As fear of the Covid Pandemic slowly diminishes in the minds of many, Jozi is seemingly bursting to life again!
Luce restaurant at Hyde Park Southern Sun proved the accuracy of this statement as wine lovers gathered for the launch of the Platter 6 star Constantia White 2020.This of course was an opportunity to learn the intricacies of making fine wine and mingle with fellow connoisseur’s. It was also an opportunity to learn more about the oldest wine producing region in the southern hemisphere.
The essence of the event was to showcase the potential of the Sauvignon Blanc from the Constantia region; It was a celebration of three different vintages, one of which is the Constantia White by Wade Bales. This classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon half-filled my wine glass as I indulged in mouth-watering Italian cuisines and enjoyed speeches by the host Miguel Chan, Craig Barnard & other Oenologist’s from the valley.
Before a one on one exclusive interview with Craig Barnard, I was honoured to meet Wade Bales in person. Despite building an enviable reputation over the years for hosting great events, and sharing unique insights on classic wine, Wade had a down-to-earth demeanour that welcomed our interesting conversation about the Sauvignon Blanc from his vineyard.
Like Wade Bales, when it comes to the wine business, Craig Barnard is a well-respected name. He represents one of the nine farms on the Constantia premium estate known as Eagles Nest.
“Eagles Nest wines are predominantly shiraz focused; haven said that, we are also starting to pay attention to making our own distinctive Sauvignon Blanc range. 2021 was the first time we released a Wine of Sauvignon Blanc origins and I was eager to showcase how it competes with the other types in the region. We have now been able to show the country that we are not only shiraz or mellow focused but we are also keen Sauvignon Blanc producers,” Craig Barnard explained in our brief interview.
His advice for aspiring wine makers is to be extremely resilient to be successful in the grape and wine industry. In his own words,
“Wine making in South Africa is an incredibly tough industry to be in but it is remarkably rewarding at the same time. You need to have perseverance and you need to have guts! Don’t be afraid to think out of the box. It is very easy to make wine but it is very difficult to make excellent wine. Be methodical. Look for great grapes because without great grapes you can never make great wine”
As guests continued to enjoy the different components of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from the best vineyards, tanks, and barrels that Constantia Valley had to offer, it’s wine makers revelled in the victory of hosting yet another classy event that left wine lovers wanting more…