What I learned about South Africa

The real reason I was in London in the beginning of October was to learn about South Africa Wines - and I did. At the South African Mega Tasting not only did I taste a lot of South African Wine, but I also learned a lot about the poeple, the region and of course the wine, so I figured it would be a good idea to write an article about what I learned about South Africa and South African Wine so that you, my members, can learn what I have learned. And although I haven't had the chance to visit South Africa in the flesh, it is definitely on my list of wine places to visit.

At the SA wine seminar I attended Su Birch, the CEO of Wines of South Africa spoke to us about why South African wine is so unique and spirited. She also told us that this year is South Africa's 350th year of making wine and they are proud to celebrate such a significant moment in their winemaking history (more on iYellow's birthday celebrations below). She went on to tell everyone that human life began in South Africa, so in essense we are all part South African when it comes to our roots. I also learned this week at a Sicilian Wine tasting that South African soil is the oldest soil in the world. So overall SA has a lot of history and heritage to bring to the wine making table.

When it comes to being green South Africa is commited to doing their part. As a wine community they are dedicated to farming sustainably, producing their wine with integrity, and protecting the biodiversity of their unique winelands. Being green is part of who they are as a wine growing region. Together they are commitedd to safeguarding, showcasing and telling their rich heritage and historical stories to the world. From meeting with some of the owners, winemakers, producers and sales staff at the 2 day tasting, South Africa's wine world had some of the most friendly poeple I have ever encountered in my life, not to mention some really great wines!

Below is a quick bulleted list of some of the key things I learned about South African wines, landscapes and people.

• Chenin Blanc is one of SA's most versatile varietal it can be light and refreshing or mildly oaked and SA has the most chenin blanc vineyards than any other country in the world


• Pinotage is South Africa's own unique variety


• The South African wine industry is one of the most technically advanced in the world of wine


• South African Wines lead the world in environmental sustainability and production intrgrity


• South Africa has the oldest viticultural soils in the world - they date back over 500 Million years


• SA has a great diversity of wines which can suit any palate


• The South African Cape is surrounded by 2 mighty oceans


• Vin de Constance is a naturally sweet wine made in South Africa (it is really yummy and unfortunately only available in Quebec here in Canada!)


• South African Wines reflect the best of both the new and the old world


• Where SA wines grow there is more diverse life per square meter than anywhere else on the planet


• South African Wines are also great prices (you can pick up a KWV Chenin Blanc for under $8) and check out Winealign.com for other SA wines as well!
  

The next time you're looking for a great wine to try, pick up a bottle of South African Wine. Not only are they great on your wallet, but you'll get to try wine from a different region and explore some different varietals.

If you're interested in trying some really fabulous South African Wine (there will be 12 wine stations, cupcakes and food) be sure to join iYellow in Celebrating South Africa's 350th Birthday at Happy Birthday on Saturday December 5th at Reds Wine Bar only 125 tickts available for this event. RSVP today>>

My next wine contry trip is Chile, and I leave Nov. 20th, 2009 to explore the amazing, warm and beautiful Chilean wine world, so stay tuned for some great blog updates during that trip! The one thing that SA and Chile definitely have in common is the fact that they can offer you - the consumer - great value for your money!

So go try some South African Wine and tell me what you think and I look forward to celebrating South Africa's 350th Birthday with you on Saturday Dec. 5.

Cheers,
Ange

Mega Tasting Review

Not as if it was a surprise, but the South African MEGA Tasting has had some really great wines for me to try. I have been able to taste everything from sparkling wines to chenin blancs to chardonnay's to Pinotage to Bordeaux blends (and a whole bunch of other stuff), and although I have to admit that spending 6+ hours a day drinking wine is a bit of tough job (not that I am complaining because I love every second of it) but your palate has to be on the ball to really 'taste' and the wine - not just drink it, and your mind has to be willing to concentrate on the flavours and the profile of each glass that you get poured. Come to think of it, challenging may be more of the word I am looking for, but it is fun none the less.

