Gugulethu wine festival gets exciting branding, MasterChef judge

The festival, which takes place on the rooftop of the Gugulethu Square Mall 25-26 May 2012, will be bigger than last year's, offering over 300 wines to taste.

Festival co-founders and high-profile local entrepreneurs, Mzoli Ngcawuzele and Lungile Mbalo from Mzoli's Place, have promised visitors an impressive wine festival from the people for the people.

Tops at Spar is the headline sponsor for the second year running. Says Mark Robinson, Tops Group Liquor Manager, "The vision of the festival is entrenched in our mission and values. Upliftment within communities by the communities is important, valued and supported. Homegrown festivals like this encourage sustainable entrepreneurship, which is close to home at the group. We are looking forward to meeting our customers and friends at the festival."

This year, the group will also be creating the chill-out space, offering four local restaurants serving different food styles to cater to different tastes, plenty of seating, a live band and a cosy ambience within a marquee.

Explore wine/food pairings

Nederburg's Taste Theatre will explore the impact of various food flavours on wine. Visitors to the free event will have the chance to sample various foods with a selection of wines to discover how they affect the taste of the wines.

"The taste theatre isn't meant to create more rules surrounding wine; if anything, the aim is the exact opposite. We want wine lovers to free themselves from the burdens of do's and don'ts involved with wine and food matching. All we want is to show how you can enrich the pleasure of the wine you drink by offering you the experience of combining it in a way that brings compatible flavours together," says Nederburg spokesperson, Wencke Grobler. Presentations will be staged at 6, 7 and 8pm on both evenings in the main wine exhibitor marquee.

Partners add flair

Skye Grove, PR and communications manager for Cape Town Tourism, a festival partner, says, "The event has started a new dawn for wineries and South Africa's ever-expanding wine consumers. The innovation of food and wine is an integral part of what makes Cape Town an inspirational city and the festival profiles the city as a winter food and wine destination."

Another exciting development this year is Saturday night's new VIP Sponsor and television partner, DStv. Says Busi Msimango - Promotions, Marketing and Sales at DStv, "We are extremely excited to be one of the brands hosting at the festival and we promise to surround festival goers with entertainment, as we raise our glass to Gugulethu and its vibrant people."

This year J.C. Le Roux, Pongrácz and 4th Street wineries offer Wine Lounges. Travel sponsor, South African National Parks (SANParks), will have a stand showcasing its range of parks and offering wine tasting from farms en route to and surrounding the parks. City Press, which is celebrating its 30th birthday, is the media partner.

Tickets are R80 per person per night and are available online at www.webtickets.co.za or at the door on the night. For more information, go to www.gugulethuwinefestival.co.za.