Q
A
The legendary Beyers Truter aka the Pinotage King is one of
the Cape’s most renowned winemakers. Beyers has enjoyed
an award-winning career during both of his two decades at
Kanonkop as well as at his family-run farm, Beyerskloof. He’s
also the founder and chairman of the Pinotage Association.
Beyers is a champion of the Cape blend category, producing
three wines in the style.HOW DID YOU GET INTO WINEMAKING?
I always wanted to become a doctor, but after six months of
doing a BSc at Stellenbosch University and having to achieve
an 80% pass rate, my career plan quickly changed into rather
focusing on my hobby! I had an interest in wine from a young
age and was fortunate that I could study this subject I so loved.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON PINOTAGE?
Pinotage is the juice extracted from women’s tongues and lions’
hearts. After having a sufficient quantity, one can talk forever
and fight the devil!
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A “CAPE BLEND”?
A Cape blend must contain the only commercially available
South African variety, Pinotage – that’s non-negotiable. I prefer
Capeblends with a healthy percentage of Pinotage.
HOW ARE YOU DRIVING CAPE
BLENDS FORWARD?
The most important aspect is to use the term
Cape blend on the packaging of the wine – on
the front and back labels. Organised tastings,
roadshows and the annual Perold ABSA
Cape Blend Competition assists with the
promotion of the category.
YOU HAVE LONG BEEN AN ADVOCATE
OF PINOTAGE; WHAT SPEAKS TO YOU
ABOUT THE GRAPE?
Longevity, classic balance and the fact that
it has stood the test of time; it’s been 80 odd
years since the cultivar’s inception and it has
managed to establish itself on the world stage.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ON
A SUNDAY AFTERNOON?
That depends – in a perfect world, around a table with family
and friends, sharing great wines and good food!
WHAT SHOULD YOU EAT WITH A CAPE BLEND?
Lamb stew, oxtail potjie and spicy Cape Malay food.6 SEPTEMBER CAPE TOWN
The Grape Escape Wine
Festival hosted by Wine
Concepts takes place at The
Vineyard Hotel for the secondtime.
Guests will be treated to a novel selection
of wines, from chenin blanc to viognier,
grenache blanc, gamay noir, mourvèdre,
rousanne, clairette blanche, carignan, shiraz
and more from 40 of the country’s top
producers. Delicious snacks will be served
with the wine through the course of the
evening. Only 200 tickets are available at a
cost of R200 pp, which includes entrance, a
wine glass and light snacks. Purchase tickets
via webtickets.co.za or at either of the Wine
Concepts stores in Newlands and Kloof
Street, Cape Town. Visit wineconcepts.co.za
for address details.6 – 8 SEPTEMBER SOWETO
The 2019 Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival
marks the 14th edition of this fun-filled event.
Get ready for two days of wine, food, music
and activities. Along with the Cape’s finest
wines, there will also be a range of travel
lounges to peruse, which will promote South
Africa’s best holiday and weekend getaway
destinations. On the food side, expect “food
trucks that embrace the spirit of Soweto and
South Africa”. General passes are R150 pp
per day, while the VIP pass costs R350 pp
for each day. Tickets are available through
webtickets.co.za.14 – 15 SEPTEMBER FRANSCHHOEK
The much-loved Franschhoek Uncorked
Festival returns! Participating wineries in and
around the valley welcome thestart
of the season by showcasingtheir
new vintages and releases, as
well as putting on a string of
special events for visitors,
which will include cellar
and vineyard tours, barrel
tastings, food and wine
pairings, old-school lawn
games, to name but a few
highlights. Pre-book your
Uncorked Weekend Pass
through webtickets.co.za.
Pre-booked tickets cost
R180 pp. Tickets purchased
on the day at the participating
wine farms will cost R200 pp.
Your Uncorked Weekend Pass (valid for
both days) allows you access to all of
the participating wine farms, as well as
a complimentary tasting glass and free
wine tastings.DIARY DATES