TOPS Soweto Wine Festival  
 
 
 
For media images e-mail [email protected]
 
 
 

All the Stars at the Tops Soweto Wine Festival
 
SOWETO, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA - 30 AUGUST 2012 - Eight years ago in Soweto, what began as a small gathering of winemakers trailblazing a new market, and a smattering of curious Sowetans, has grown into a major highlight on the Gauteng Calendar.

The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, happening from 6th to 8th September at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus, is now considered a South African ‘must do’ event and is revolutionising the way in which wine festivals are being presented to the South African majority whilst creating a broad, new wine-loving market of educated and established wine appreciators.

The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, continues to grow from strength to strength adapting year on year in order to continuously attract big brands, influential media and aspirational people in their thousands from in and around Soweto, Johannesburg and internationally.

The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival in association with Food Network is owned by ‘the people’. ‘The people’ are those that believe obstacles can be overcome, they never give up on their ideas and are motivated by inspiration, hard work and a wish for a better lifestyle. This is the vibe at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival. It is an exhilarating experience as visitors find their love of wine, be it red, rosé, white or sparkling!

It should be mentioned that the most worthy of trends start in Soweto, which is one of the most inspiring cities in South Africa, likened to the energy and creativity of New York and London. So let them see our hearts!
The 3 Cities in Soweto

For the first time ever at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, our 3 major cities have come together - Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, showcasing their beautiful cities at the festival. They say to travel is to broaden the mind, so visit other provinces and get to know your country. Cape Town is hospitality, wine and whale country and Durban is friendship, surf and spice country.

Wine, Food, Dance, Kaya
Look out for the new Kaya FM Chill Zone housing their DJ’s Ed and Fang on decks alongside our proud, local restaurants, which include Thirteen 54, the Soweto Hotel and Roots, bringing together the best in South African hospitality. Following last year’s Shisa Nyama, Honey Badger wines will be serving Shisa Nyama cooked by Chef David and served with a glass of Honey Badger. Honey Badger is a new bold, sweet red wine appealing to those who prefer a rich, ripe and sumptuously fruity wine.

Nederburg Wine & Food Taste Experience
Don’t forget to enjoy a free Nederburg Wine & Food Taste Experience class. We believe it all starts with this fun-filled class! So don’t miss out, learn something new. MasterChef SA Top 5 finalist Lungile Nhlanhla will be joining Wim Truter of Nederburg’s award-winning winemaking team to co-present this fun and interactive experience while Wellington Metshane, a senior member of the team making Nederburg reds, will be on hand to introduce visitors to some exciting new offerings at the winery’s exhibition stand.

DStv Magic
This year DStv will be bringing an array of talent from the DStv family, discounted offerings on their products and Jenny Morris from The Food Network will be hosting the DStv VIP's on Saturday night. If visitors purchase any of these products they stand a chance to win a Sony HD LCD TV. DStv will also be bringing SuperSport presenters and Inkaba actors for photo opportunities at the DStv Stand. There will also be a performance by Moneoa for their VIP's on Saturday night.

TOP Celebrities
Kaya FM DJ's MC’ing will be our favourite T-Bose, Bob Mabena and Mo-G - bringing the best Joburg DJ personalities and sound to you!

As a VIP, you will be blown away by our guest stars. Kicking the festival VIP’s off in style is the one and only Unathi Msengana for the TOPS at SPAR VIP Lounge on Thursday’s opening night. Msengana is a Metro FM DJ, an accomplished singer and a judge on South African Idols and has recently released her third studio album ‘With Love’ on the heels of her sophomore album ‘In Honour’, which reached Gold status.
Make Your Own Wine

All you have to do to stand a chance of winning an all-expenses paid trip to the Cape, is to sign up at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, to make your own vintage of wine in 2013 with the exclusive “own wine making company” WineConnected.

Visit WineConnected’s stand to find out how you can make and label your own wine, visit the cellar and vineyards and attend private tastings with South Africa’s top Cellarmasters such as Niels Verburg of Luddite Wines. At the end of this fantastic experience, you will have personally labelled bottles of your own vintage to enjoy with family and friends.

Heritage Site in Soweto
Take the time to visit the Cradle of Humankind and Dinokeng exhibition stand. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is located in Gauteng and is a massive 47 000 hectare area, which has produced a host of interesting fossils that throw light onto early human ancestors and their relatives, dating back more than 3.4 million years. Dinokeng is a unique tourism destination, home to Gauteng’s only free-roaming Big 5 game reserve. This Game Reserve is 18 500 hectares of pristine African bush with over 50 establishments’ sites ranging from five-star game lodges to cycling safaris and restaurants and so much more.

