A sommer what? you may ask. And you wouldn’t be alone, the fine art of pairing food and wine only recently became a big deal . . . only very recently in South Africa.
I remember being impressed with the class and confidence of Luvo Ntezo when I visited the swanky 12 Apostles Hotel in Cape Town (and sister hotel to our own Oyster Box) a year or two ago. The guy was neat as a pin . . . and so on top of his game. At times, you can’t help but feel a dolt when confronted with so many wine choices, but Luvo (without coming across as a know-all) made me feel relaxed and confident that I was choosing a winner (and I did, bless him).
There’s a world of Fine Wine out there
While I definitely fall into the “if it tastes good and makes me happy, then I’m all for it” brigade, as any ignorant looking in from the outside, you have to admire these blokes for their style and professionalism.
The Oyster Box has its own wine wizard . . . Thato Goimane, who has helped that hotel build up an enviable wine list, and settled the worries of many an uncertain diner.
The Good Food and Wine Show, Durban
So back to the Good Food and Wine Show. This year they’re hosting one of the owners of The Wine Guide, Daniel Sims of Australia. To cut a long story short, Sims’s worked his way up in the industry until he eventually found fame working with Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation and being voted Sommelier of the Year by The Age Good Food Guide back in Melbourne, Oz in 2007. That’s high praise indeed from the foodie obsessed capital of Australian food. And he’s a well respected blogger who dishes out advice to thousands of anxious wine fans around the globe.
This genius of the grape will be appearing at a number of events in the Wine Theatre at the Good Food and Wine Show:
11am – focus on cool wines for hot climates
1pm –“Bubbles darling”, champagne and sparkling wines
3pm – South Africa, New Zealand and Australia . . . the Tri Nations
7pm – A Vinous Tour de France
So, top up your glass, don your Springbok jersey and get down to the Good Food and Wine Show for a jolly vine time. – Ridge Correspondent
More about Daniel Sims and The Wine Guide
Working definition of a sommelier: A sommelier, or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants, who specialises in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food matching. The role is more specialised and informed than that of a wine waiter. – Source- Wikipedia