Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

While puting together this tasting, I rather realized that I know very little about this week’s region – South Africa. I’ve had quite a few wines from there, and have been very impressed. But as far as the country itself, I know very little. I remember something about South Africa in a play I saw in Ashland called Pravada. It was about politics and terribly boring, and probably the only play at which I’ve fallen asleep, so very little about South Africa was actually retained, excepting that one actor’s version of a South African accent was like an Australian with a Southern Drawl. I also remember the South African ambassators depicted in Lethal Weapon II, which I’m sure is as accurate a depiction of South Africans as Joe Peschi is of an Italian mobster. (In that movie, anyway. I never did see Goodfellas.) Those two things are all I previously knew about South Africa. Oh, and that Nelson Mandella guy is kind of important too, right? I guess I still know very little about the region.

Geographically speaking, South Africa is at the. . .uh. . Southern tip of. . um. . Africa. Okay, that’s a given. It is one of the few places that call the Syrah grape Shiraz without it meaning a different marketing strategy. There is a grape that is, I believe, exclusive to the region, which is Pinotage, a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc. It has a very meaty quality to it, as well as a musky, kind of dirty feel to it. Most people don’t like it, therefore I’m not actually going to be pouring it. I thought I might focus on the tastier side of things. Okay, the Kadette has a little Pinotage in it. . .

So Friday, March 19th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Wines of South Africa!
Kanu 2003 Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch
Indaba 2002 Merlot, Western Cape
Kannonkop 2001 Kadette, Stellenbosch
Brampton 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Coastal Region
Migration 2000 Shiraz, Paarl

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Glen Carlou 2001 Grand Classique, Paarl
Fairview 2001 Goat Roti, Western Cape

A good deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next week is Italy’s Veneto!
Also next week, in-house music from Lara Michell and Lisa Stringfield from Carmina Luna!
M