience here: 2010 Stellenbosch Wine Festival – The best to date

The curious thing about this delivery was not the content, but the packaging. It came in a linen type bag, see here:

Normally with these kind of drop-offs the packaging is either a once-of-box ready for the recycle plant, or some multi purpose beach bag with the product’s branding all over it. In this case we were totally stumped. What do you use this for and evermore intriguing, where and when can one use it again?

After busting our brains for a couple of minutes we came to the conclusion it’s a Amarula Ball Sack.
Like any good ball sack it holds some liquids and yes, some balls.

And just like a ball sack, when the juice comes out the sack becomes useless.

So without boring you any further, what do you think we can re-use it for?

Going to Groot Constantia as a normal wine consumer is as good as booking yourself into Pollsmoor Prison for a gang rape session. This place’s only mission is to fuck you over. I will never in my life go their again, or at least not until my rectum stops bleeding. It’s a vulgar place where the useless wine staff’s total lack of interest contaminant the wine until it taste like vinegar. With each sip I just wanted to fuck-off and escape from this Groot nightmare. That fact that we had to pay for this experience made me feel like a complete idiot. For R28 you get wine, full stop. What type of wine? Who knows, no one there cares to tell us.  They were to busy doing fuck-all. I’ve experience better service from a sampling stand in the Pick n Pay.

When we left I almost had a tear in my eye. If this is our wine icon which showcase our wine industry and present our friendly South African service to thousand of tourists a year, I’m crying with embarrassment. As we drove to our next stop it occurred to me that this experience now influenced my whole perspective of the Constantia route. I wanted to warn all the other wineries in the Constantia area about this gangster that rape tourist and locals alike, while hiding in sheep’s clothes made from years of history and heritage. If the Constantia wine route is not careful this Groot shit will drag the whole area down into it’s wicket ways.  I do not know if the people at Groot Constantia are under the impression that the general public are fucking idiots and that we do not know when someone rips us off, but I’ve got news from them, we do. I will never go back to this useless institution, never drink their wine (even if every bottle they every make from now onwards get 5 stars from Platter and its cronies) and will make a point to warn ever tourist and South African never to go here again.

But on a lighter point the next farm we visited, after this fiasco, quickly cemented my respect and love for the Constantia route. There are truly amazing gems here, if you can look pass the pile of shit that is Groot Constantia.

What I like about the place – its a wine bar. Here wine comes  first and food second. It is after all called Harold’s Wine Bar. You can expect a very well priced wine list, with knowledgeable and prompt service.  Obviously Harold is always just an arms length away it you need his expert advice. Wines are served in beautiful B glassware and don’t be surprise if a decanter pops up on your table to fine-tune your wine.

Overall Experience: 17/20

Tasting Scores

1. Drakensig Sauvignon Blanc ’09 – 14/20
2. River Grandeur Chardonnay ’09 – 15/20
3. Amani Poppy Blush – 16/20
4. Zorgvliet Cabernet Franc ’07 – 14/20
5. Altydgedacht Barbera ’07 – 13/20
6. JJ Merlot ’05 (Stellenrust) – 15.5/20
7. Gabrielskloof – 14.5/20
8. Eaglevlei Shiraz ’07 – 16/20

Overall Tasting Experience : 14.75

To view the panel’s overall scores hop over the http://whitesticksips.winetimes.co.za/

Before I list my scores I need to mention the location. If you never been to the Westin’s Executive Club for dinner, please go. Its on the 19th floor with absolutely amazing views. The service is, well 5 star and the food match up to the overall wow factor. Although we do not officially score the overall experience I’m going to pitch my 5 cents here.

Overall Experience: 19/20
The service was great, the wines were amazing and the canapés were just a small insight as to what to expect from this establishment if you wish to stay over.

Tasting Scores

1. Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc ’08 - 15/20
2. Bouchard Finlayson Kaaimansgat Chardonnay ’08 - 15/20
3. Hamilton Russell Chardonnay ’08 - 16/20
4. Kumkani VVS Viognier/Verdehlo/Sauvignon Blanc ’05 – 18/20
5. Kanonkop Paul Sauer ’05 - 15/20
6. Veenwouden Merlot ’05 - 16/20
7. Thelema The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon ’05 - 17/20
8. Radford Dale Shiraz ’04 - 18/20

Overall Tasting Experience – 16.25

To view the panel’s overall scores hop over the http://whitesticksips.winetimes.co.za/

After being voted South Africa’s most successful producer of the year at the 2009 International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, Fifa have signed an agreement, entitling the winery to produce a range of South African Wine for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

A special edition collection of 3 South African wines has been produced for next year tournament, which will be sold locally and internationally. The range consist out of Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Rose and a Sauvignon Blanc. Nederburg must be regular readers of Spit or Swallow to know that I’m more into my reds.

A added feature to the 3 wines are the special facility on the back label that will enable consumers to instantly access information on Nederburg by clicking on a unique QR code with their cellphone cameras. The information will appear on their phone screens. I’m still trying to figure it out though….so far I just have millions of photo`s of the bottle on my phone.

The Sauvignon Blanc and Rose are expected to retail at around R55 and the Cabernet Sauvignon at R70.

Also have a look at their recently launched website featuring a 360 panoramic view of the farm.


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1. Lynx Shiraz 2007 (14.5)

2. Roundstone Shiraz 2006 (14)

3. La Petite Ferme Shiraz 2007 (13.8)

4. Fairview La Capra 2008 (13.4)

5. Raka Biography Shiraz 2006 (11.9)

Apart from the Shiraz we started of the evening with a bottle of 2008 Grenache from Lynx. Everyone loved it and agreed that it’s THE red wine to consume this summer. Bela Osa Slivovitz Plum Brandy from Serbia was served as an aperitif and after we finished the Shiraz we indulge in a 2001 Cavilier from Annandale and a 2005 Malbec from Anura. Both wines were outstanding and contributed to a lot of fun and laughter.

In celebration of this award, Rust en Vrede hosted a lunch where South Africa’s local category winners were announced. Deputy Mayor Johnson presented the awards and the delicious food and divine wines made it a memorable afternoon of pure indulgence.

Below is the list of  South Africa’s local category winners:

Architecture, Parks & Gardens:

Grande Provence in Franscchoek

Innovative Wine Experiences

Robertson

Wine Tourism Services

Waterford Estate

Sustainable wine tourism practices:

Cloof in Darling

Accommodation:

Devon Valley in Stellenbosch

Art & Culture:

Vergelegen in Somerset West

Winery Restaurant:

Rust en Vrede

Overall Winner:

Rust en Vrede

Congratulations to all the winners!

To view the International Best Of Wine Tourism Award winners visit http://wyn.cc/9jeip