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The Love of Wine Thrives in Soweto |
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Launch of ‘Soweto
Towers’ Mixer and meet the thriving Soweto Wine Club
SOWETO, JOHANNESBURG, 13 AUGUST 2012 - If you are
one of the lucky wine lovers going to the 8th TOPS
Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network,
then be sure to try out the new wine mix concept called ‘Soweto
Towers’. Named Kalimolsco (or Calimocha) by the Spanish
where it was first invented in 1972, it is simply a fifty-fifty
mix of red wine and cola, or white wine with lemonade.
Marilyn Cooper, co-founding member of the TOPS Soweto Wine
Festival, in association with Food Network, says “Our
venue, the University of Johannesburg, has a wonderful view
of the Orlando Towers, so what better name to give this thirst-quenching,
historical drink concept than Soweto Towers. I learned about
this phenomena when I once sent a fine bottle of Rustenburg
Gold with my Rotary exchange daughter to Argentina and on
enquiring if the host father had enjoyed the wine, my daughter
replied, ‘Yes he loved it, but he drank it with cola’”.
The majority of Argentinians consume Kalimolsco daily. Over
the years, in the Spanish speaking world, the name has changed
to Katemba (or Catemba). It is also widely consumed in Angola
and Mozambique.
Mixing wine, red or white, is a European tradition. The spritzer,
invented by the Germans and Austrians, is white wine with
the addition of either soda or lemonade and was a fashionable
ladies drink in the 1980s. The theory behind the spritzer
is that it is more thirst quenching than wine alone, easier
to drink and, thus, can be consumed in larger amounts.
Joining forces with Du Toitskloof Wines, red and white Soweto
Towers will be served, well-chilled and delicious. Look out
for it and give it a try.
The Soweto Wine
Club
Whilst at the festival, make sure you meet and greet Soweto’s
most popular and successful wine club, the Soweto Wine Club,
and its co-founder, Sipho Thomo. The Soweto Wine Club (SWC)
was formed in 2005 (after the launch of the first Soweto Wine
Festival in 2005) by friends who found that they had a love
of good wine and good living in common.
The Soweto Wine Club was co-founded by four professionals
- Oupa Mokgatle, Mothibi Mohomane,Vusi Mahlungu and Sipho
Thomo, all who are still very much involved. These founders
are leaders in their own fields being a lecturer at the University
of Johannesburg, a law graduate, a business executive at a
leading multinational and an emergency medical practitioner
respectively.
Says Sipho Thomo,
“We started out by visiting each other’s homes
bringing our favourite bottles of good, and not so good wines,
but the numbers grew quickly and we were forced to move to
accommodate venues such as Pubs and Restaurants around Soweto,
spreading the culture and education in wine and our membership
currently stands at around 300 people (plus around 200 Facebook
followers).”
Over the years, the wine club has been able to command an
allegiance in Soweto synonymous with wine and therefore making
the natural move into the business side of things. They have
had the wine club company registered, have a website under
construction, and will also be part of the TOPS Soweto Wine
Festival, in association with Food Network, thanks to the
Cape Wine Academy and Morara Wine Emporium.
Comments
Thomo, “The Soweto Wine Club has, on average,
wine tasting sessions twice a month with themed nights, good
food and cheese, and more recently, with musical performances
and exhibitions such as jewellery and fashion. We have been
fortunate to partner with two well-known establishments in
Soweto, namely Wandies and Morara Wine Emporium, which have
proven to be a winning formula that has translated in an increase
of about 10% in wine sales.
Concludes Thomo
“The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival will hopefully propel
the Soweto Wine Club to even greater heights as we will be
able to mingle with players in the industry. We are embarking
on a road show throughout the month of August leading up to
the wine festival, covering most of the good Restaurants and
Pubs including a stint on Soweto TV, especially if we can
secure a sponsoring partner.”
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. Entrance closes one
hour prior to closing. |
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| Media
accreditation application is available
here |
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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 |
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