.: John Collins trade wine show at Den Anker

Friday, August 22, 2025

John Collins trade wine show at Den Anker

John Collins has again presented his collection of wine producers to his trade customers

at the Den Anker Belgian restaurant in the V&A Waterfront

Den Anker is alongside the historic Port Captain's building, which is being refurbished

At the Alfred Basin entrance, Miquelle Scheepers was welcoming guests

with Springfield Estate's excellent Garuzis Brut Cap Classique

The show took place in the inner half of the restaurant with normal lunchtime trade in the front
and more tables outside in the quayside enclosure

Pieter Bruwer showing his family's Springfield wines with his sister, marketing manager Jenna Bruwer Kruger

We have always enjoyed them, the Albariño is one of the first wines produced in South Africa from this Iberian grape and Miss Lucy white blend is great with seafood

The Life from Stone and Premier Cuvée Sauvignons are national favourites
as are the Wild Yeast unwooded Chardonnay and the Méthode Ancienne barrel-fermented Chardonnay
The classic red wines include the Whole Beery Cabernet and the Work of Time and Méthode Ancienne red blends

Johan Kruger showing his Kruger Family Wines to Rui Blanco, Tatiana Marcetteau of Steenberg Golf Estate
and Lourens Serfontein of Tabak Duty Free

Johan makes a wide range of excellent, very interesting wines from grapes sourced from several terroirs
including Grenache, Cinsault, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot noir

He also makes a range of wines for the British label Naked Wines

Renette Muir of Wine Concepts tasting the Springfield wines with Jemma Bruwer Kruger

Delicious Belgian frites with real mayonnaise

and Moules (mussels) to accompany them

Den Anker always provides a delicious accompaniment of canapés

Arancini

Tuna bites with sesame seeds

Den Anker Chef and co-owner Doekie Vlietman - service with a smile

small rolls of prosciutto

and delicious deep-fried cheese croquettes, served hot

Marketing manager Bianka Jordan showed Jordan's Chameleon range of affordable, environmentally friendly
and very drinkable white and red wines

while Melanie Melvill showed their mid-range Estate wines
which includes The Prospector Syrah and The Outlier Sauvignon blanc, favourites of our when we eat at the estate,

an excellent Rosé and the Inspector Péringuey Chenin and Real McCoy Riesling, Merlot and Cabernet sauvignon

Alex Jordan showed the superb Reserve range of premium Jordan wines:
Cobbler's Hill and Sofia red Bordeaux blends, Cap Classique and Nine Yards Chardonnay
and the Timepiece range
which now comprises Sauvignon blanc, Chenin blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet sauvignon,
all produced from certified Old Vines vineyards

Marisa van Rensburg and Wade Roger-Lund, Meerendal cellarmaster and General manager,
showed the Meerendal range of wines

We wrote about them in two articles earlier this year
(see them in the list of stories in the column on the right of this)

Meerendal's Pinotage vineyard is now still 70 years old and it is still the source of excellent wine
The Meerendal Pinotage is made in the modern style

which produces a wine which is ready to drink young, but should age very well for at least 10 years