The Stables Wine Estate Media Release

 No: Stables0710

27 March 2007

Nottingham Road - KwaZulu-Natal’s emerging wine industry will celebrate another first with the inaugural Grape Crushing at The Stables Wine Estate outside Nottingham Road this Saturday, where anyone can get involved in pressing grape juice from the last of the season’s harvest.

KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Mtholephi Mthimkhulu will attend the historic event, which comes at the end of a harvest that will result in a full range of KZN wines of origin. This follows the certification of the milestone Pinotage Clariet last year as the first ever KZN Wine of Origin.

“The public crushing is a huge part of the wine culture in many of the established wine regions around the world,” said Judy van Niekerk.

Anyone can take part in the crush, which will take the form of a competition to see who can extract the most juice from a fixed weight of grapes. Each participant will be required to carefully wash their feet before starting the festive process of stomping their allocation of grapes.

Late last week the Sharks got into the act just before their departure for Australia and crushed their own Cabernet Sauvignon.

“Everyone has a different approach to grape crushing,” said Van Niekerk. “Brute force does not necessarily triumph, as the patient and thorough stompers tend to be the more successful ones!”

The day’s action starts at 11h30, and includes a wine lable designing competition, a wine and cheese pairing competition, a supervised children’s play area, a local produce and craft market, and live bands throughout the afternoon and evening, in addition to the wine tasting available at the estate.

“We’d want the crush to be an annual celebration of the end of summer, and the harvest season, with a mixture of music, food, wine and entertainment aimed at the whole family, all intended to help demystify wine and make it fun and accessible.”

The festival weekend starts with an intimate dinner at The Stables wine Estate where Acoustic guitar maestro Tony Cox will be performing.

This concert is eagerly anticipated by Cox’s fans, who have been frustrated by his travels abroad where he has been performing to sell-out audiences. Cox will be the headline act at Splashy Fen later this month.

On Sunday the award winning Skye Restaurant at Forduin hotel will be presenting a gourmet meal paired with Stables wines.

Entry to the crushing festival costs R25 per adult, and the limited tickets for the crushing competition costs R60, which includes a t-shirt. Crush participants are urged to bring their own towels. Showers and soap will be provided. The Friday night dinner with Tony Cox costs R185 including the dinner, wines and concert.

For more information please contact Judy or Ty on 033 266 6781 or by email on info@stableswine.co.za

ENDS

Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media

Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media

Gameplan Media