WOSA unearths young talent

Wines of South Africa is using the London International Wine Fair to “give youth a chance” as it showcases some of the country’s best young winemaker talent.

Speaking to the drinks business at the show at London’s ExCel exhibition centre, WOSA communications manager Andre Morgenthal said: “People never get to see these young winemakers and they rarely get the opportunity to be shown at an event like this. We decided that they deserve exposure.”

Morgenthal hailed South Africa’s emerging talent for their drive to revive “forgotten” varietals as well as their imagination in creating new blends.

“The winemakers in our Young Guns category often use old, almost forgotten varietals and have played a large role in the movement in South Africa to conserve old vineyards,” he said.

“These guys have the imagination and the innovative mindset to blend them and create entirely new styles while also bringing a new lease of life to forgotten varietals such as grenache blanc.”

The new stand concept for WOSA at LIWF is certainly imposing. The huge stand features a huge array of wines divided into categories, or “pods”, in order to highlight different aspects of progressive South African winemaking.

WOSA chief executive officer Su Birch said: “The new stand concept looks really great, it’s so different to anything we’ve done before.”

Alan Lodge, 19.05.2011