Exhibitions & Events News South Africa

Women's vote - for wine

In a first for South Africa's wine industry, '100 Women 100 Wines' is a wine event, which aims to encourage women to ignore the critics and fundis and to trust their own instincts. It has opened a competition for women from all over South Africa to become a wine judge for a weekend.

This two-day wine affair, new to the Cape Town events calendar, takes place 27-28 August 2011 at the Victoria and Alfred Hotel, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. The 100 winners will swirl, sip, taste and vote on their favourite wines in novel categories, including Girls Night Out, Celebration, Sunday Lunch and Kiss and Make Up, to illustrate that wine should be appreciated according to mood and occasion, not only 'bouquet' and 'vintage', and establish South Africa's Best 100 Wines.

This event is sponsored by Tops at Spar, Newmark Hotels and Cape Town Tourism.

Organiser of the event, Clare Mack of Spill.co.za says, "80% of all wines purchased in SA are bought by women, so why shouldn't women get to judge their favourite wines and recommend these to their friends? For a weekend the 100 women will forget about connoisseurs and terminologies and have fun drinking wine that suits their palates and recommend which wines best match specific occasions."

Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism says, "The innovation of food and wine is an integral part of what makes Cape Town an inspirational city. We are looking forward to welcoming 100 women from across South Africa to Cape Town, sharing our best wines and gourmet offerings with them. Winter is the perfect time to explore our wine culture and our partnership with 100 Women 100 Wines demonstrates our commitment to unlocking Cape Town's superb winter offering to the domestic market. We look forward to celebrating this as an annual event."

Women looking for a chance to win a spot on the judging panel and a weekend in Cape Town should email moc.tcennocynitsed@seniw001nemow001 by 13 July 2011. For more information on the event, email Clare Mack on az.oc.llips@eralc.

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