Yesterday a few of us snuck out of the tasting and headed to a gastro pub for lunch - which is the word for an English pub that serves exceptional quality food. Below is a picture with me and my other Canadian friends eating and drinking at the pub. I had a glass of Pimm's and enjoyed a roast beef sandwich. And you'll be happy to know that I am enjoying beer during this trip too, I have had my fair share of pints and am learning to really enjoy the taste of beer!

The South African Mega Tasting has been a really great wine experience. I have been able to meet many people from South Africa as well as some very talented Winemakers along the way. To boot, I have been able to try some great South African Wine.

In case you didnt' know, South Africa is located in the Continent of Africa and is at the most southern point of it. It is surrounded by the two oceans and each wine growing area has a varying climate depending on where it is located (close to the ocean or in the middle of SA). South Africa also celebrates their 350th Year of Making wine this year so everyone from there and in the wine world is pretty proud and excited for the future of South African wine.

South Africa is making great Chenin Blanc - which is working its way to becoming their signature varietal, but they also produce great Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz/Syrah, Pinot, Late Harvest and more. It has many different regions - each with their own distinct microclimate and weather and all are producing really great wines at really great prices.

Some of the wineries I have tried wines from are:
Bellingham
Boschendal
Cape Legends
Fairview
Graham Beck Wines
Ken Forrester Wines
KWV
MAN Vintners
Meerlust Estate
Rudera Wines
Springfield Estate
The Winery of Good Hope
Vergelegen
Warwick Wine Estate

Monday night we enjoyed some great wine in one of the city's oldest wine bars called Gordon's Wine Bar. It was mostly underground and one part of the bar used to be an old wine cellar. It was rediculously cool - especially if you're a wine geek like me. Below is a picture of the bar.

Overall my wine time in London has been very memorable and I am really looking forward to our charity event tonight which is a charity benefit for the Pebbles Project with an Elvis impersonator and I am sure there will be some good wine and some good food - so stay tuned for a final blog on that!

Also be sure to block your calendars for the evening of Saturday December 5th. iYellow is planning a big Happy Birthday Party to Celebrate South Africa's 350th Year of winemaking. It will be a fabulous evening of good music, great wine (all the wines that I tasted from this trip) at a great venue and will be a great way to start your saturday night! All the details will be coming soon!

Thanks for reading!

Monday - Wines of South Africa MEGA TASTING!

Tomorrow is my first day at the Wines of South Africa Mega Tasting and I am really looking forward to it. I have a fairly full day planned and am going to be trying some great wines from the region. To boot, I am in London with some great wine media and my travels with them are always fun and interesting!

The group had a great dinner last night (we were missing 2 of our team), where we drank some great Chenin Blanc from South Africa (one of my new favourite white wines) and a great Merlot from Meerlust.

South Africa makes a delicious Dessert wine called Vin de Constance. It is made from Muscat and matched great with our dessert cheeses!

I have 2 more days to do some wine tasting - so South Africa Here I come!

MILAN 2009

Milan is stunning. Absolutely amazing. I would have to say that I was speechless at the sight of it even though it is everything I thought it would be - full of culture and history, good food, great wine and of course some amazing sights to be see. Above anything I felt completely at home being in Milan.

Erika and I visited The Duomo, and the S. Lorenzo Maggiore. We ventured on the Metro, ate lots of Italian Food, walked our feet off, ate olives every single day and obviously drank lots of red wine.

For more pictures from Day 1 of our adventures click here>>
For more pictures from Day 2 of our adventures click here>

Are you going to NIGHTLIFE on Tues Oct. 27?

My Weekend in London - Sunday

Sunday was another great day in London. Erika and I jumped on the bus and headed to London Station to meet up with Meg (who is another friend of mine staying in the city) and we walked to the market for brunch, grabbed something yummy to eat, and then were on to Brick Lane to enjoy the rest of the day.

We ate brunch at Up Market, and Erika ended up having a Pork Sandwich (which she had been dreaming about for days) and as it turns out they actually roast a whole pig and when you order a sandwich they shave off your pork right in front of you. It was delicious.

After lunch we headed through the market and then landed in Brick Lane. Brick Lane is a long street in the East end of London and derives its current name from the fact that the area was a former brick and tile manufacture that began in the 15th century. Today there are lots of markets and great vintage finds, not to mention lots and lots of people, which I am finding is definitely the one thing London has a lot of. They seem to be everywhere all the time. Lots and lots of people.

