5 – 6 APRIL
NELSPRUIT
This year, the 10th
Mpumalanga Wine
Show is taking place at
the Emnotweni Arena
for two days of wine
lovers’ bliss. Taste more
than 250 of South
Africa’s best wines,
which will be available
to both sample and
purchase via Shop@
Show. Tickets are
R200 pp at the door
and include unlimited
tastings, as well as a
tasting glass.
26 – 28 APRIL
STELLENBOSCH
SA’s biggest outdoor
culinary event, the
South African Cheese
Festival, celebrates its
18th anniversary this
year! While tasting a
wide variety of cheese
and wine is of course
the highlight, there is
plenty more to look
forward to on the
programme, like food
theatres, presentations,
live music and fun
activities. Tickets
are R180 pp via
computicket.com. Visit
cheesefestival.co.za for
more information.
27 – 28 APRIL
ELGIN VALLEY
Enjoy Elgin’s celebrated
wines along with farm-
fresh food at the Elgin
Cool Wine and Country
Food Festival. On offer
will be a variety of
tailor-made tasting
experiences all set
against a backdrop
of the Elgin Valley. A
weekend pass is R200
pp and a day pass is
R150 via quicket.co.za.
For more, visit ecwcf.
winesofelgin.co.za.
DIARY DATES
CREATION RESERVE MERLOT 2016, R353
An iron fist in a velvet glove. Bountiful berries are
sketched in relief by notes of cigar box, chocolate,
cedar and clove. Fresh, supple tannins roll this wine
over your palate for a linear, considered finish.GLEN CARLOU MERLOT 2017, R99
Scentedwithviolets,darkberriesandsubtlehintsof
mint; the berries continue on the palate and reveal
themselves as cherries, blackberries and blackcurrants,
along with an earthy pull of dark chocolate. Fine tannins
tieasilkbowonthefinish.PLAISIR DE MERLE MERLOT 2015, R209
Offeringadarkbouquetofvioletstemperedby
redberriesandathrillofmintchocolate,this
winewithitssoftandvelvetypalateisredolent
ofredandblackcherries,withasupporting
cast of vanilla, oak and clove.tannins
Tannins are polyphenols released from grape skins, seeds and stems when
they soak in grape juice after pressing. Primarily a term used in red winemaking,
tannins can also be found in white wines, especially when there’s been skin
contact. On the other hand, tannins can also be derived from oak barrels.
A number of factors come into play with how the tannic effect is experienced
but, generally speaking, you can determine whether a wine is high or low in
tannins depending on how dry your mouth feels when drinking it. In all cases,
though, tannins are integral to structure and to a wine’s development as it ages.FOODANDHOME.CO.ZA APRIL 2019 33DRINK UP