Wines of flavour
Visitors are in for a right royal treat with over 900 of South Africa’s wines to taste from firm-favourites like Nederburg, Fleur de Cap, 4th Street, J.C. Le Roux and Four Cousins to upmarket wines such as Alto, Meerlust, Plaisir de Merle, Rupert & Rothschild and Ernie Els to name a few, to empowerment wines that now compete with the best of them such as Kumkani, Ses’fikile and Tukulu.

Tickets
Visitors are encouraged to purchase their tickets prior to the festival online at www.webtickets.co.za or from the Soweto Hotel on Freedom Square or Morara Wine Emporium in Mofolo Central in Soweto or from the Cape Wine Academy in Bramley, Johannesburg. Arrive early as doors will be closing an hour prior to closing times.

Ends
 

EDITOR’S NOTES
The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, is happening on Thursday 6th September to Saturday 8th September 2012 - opening times are Thurs & Fri - 6 pm to 10 pm and Sat - 5 pm to 9 pm. The venue is the University of Johannesburg, Main Hall, Soweto Campus, Chris Hani Road, Soweto. Tickets are R120 per person and available at the festival, or online from www.webtickets.co.za or from Morara Wine Emporium in Soweto or from the Soweto Hotel or from Cape Wine Academy, Bramley. Website - www.sowetowinefestival.co.za. Entrance closes one hour prior to closing.

For these requirements:

Wine Exhibitors
Busi Yende on 011 024 3616 or email [email protected]
Sponsorship
Sharon Cooper on 074 461 0544 or email [email protected]
Media & PR
Viv Quann at [email protected] or 084 486 2136

Click here for #1 release - Mzansi’s Wine Chic Get Ready for TOPS Soweto Wine Festival 2012
Click here for #2 release - The Love of Wine Thrives in Soweto
 
 

TOPS Soweto Wine Festival in association with Food Network
It Starts with a Conversation

The idea of having a wine festival in Soweto was borne around a braai in Pretoria in 2004 between neighbours Lyn Woodward (an original member) and Mnikelo Mangciphu (co-founding active member). The two were drinking wine out of Soweto Beer Festival glasses, and several glasses later, thought what a good idea it would be to have a wine festival in Soweto.

It was also the right time to start introducing South Africa’s quality wines to the remaining 80% of our population. Wine should be a way of life for all South Africans. Eight years later, the Soweto Wine Festival is the pride of Soweto and the wine event not to miss on the annual South African wine calendar.
 
 

Soweto Wine Festival Owners
Marilyn Cooper Dedicated and Committed

Co-founding member of the Soweto Wine Festival is Mnikelo Mangciphu who is the owner/manager of the only wine shop in Soweto - Morara Wine & Spirit Emporium, which he launched after the first Soweto Wine Festival in 2005.

The other co-founding member of the festival is Marilyn Cooper who is a Cape Wine Master and is also the CEO of the Cape Wine Academy based in Johannesburg.

Mnikelo Mangciphu, one of the festivals' founding members and owner of Soweto’s first wine specialist shop, Morara Wine Emporium, says that this festival is dedicated to encouraging, educating and growing black wine drinkers in Mzansi.
 

Soweto Wine Festival History
Timelines of Success

2005:
The inaugural festival was held over three days at Ubuntu Kraal in Orlando West, was attended by 1500 members of the public and was officially opened by the then Minister of Agriculture Thoka Didiza. 82 wineries came to that first festival, filled with great excitement; many had never been into a township before.

2006 soweto wine festival 2006:
The festival moved to the present premises University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus, which has proved to be a far more suitable and more accessible venue, with larger safe parking. Over 3000 people attended the Soweto Wine and Brandy Festival, and all had a great time.

2007 2007:
The festival showcased 94 different wineries with over 800 labels to entice the 4225 visitors that came through our doors. It was also the first year we invited big brand sponsors to participate in the festival.

2008 soweto wine festival 2008:
The festival grew to 105 exhibitors with over 850 wines to taste and 4365 visitors to taste them. The hall was packed to seams, to the point we had to stop selling tickets early. This year we included an ‘edutainment’ element to the festival called the Pick n Pay Wine Class.

2009 soweto wine festival 2009:
The festival featured 103 wineries exhibiting with over 800 wines and 5520 visitors attending. 2009 was so packed that doors closed 2 hours after opening. We have learnt our lesson - Sowetans LOVE South African Wine!

2010 soweto wine festival 2010:
In the year that South Africa hosted the Soccer World Cup, the Soweto Wine Festival welcomed a sell-out audience of over 7,500 visitors to the 3-night event. Despite increasing capacity with the addition of a Platinum Wine Arena, organisers closed doors early on Fridy and Saturday nights.

2011 soweto wine festival 2011:
The 2011 TOPS Soweto Wine Festival attracted a record 8550 people over the 3 evenings - which is 1002 more people than the previous year! This popular festival just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
[ Back to Top ]