The streets were lined with people selling their clothes, antiques, shoes, purses, glasses and much more on their own blankets along the way. There were lots of vintage shops and a great vibe around the area. The 3 of us needed a drink after all our shopping so we grabbed a bottle of vino and joined the crowds of people relaxing on the public picnic tables.It was a great Sunday afternoon with great friends, good wine, amazing weather and cool sights. Who knows what the rest of the week will bring.

My Weekend in London - Saturday

So I am in London, and am having a blast getting to know the city. Erika is being an amazing tour guide showing me the city sights. After a long travel day, a good day of sightseeing was definitely in order.

England is very rich in culture and history. And although I am a loyal Tudors follower I can honestly say I am not overly familiar with the historical facts surrounding the entirety of the area. But none the less I can appreciate the fact that England has been around for a VERY LONG TIME (which may even be an understatement). The cultural and historical richness can be felt everywhere. I would describe the city as being 'historically modern'. From cobblestone pathways (not suited for heels) to incredibly beautiful modern architecture and public transportation mixed in with breathtaking historical sights like the St. Paul's Cathedral and St. James' Palace. Each place and area has it's very own atmosphere and feel. For my first time in Europe England was really a great city to start my travels in. The people are friendly, the food divine and my favourite part is being able to enjoy a glass of wine while walking throughout the city ;)

On Friday/Saturday we (below are some of the pictures from the day. I still have all week and will be doing a city tour one day and will be sharing those photos with you as well.

Here is what I did on Saturday:

• Ate at Strada Italian Restaurant
• Grazed through the Stalls at Borough Market (Enjoyed a homemade toasted cheese sandwich & homemade falafal)
• Enjoyed a glass of Prosecco while walking around the city
• Visited the Wine Museum called Vinopolis
• Walked across the Millenium Bridge
• Took a city bus
• Stepped inside the Southwark Cathedral
  
• Visited St. Paul's Cathedral
• Shopped at Topshop
• Walked around Picadilly Circus (similar to Times Square & Yonge & Dundas Square)
  
• Wondered around St. James' Palace
• Visited Barry Brothers and Rudd (the oldest wine merchant in London)
• Saw Buckingham Palace
  
• Enjoyed an Italian Dinner with another glass of Prosecco at Princi in Soho
• Listened to an amazing techno house band at Cargo (we bypassed an incredibly long line, b/c we got hooked up)
• Took a taxi home after stopping for some local fried chicken at 4am
  

Refilling a bottle of wine... sounds very eco-friendly to me! I took this shot as we were buying our Prosecco to-go!












Erika walking across the Millenium Bridge - it was a really windy day. That is St. Paul's Cathedral in the background.





Me standing out front of St. Paul's Cathedral















Erika standing outside St. James' Palace - a beautiful and amazing building.







Me standing outside of the classic London Telephone booth with a Double Decker bus in the background.






Me standing by one of the Buckingham Palace guards.

Oct. 1 - The Airport Blog

I have passed through security and am enroute to Europe and enjoying a glass of vino before heading on board for my 7 hour flight.

For those of you who don't necessarily know the extravagance of this trip you're about to read all about it. You see, this is my VERY FIRST TRIP across the ocean to the other side of the world and well, I'm very excited. I took this picture while sitting watching the Leafs play, nothing like a good Canadian hockey game to keep things in perspective while enjoying a gorgeous glass of Jackson Triggs Chardonnay (I didn't want to feel like a wine nerd and ask the bartender what vintage it was - but I found out it was a 2008), it seemed the bar had one chardonnay from Australia and one from Ontario and a Cabernet from Australia or Ontario - those were my choices. I picked the Chardonnay from Ontario and it tasted delightful with my late night Quesadilla dinner. In fact it was so delightful I ordered a 2nd glass.

I plan on spending 3 days in Milan Italy - which I cannot wait for. My first dabble into my home country.. and so the adventure begins.

Stay tuned for more exciting stories, pictures and commentary to come!

PS - I did stop at the MAC store before boarding and grabbed some obviously much needed make-up, as any lady with time to spare in the airport would do!