SA winemakers descend on UK for Intrepid

South Africa’s winemaking talent will be showcased in London next month as more than 100 of the country’s producers take part in the Intrepid trade tasting.

More than 100 South African winemakers will present their wines at the Intrepid South African tasting at Tobacco Dock next month (Photo: WOSA)

Taking place on Thursday 8 September at Tobacco Dock, east London, the Intrepid tasting will put the spotlight on South Africa’s dynamic winemaking talent, which in recent years has shaped the country’s reputation as one of the most exciting wine regions in the world.

The event is being organised by marketing body Wines of South Africa and follows the highly successful Cape Wine event held in Capetown in 2015.

The Intrepid event follows a smaller SA event held in London last year, the SA ‘New Wave’ tasting at the Vinyl Factory in Soho, which was organised by importers Indigo Wines, New Generation Wines, FMV, Dreyfus Ashby and Swig.

The New Wave tasting was hailed by many critics and trade members as a statement of the high quality of wines being produced by South Africa’s new generation of winemakers.

Tim Atkin MW said of the tasting: “Here was proof that South Africa is currently the most exciting wine-producing country on the planet.” Jamie Goode commented: “I reckon in a decade’s time we’ll look back and say: ‘I was there.’ For this is when South African fine wine came of age.”

In addition to more than 100 producer tables, Intrepid South Africa will feature a Tasting Trail of nine tasting stations that will take visitors on a journey through South African wines. Each station will have 18 wines and two of the stations will be presented blind.

The Tasting Trail will allow guests to chat informally with some of South Africa’s leading winemakers. Each station will also include wines from other countries for comparison, highlighting South Africa’s confidence in producing world-class wines, while also demonstrating that South Africa has honed its own style and identity.

The themes and winemakers are available to view on the Intrepid South Africa website.

Visitors to Intrepid South Africa can utilise the online catalogue, Winelink, to find out details about all producers and wines that will be at the London tasting, and to create bespoke tasting lists to prepare for the day.

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Commenting on the Intrepid event, Jo Wehring, UK market manager for Wines of South Africa, said: “The UK is the leading export market for South African wines and this tasting offers visitors an opportunity to explore our wines, meet the winemakers, expand their knowledge of South Africa and find great value products that suit their businesses.

“UK trends this year are positive as South African total exports to the UK are increasing in value, up 2% by value to June 2016.

“The rand per litre price to the UK market has increased 12% over the same period and value exports of packaged South African wines to the UK are up 8%.

“South African wine has never enjoyed so much positive attention and there is plenty to taste today to show you why leading commentators are often citing South Africa as the most exciting wine-producing nation in the world.”

The Intrepid tasting is part of a busy schedule of events for South Africa’s visiting winemakers. WOSA has teamed up with the Three Wine Men to present a consumer wine tasting, Wozani, at South Africa House on 6 September. The event, which will feature around 50 producers, has already sold out.

In addition, the Zoo Biscuits winemakers group is running a tasting for trade and consumers at Brackenbury Wine Rooms on 7 September from 4pm onwards. 

Chef Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn is also running a sell-out South African Safari event for consumers, press and trade on 11 September. As well as hosting around 18 South African winemakers, Jones is set to launch his own Jones Family Collection wine project, which includes a Chenin Blanc and a Pinot Noir from South Africa, at this event. 

To register for Intrepid South Africa and for more information about the tasting click here. To find news via Twitter use #IntrepidSAwine and follow @WOSA_UK.

Intrepid South Africa: Thursday 8 September, Tobacco Dock, London (Pennington Street West entrance), 10am-6pm.