NOTHING illustrates better the pleasure of being spoilt for choice than the happy dilemma of a mosquito in a nudist camp. Of course, the spectre of so many bums to sting comes with the dizzying burden of choice.
But the most cherishable aspect of the insect's predicament is having the luxury of time to approach its enviable problem with swagger and languidness.
This is how many wine lovers must be feeling this weekend; so much to taste, so many glamour wine-tasting events to choose from and, an impressive line-up of premier wine producers to contend with.
It's a vinous extravaganza that highlights South Africa's wine calendar, starting this weekend and continuing next week.
The first of these events - the annual Soweto Wine Festival - opened its doors at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto campus last night and continues tonight and tomorrow, from 6pm to 10pm.
Visitors will taste more than 800 wines from 100 estates, including black-owned labels such as Libby's Pride, M'hudi and Lathitha.
The owners of the three labels are Libby Petersen (Libby's Pride), Professor Diale and his wife Malmsey (M'hudi) and Sheila Hlanjwa (Lathitha), who lead a contingent of 12 empowerment wine producers exhibiting.
KWV's Uschi van Zweel, whose Pearly Bay wine leads the company's offerings at the festival, says: "We are excited to be a sponsor at this buzzing festival as it offers wine makers a platform to directly communicate with a key part of our market."
Today international and SA glitterati will converge on the historic Nederburg estate in Paarl, Western Cape, to bid for the country's rare wines over a two-day auction.
It is hoped guests will forked out more than R4million for the cream of South Africa's wines by the time London-based auctioneer Anthony Barne of Bonhams rests his hammer tomorrow afternoon.
The auction is a by-invitation-only event, at which the rich and famous splurge on boutique wines while sipping expensive bubbly and lapping up caviar on the lawns.
This year's auction offers 5720 cases of 164 wines, including some rare vintages from the 1970s, to commemorate its 36th anniversary. For the first time in its history, the public will be allowed to bid for wines.
Few local wine occasions exude the same grand aura and enjoy so much world-acclaim as the annual Michael Fridjhon Wine Experience Weekend, which always features the aristocracy of the French winemaking industry.
The two-day exclusive gourmet event, at the Hyatt Regency in Rosebank tomorrow and Sunday, features the best French wines of the 1855 Classification.
Another popular wine event is the Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Festival, which holds its 20th anniversary tasting at the Wanderer's Club, Illovo, next Wednesday and Thursday (17h30 - 21h00).
Raise your glass to week awash with wine events
NOTHING illustrates better the pleasure of being spoilt for choice than the happy dilemma of a mosquito in a nudist camp. Of course, the spectre of so many bums to sting comes with the dizzying burden of choice.
But the most cherishable aspect of the insect's predicament is having the luxury of time to approach its enviable problem with swagger and languidness.
This is how many wine lovers must be feeling this weekend; so much to taste, so many glamour wine-tasting events to choose from and, an impressive line-up of premier wine producers to contend with.
It's a vinous extravaganza that highlights South Africa's wine calendar, starting this weekend and continuing next week.
The first of these events - the annual Soweto Wine Festival - opened its doors at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto campus last night and continues tonight and tomorrow, from 6pm to 10pm.
Visitors will taste more than 800 wines from 100 estates, including black-owned labels such as Libby's Pride, M'hudi and Lathitha.
The owners of the three labels are Libby Petersen (Libby's Pride), Professor Diale and his wife Malmsey (M'hudi) and Sheila Hlanjwa (Lathitha), who lead a contingent of 12 empowerment wine producers exhibiting.
KWV's Uschi van Zweel, whose Pearly Bay wine leads the company's offerings at the festival, says: "We are excited to be a sponsor at this buzzing festival as it offers wine makers a platform to directly communicate with a key part of our market."
Today international and SA glitterati will converge on the historic Nederburg estate in Paarl, Western Cape, to bid for the country's rare wines over a two-day auction.
It is hoped guests will forked out more than R4million for the cream of South Africa's wines by the time London-based auctioneer Anthony Barne of Bonhams rests his hammer tomorrow afternoon.
The auction is a by-invitation-only event, at which the rich and famous splurge on boutique wines while sipping expensive bubbly and lapping up caviar on the lawns.
This year's auction offers 5720 cases of 164 wines, including some rare vintages from the 1970s, to commemorate its 36th anniversary. For the first time in its history, the public will be allowed to bid for wines.
Few local wine occasions exude the same grand aura and enjoy so much world-acclaim as the annual Michael Fridjhon Wine Experience Weekend, which always features the aristocracy of the French winemaking industry.
The two-day exclusive gourmet event, at the Hyatt Regency in Rosebank tomorrow and Sunday, features the best French wines of the 1855 Classification.
Another popular wine event is the Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Festival, which holds its 20th anniversary tasting at the Wanderer's Club, Illovo, next Wednesday and Thursday (17h30 - 21h00).
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