Michael Bampfield-Duggan, owner of Wine Concepts in Newlands,
together with Sue and Neil Proudfoot of the eponymous Kloof Street shop,
has, for several years, held very special wine tasting events
For a long time, these were at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands
Now, for unknown reasons, they have had to move the events to other locations
This year, they have been held at the Moyo restaurant at the edge of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
It has turned out to be a sensational venue, comfortably spacious
and with the added benefit of really good snacks to accompany the wine tasting experience
A warm welcome from the staff of Wine Concepts
A spacious venue with a warm atmosphere
This was early, before many guests had arrived
Roast leg of lamb on a bed of yellow rice with a taste of Glen Carlou Cabernet sauvignon
An opportunity to catch up
Philip and Sandra Engelen with architect Derick Henstra
Jean-Louis Strydom, showing his mother's Strydom Family wines, chatting to Michelle Stewart
who showed Adam Mason's Terre Paisible Sauvignon blanc
Jean-Louis speaks about the wines to Derick Henstra
The Strydom Family wines
Ursula Erasmus, Tokara brand ambassador showed the Tokara Sauvignon blanc and Cabernet sauvignon
Marketing manager Claudia Young Kelly showing her Waterkloof wines
Dan Perrins of Morvino and Kirsten Stewart of Extreme Wines helped us in a very big way later in the evening,
for which we are extremely grateful
The wines of Antonij Rupert
We were very pleased to catch up with Buitenverwachting general manager Lars Maack
and taste the excellent Buitenverwachting Sauvignons
The much-awarded Sauvignons blanc of Cape Point Vineyards
D'Aria wines from Durbanville had the only sparkling Sauvignon blanc in the room, called Pop Song
Annemie Arendse with the wines of David Finlayson's Edgebaston estate in Stellenbosch
not only Sauvignon blanc but Cabernet Sauvignon and the GS Cabernet which honours the legendary George Spies
and enjoying a working evening with Righard Theron, marketing manager of De Grendelwho showed the estate's excellent Koetshuis Sauvignon blanc
Maggie Marais showed Delaire Graff's Coastal Cuvée Sauvignon and the excellent Botmaskop Cabernet
Diemersdal produces a wide range of superb Sauvignons
shown by National brand ambassador Ursula Erasmus
Sue Anderson and Erika Obermeyer showed Erika's excellent wines
Mike Bampfield-Duggan with his sister Annette Johnson
Groote Post showed their lovely cool climate Sauvignons from Darling
The Sea Salter is our favourite wine to enjoy with sushi
Glen Carlou has a well-established reputation for their Cabernets and it was interesting to taste the Sauvignon blanc
Gabrielskloof wines from the Bot River area, made by Peter-Allan Finlayson and his team
Iona's Sauvignons from a hilltop high above Elgin have earned a well-deserved reputation
Sophie Te'Blanche, a local patois corruption of the name Sauvignon blanc is a much loved affordable wine
Jordan wine estate in Stellenboschkloof has a wide range of excellent wines across a broad price range
Alan Wickstrom, marketing manager of Klein Constantia, with their renowned cool climate Sauvignons
Two variations on a theme from Richard Branson's Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek
Nitida in Durbanville has earned a great reputation over the years
Lynne said she wouldn't marry John if the Sauvignon blanc was not at our wedding
Armand Esterhuizen showed the organic Reyneke wines
Bev Murray showed the lovely cool climate Strandveld and First Sighting wines
from the country's most southerly vineyards near Cape Agulhas
Sadly, the evening had a very unfortunate end. Leaving the restaurant, Lynne tripped and fell hard on the brick pathway
A squad of helpful people assisted, wrapped her in a blanket and helped her into our car
We went to the Emergency Room at the Christiaan Barnard Hospital
where she received excellent treatment, with X Rays and a CT scan which revealed a complex fracture of her right arm
So, encased in a cast - with an operation to follow later inserting a titanium plate to support the bone - we arrived home at 2.30am
We had many messages of concern and support
A big thank you to you all
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