I never really “learned” to drink wine but that surely didn’t stop me from attending and really enjoying the annual The Wine Show at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth this past weekend. The weather over the weekend was miserable, wet and cold, so there was no better way to warm up the insides than going on an all out wine tasting safari at the show.
Most of the “big” and well known wine estates weren’t represented at the show but this was perhaps a blessing in disguise because it gave visitors the opportunity to taste and discover wines from some of the country’s premier boutique wine estates. In fact I encountered a lot of wines that you can’t even buy over the counter anywhere and which is only available by ordering direct. The way the show works is that you get your glass at the door and then make your way around the expo tasting wines as you go. And taste we did.
While some of the exhibitors just had their wines lined up on their counters, others went all out to showcase their wines along with breads, cheeses and flowers. Even though we only visited towards the end of the second day, some of the exhibitors were still keenly telling us about their wines, estates and asking us which we preferred while others were just happy to pour away.
The wines varied from well bodied reds and light and fruity whites to bubbly sparkling wines and sweet dessert wines. So like I said, I’m not much of a drinker, so by the end of my visit me head she was a turning a bit. Looking at some of the other show goers I could imagine there were a few who may have been turning a tad more than mine, but the guys from Goodfellas were on hand to take them home safely in their own cars. So, did I learn to drink wine at the show? I wouldn’t say so, but I did discover one or two wines that will definitively make their way into my house in the near future.
Disclaimer: Our visit to the show was made possible by The Wine Show and Wine Extra.
I would like to learn more about wine but am such a light weight when it comes to alcohol I wouldn't get much tasting done in one day.