Thursday, June 15, 2023

The Trophy Wine Show Awards Luncheon

The luncheon function was held at Delaire Graff
We were shown, when we arrived, to a very rainy car park and had a fantastic, helpful driver, Bhayibheli,
who took us in his golf cart from the drenched car park down to the door of the Restaurant and tasting room
and back again at the end of the event

We were wrapped in cloud and the terrace was also wrapped in plastic

Some lovely, welcoming and smiling faces with a selection of excellent Cap Classique wines
It makes such a difference on a cold and wet day to be so welcomed

Chatting in the entrance hall

Brad Paton said that he was unsure as to why he was there
We knew it was to get an award; everybody who attends the lunch has won either a gold medal or a trophy
We could guess what it would be for,
as, at the Feedback session, the judges said that there had been one outstanding dessert wine
We have always been big fans of his excellent Buitenverwachting "1769" Limited Release NLH
 Unfortified Dessert wine

Some interesting canapes were circulating. Miso glazed aubergine with smoked tomato, basil. Very umami 

Beef tartare, potato pavé, shiitaki bacon, crispy spinach. Very tall, needed two bites! Very good

Confit cauliflower, romesco sauce and parsley. For the vegetarians

One of the stunning Graff collection jewels in the entrance halls, A replica of a large amber brown topaz
This is a very good facsimile and very covetable

More of the cauliflower canapé which did need a fork

Michael Fridjhon and Cathy van Zyl MW

Not a hair out of place
Amorim Cork (SA) MD Joachim Sa and Buitenverwachting cellarmaster Brad Paton

The display of trophies

Crisp Sesame lavash and warm ciabatta were the bread offerings

Michael Fridjhon starts proceedings

The audience of winemakers, wine farm owners, competition judges and media representatives

Hugo van der Ahee, Head of Winelands Region at Investec Bank Ltd
He told us that Investec is here to support and celebrate our wine industry

The list of wines to be served with lunch. We were able to ask the sommeliers to bring certain wines for us to taste

The menu

John's starter, without mushrooms, was a roasted slice of butternut topped with vegan cheese, carrots and tomato
Very good for vegans, not so much for John who said the "cheese" was rather bland

Lynne's starter, mushrooms on top of unfilled ravioli pasta with a foam, might have benefitted from a sauce?

Time for the gold medals. You can follow this link to see who won what: https://www.trophywineshow.co.za/winners-and-results/trophy-winners-2023/

Then it was time for dessert
It was a glorious Chocolate Ganache delice with a coffee ice cream and ocoa crumb, caramel jelly and macadamia nuts

Lynne was served a superb green tea after lunch, so fragrant and refreshing

An excellent double espresso for John

Janice Fridjhon gets a hug from James Pietersen.  She does such a magnificent organising job

It was a boot day! 

Trophy for the Most Successful producer awarded to Zevenwacht Cellarmaster Hagen Viljoen
by Georgie Alexander, High Net Worth International Leader, Investec Bank

All the Trophy winners
Photograph per kind favour of Danie Nel

The top performers

The top of the pass, still wreathed in chilling fog
We cannot wait to taste the winning wines at the Public tastings:
Johannesburg on 14th June and Cape Town on 21st June

There will be public tastings in Johannesburg and Cape Town

Booking arrangements here: https://www.trophywineshow.co.za/diary-of-events/

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