I have never been afraid to admit that I don’t know very much about wine. “That one is red and that one is white” and “I like this one because sipping it doesn’t make me squinch up my face like I have eaten lemon and/or tequila” are frequent descriptors of mine.
So I decided to take a step in the more informed direction.
KGB UnWined Wine Appreciation Courses hosted by Karen Glanfield
Karen is an absolute wine extraordinaire. She knows everything there is to know about wine, sometimes even more than the wine makers speaking at each session. But even with this exceptional amount of knowledge, she still makes you feel as comfortable as ever, whether you know what goes into a Bordeaux Blend or not.
Each week a different speaker comes in to speak about wines from their specific farm or producer, bringing with them a minimum of six wines to taste. You can see how the group gets more comfortable with as time goes by, asking more question, chatting and really getting involved. Depending on the speaker the formet varies slightly. Some like to explain the flavours you may taste and aromas you may smell, others like to see what the group thinks first. Each session is insightful and interesting as you have a different speaker, a different style of wine, and a wholly different experience.
After the each course, you’re invited to stay for dinner with the gang, as The Vineyard creates a dinner to pair with the wines you just tried, for around R80p/p!
I was worried I was going to make a fool of myself, but I don’t think I did (too much). I don’t know that much about wine, but they’re so open to answering questions and getting involved in conversation – you aren’t being spoken at, you’re pretty much just chatting.
The wine universe is far more complicated than I even thought was possible, but going through each varietal on it’s own and being able to compare it (along with Karen’s handy notes) really did help bring a little light into my very dim glass.
So whether you’re going to learn more, to try new wines (and buy them on the night at FANTASTIC prices), meet new people or just get involved in something new – get involved, you won’t regret it.
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Where – |
Vineyard Hotel, Colinton Road, Newlands, Cape Town |
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When – |
May 6 – June 10 (Tuesdays) |
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Time – |
18h00 to 20h00 |
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Cost – |
R750 per person * |
- Cost includes all six tutored wine tasting sessions, lectures, and tasting sheets.
The itinerary for the second course is as follows:
- May 6th – Chardonnay & Pinot Noir – Haskell Vineyards
- May 13th – Semillon & Merlot – TBC
- May 20th -Viognier & Shiraz – Zandvliet Wine Estate
- May 27th – Seemingly Strange Varieties – Nabygelegen Private Cellar
- June 3rd – Chenin Blanc & Pinotage – Beaumont Wines
- June 10th – Sauvignon Blanc & Cabernet Sauvignon – Louis
The 2 courses for the remainder of the year are:
- July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th & August 5th
- September 16th, 23rd, 30th & October 7th, 14th, 21st
