St Francis Bay Wine Club, hosted by the Tops at SUPERSPAR Village Square, held a tasting with a difference on Tuesday night. All of the wines tasted were imported. It was interesting to experience the differences in style and characteristics from the labels of France, Germany and Argentina.
After a welcome from Richard Moolman, owner of SUPERSPAR Village Square, who introduced Tiffany Hurst from Premier Cru Tasting, Tiffany guided the attendees through the nuances, intricacies and anecdotal history of the carefully selected wines.
Delightfully Approachable Champagne
The evening started off with a delightfully approachable Baron Albert Burt Champagne. This was followed by a Mirabeau Pure Cotes de Provence Rose. This offered a fresh fragrant citrus nose with floral notes on the palate.
Then, it was on to the white wines with Domain de Margalleau Vouvray. This Chenin Blanc is the product of four generations of the Pieaux family’s dedication to crafting wines in the region’s chalky and mineral-rich “tuffeau” soils.
Next up was a Chardonnay in the form of Albert Bichot Chablis. With its origins in Northern Burgundy, the wine benefits from being planted on the gentle slopes that offer different exposure. This results in, the complexity on the nose and making this the charming drinkable wine that it is.
Perfect Partner
The next leg of the wine-tasting journey took us to Germany with a Korell Kabinett Riesling. The wine’s heritage dates back some 250 years. The crystal clear, fruity, yet powerful wine delighted, with many considering it the perfect partner for a good cheese or the crispy crackling of a pork belly.
Gabrielle Meffre Laurus du Rhone Villages and Chateau Des Demoiselles were first up for the reds. Both these wines scored well on the Critic Ratings and were well received.
Then it was off to Argentina with the Catena Zapata Malbac. The story behind the wine and the move to Argentina to resurrect the Malbec was fascinating. Based on the tasting experience, the accolades of #1 World Best Vinyard and the firmly established 2nd Most Admired Wine Brand in the world in 2023 are well deserved.
The evening ended off with a delightful selection of snacks that included the much-loved pork belly, salmon and cheese board.
Experience Something Different
When asked why one would buy an international wine when we produce so many good wines locally, Tiffany responded, “We have a beautiful country, yet we still travel abroad to experience something different. In the same way, experiencing wines from other countries broadens our tasting experience. It gives us a more informed perspective to appreciate our local products.”
All of the wines were well priced and not what you would expect from imported wines of that calibre.
The St Francis Bay Wine Club hosts at least 20 tastings per year, with three special events towards the end of the year. If you are interested in participating, leave your details at the Tops at SUPERSPAR Village Square for Mickey Lindsay’s attention. He will include you on the WhatsApp group.
All the wines that were tasted are available at the Tops SUPERSPAR Village Square while stocks last.
Read more: Another Season Memory Maker! – Wine Of The Week At The SUPERSPAR
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