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 The magnificent Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) in downtown Cape Town became alive on Thursday evening on August 18 as hordes of people in small groups headed towards the Grand Ballroom on the first floor. The gate to the banquet hall was opened at 6 pm sharp when around 700 persons who paid 250 R (about $20) each to attend the memorable tasting, were allowed inside with enviable efficiency, for the 3- hour tasting and interaction with the winemakers.
Wines for the CWG Auction
The 47 members of the Cape Winemakers Guild- well-known South African winemakers- all, had set up individual tables to showcase the unique wines they had presented earlier to the committee which had approved these wines for the famous CWG Auction. The Tasting also aimed to promote the Auction. Each member had been allowed to present a maximum of two bottles for the event.
I was invited by Andrea Mullineux, the star winemaker of the Platter ‘Winery of the Year’ Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines. I had met her and her husband Chris last year at an exclusive dinner organised by their Indian partner- Analjit Singh of Max India group. Therefore, I started the evening by tasting her wines-she had presented two wines from the Estate- Mullineux Clairette Blanche 2015 and Trifecta Syrah 2013.
She said, ‘the rare Mullineux Clairette Blanche 2015 is my effort to showcase how special historically significant varieties are in South Africa. The vineyard is 40 years old and dry land farmed on Paardeberg Granite. With natural fermentation in barrel, this Clairette Blanche evolves beautifully in the bottle.’
 ‘The Mullineux Trifecta Syrah 2013 comes from our three best Swartland vineyards. One Syrah vineyard is grown on Schist soil, one on Granite soil and one on Iron soil; bringing great structure, perfumed freshness and lush mid-palate to the wine. The grapes are whole-bunch fermented together naturally. The wine spent two years in barrel and 18 months in bottle before release. 2013 was a very perfumed and sophisticated vintage in the Swartland.’
Danie Steytler, the winemaker owner of Kaapzicht Estate I had visited a few days earlier, makes a complex Chenin Blanc from old vines that were planted in 1947 and are the second oldest vines of Chenin Blanc in South Africa. He had selected one barrel exclusively for the Auction from a special parcel. ‘Kaapzicht Estate Auction Selection 1947 Chenin Blanc 2015 has been crafted with hands off approach, from old vines, and whole bunch pressed natural fermentation in big French oak barrels. Nothing has been added, it’s just pure old vine Chenin Blanc,’ says Danie.
Cape Winemakers Guild
Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) is a highly respected private association of celebrity winemakers of South Africa formed 33 years ago to promote excellence in the wine industry. Membership to the Guild is by invitation only and is extended to winemakers with track record of high quality work and who have produced outstanding wines for a minimum of 5 years and are actively involved from harvest to bottling of wine. Although a majority of the members are part of the family owned estate, the membership is for individual winemakers only.
There are currently 47 members that include Andrea Mullineux, winemaker and partner of Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines in which an Indian, Analjit Singh is also a partner along with her husband Chris. Some of the other members are Abrie Beerslar (Kanonkop), Andries Burger (Paul Cluver Estate Wines), David Trafford (De Trafford Wines), Duncan Savage (Savage Wines), Gary Jordan (Jordan Estate), Gordon Newton Johnson (Newton Johnson Vineyard), Kevin Arnold (Waterford Estate), Louis Strydon (Ernie Else Vineyards), Marc Kent (Boekenhoutskloof-imported in India by The Wine Park and known for its Chocolate Block wine. He remembered meeting me at his Tasting at ITC Maurya a couple of years ago!). The complete list and profile of members and the wines they presented is available at: http://www.capewinemakersguild.com/
 Guild members have played a significant role in the development of the South African wine industry. From the making of champion port-style wines and the establishment of Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) and Cape blends (in which Pinotage must be present at 30-70% and must be the most predominant grape variety), to the opening up of new, cooler wine regions and the introduction of sustainable, environmentally responsible farming practices, they lead innovation.
The group meets regularly as a technical tasting group, providing its members opportunity to taste and evaluate wines from around the world and share the knowledge and ideas. Says Danie Steytler Sr., winemaker of the Kaapzicht Estate that is known to the judges at the Michelangelo Awards for the best braai (South African styled barbecue over wood and coal briquettes), ‘The guild had a tasting of even the iconic DRC wines which as individuals we would not be able to afford or organise. They have many such interesting tastings for members.’
I met Gary Jordan last year at his family-owned Jordan Winery when I had gone to Stellenbosch to judge at the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Award for the second time. He is an owner winemaker who did his Masters Programme at UC Davies with his wife Kathy and runs the winery as well as an award winning restaurant at the winery and in London where he spends a considerable amount of time. He was showcasing a Reserve Chardonnay 2015, traditionally made using natural, wild yeast from the acclaimed Nine Yards Chardonnay vineyard. The red was a Bordeaux Blend-Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes harvested from the best hillside vineyards-both delicious and elegant wines.
 I asked him his philosophic thoughts about the Auction, ‘As leaders in the wine industry, the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) needs to be innovative, producing wines that are world class and setting the benchmarks that raise the bar for the rest of the industry If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got. We need to therefore constantly strive to produce even better wines than the year before’ he says. The two wines he showcased are a good example of that.
Benefits from the Charity Auction
Besides the educational tastings carried on regularly as mentioned by Danie, The Auction supports a trust and a Protégé Programme. Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust was established in 1999 to support social development through further education in wineland communities. Launched in 2006, the Protégé Programme gives aspirant winemakers the rare opportunity of working side by side with members of the Guild during a three-year internship. For more details one can visit their website.
It may be early to form such a guild in India but it’s never too early and some of the senior winemakers ought to take initiative and form an association for which they could take help from the guild or some of its members like Gary Jordan, Danie Steytler or Andrea Mullineux.
CWG Auction takes place on October 1 at the Spier Conference Center at Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch. Pre-booking is essential before September 16 to participate. Check for details at info@capewinemakersguild.com
Subhash Arora
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