THE SCOOP
CENTURIES OF STYLE Grolsch beer is in the fortunate position of having four centuries of experience to draw on. Started in 1615, this is a beer which has seen historic events come and go – and managed to outlast and outwit them all. It has “an uncompromising commitment to brewing beers of true substance”, its PR company states in its most recent release. It’s also just undergone a brand redesign – and central to Grolsch is its distinctive swing-top bottle, even though it’s available in a host of different formats the world over. To remind consumers of its heritage, the Netherlands based brewer will showcase the brand stories and symbols it was built on, through a striking new re-design and branding.
CHASE AWAY THE CHILLS The Mamas and the Papas sang about all the leaves being brown and the skies grey, but that’s the reality of South Africa in winter. Stellenbosch’s Momberg family of Middelvlei know that in winter wine thoughts turn to red. And to meet the changing demand they have released the 2018 vintage of Middelvlei Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Tinnie Momberg described the wine as velvety smooth and superbly balanced. Its intense dark cherry and cassis flavours intermingle with supple tannins, resulting in a piquant, lingering aftertaste. Before being harvested, the grapes grew on vines planted in 1990. Winemaking took place in February 2018 and the robust red spent just shy of a year (11 months) in a combination of older French and American oak barrels. What other advice do the Mombergs have for appreciating this wine? A warm fire – either braai or indoor – with a tasty hamburger or possibly slow cooked beef or lamb potjie. 4 w w w .t o p s a t s p a r. c o . z a
With its heavyweight green glass, tactile deep embossing and characteristic “poppable” top, it’s the ultimate symbol of the uncompromising spirit behind Grolsch. Created by UK based brand design agency, OUTLAW, the new look Grolsch design elevates the swing-top to the central icon of the brand, placing its silhouette at the heart of the identity. The Grolsch logo has been redrawn to be reminiscent of the brand’s original hand-painted signs, returned to its heritage red and placed on a clean white disc, something which is already familiar since it’s what appears on the ceramic bottle stopper. One of the brand’s earliest advertising lines, “Vakmanschap is Meesterschap” (meaning “Craftsmanship is Mastery”) returns to the pack alongside the 1615 date. “Grolsch has twice the history of most other beers, it is doubled brewed and has double the flavour, said Paul Cornell, Global Head of Grolsch. “We have to be as distinctive at shelf and in hand, our new design does this and more. “It leverages a tighter suite of bold, simple design codes, all drawing their meaning from our past. We will use this across packaging, in bar dispense and on Point Of Sale. These assets will allow us to behave with typical Dutch boldness wherever we go, arming Grolsch to win internationally.” Post coronavirus lockdown consumers can expect to find Grolsch back in TOPS at SPAR, restaurants and bars countrywide in the iconic 450ml swing-top bottle, 500ml can and standard 330ml green bottle.
MUCH ADMIRED Two South African producers have made it to the Top 50 list of the Drinks International magazine’s World’s Most Admired Wine Brands. Kanonkop, the family-owned Stellenbosch winery which has been making wine since 1973, and Bruce Jack Wines, started in 2005, are the two singled out for this honour, alongside some of the world’s best producers. Kanonkop was ranked 32 and Bruce Jack 43, a first time entry. The magazine hasn’t randomly selected them but relied upon data gathered by market research specialists, Wine Intelligence. They polled wine experts, global drinks buyers and other industry professionals from 48 countries. Drinks International editor Martin Green said: “There are thousands of wineries vying for attention on a global basis, but just 50 elite brands have made the cut. To win a place on this prestigious list is a tremendous achievement, as there are a number of fantastic producers that missed out.” Kanonkop are riding the crest of a wave, having won a special award from the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) as its top performing producer in the IWSC’s 50 year history a few months ago. Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015 was also the first ever South African wine to be awarded a perfect 100 point score.
