Top winemakers, wine experts and chefs will be in Joburg for the Wine Show Joburg, running from 29 to 31 May at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Exhibitors who have booked to be at the show include vineyards Vriesenhof, Arniston Bay, Kumkani, Versus, Bellingham and Annandale Shiraz, and the Cape Wine Academy. While most of the exhibitors have been at the show before, new names are also appearing, including Ken Forrester, KWV and Nederburg.

The celebrities are out in force at this years Show, too! On Saturday you can sip delicious Versus wines with the big man Vernon Koekemoer himself. Vernon is on Versus’ stand from 2pm until 5pm on Saturday May 30th.

“The Cape Wine Academy participated for the first time in 2008,” said Marilyn Cooper, the managing director of the institution. At the Wine Show Joburg, it was able to “reach a particularly special person, who is usually knowledgeable about wine and keen to learn more”.

The academy is an educational and training body that promotes awareness and appreciation of South African wine. It was founded in 1979 in Stellenbosch.

In all, there will be 130 stands, where wine can be tasted and bought from the vineyards and distributors; punters can also learn more about the drink and viniculture.

Besides wine tasting, top chefs will take part in the Friends for dinner theatre, on Friday from 6.30pm, on Saturday from 12.30pm and again on Sunday from 12.30pm. Participants will learn about food and wine pairing and get the hottest entertaining tips.

Chefs at the show will include Jonathan Duiker from Melrose Arch Hotel, who will team up with Arumdale Wines and Bilton Wines; and Debi van Flyman from Cullinary Productions, who will team up with the Cape Wine Academy.

And it’s not all food and drink – there is boules and golf too, with cases of wine up for grabs.

There will also be an exclusive vintage tasting, called the Whole Nine Yards, with wines going back to 1909. Hosted by sommelier Jörg Pfützner, it will take place on 29 May at 7pm and costs R8 900 per person – and there are only 12 tickets.

This price includes full weekend passes to the Wine Show Joburg. Booking is essential, and must be done through Natalie Campbell natalie@wineshow.co.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tickets for this exclusive tasting are not available at Computicket.

Wines that will be tasted include the 1909 Armagnac, the iconic 1919 Corton Hotel St Petersburg, a 1929 Cos d’Estournel and a Meursault from 1969, according to the show’s website.

Over the past years, creative ways have been devised to use the wine show as an opportunity to raise funds for charity; this year is no different. Organisers worked hand in hand with Getpix Images and Photographic Academy to launch a competition themed Wine laid bare.

For a R50 entry fee, amateur and professional photographers will be able to submit their photographs interpreting the theme. The cash will be donated to breast cancer awareness and research. The best entries will be exhibited at the show.

Judges from Getpix will choose the 12 best entries that will feature in a charity calendar. Sold for R100 each, the calendars will be available at the show.

The Wine Show Joburg runs from Friday, 29 May to Sunday, 31 May at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. Doors are open from 5pm to 9pm on the opening night, from noon to 9pm on Saturday and from noon to 6pm on the final day.

Source: joburg.org.za