LOCK, STOCK AND WINE BARREL

If the last stretch of winter is leaving you cold, here’s three things to warm your mood:

Sommeliers Selection Wine Festival

If you take food pairings seriously, this is an event not to miss. Taking place on September 28, the event at Tsogo Sun Hyde Park Hotel is open only to 150 people.

Wine lovers can try wines from top estates voted the best by SA’s top sommeliers. There’s also an exciting introduction to wines that pair well with food. For more information visit thesommeliersselection.co.za

Unusuals Wine Festival

The name says it all. The festival is back with a clear mission – to showcase lesser known varietals. Forget your cab sav and blanc de blancs – here you can try some semillon, cinsaut, grenache, carignan, tinta barocca and more. To expand your insight, you can’t miss this. Tickets are R250 and available from Webtickets and Wine Menu at Blu Bird Centre. The price includes unlimited tasting and snacks. For more information visit winemenu.co.za

Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase

Taking place in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the showcase has become an annual soiree ahead of the auction. This remains a preamble to the annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction. The Showcase offers wine lovers the perfect interactive platform to taste rare auction wines and engage with masters of their craft. Made in small volumes with creative flair for the auction by guild members, these wines will go under the hammer in Stellenbosch on Saturday, September 30.