Encounter South Africa UK Trade Tasting

Wines of South Africa hosts its first major trade tasting in the UK since 2017.

Meet over 70 South African producers at this London event focusing on sustainability.

The Tread Lightly Tasting Space includes the themes Organic & Biodynamic, Upliftment & Social Development, WWF Conservation Champions, Water Preservation, Drought Tolerant Grape Varieties and Fairtrade.

The Old Vine Project seminar explores “the role that old vines have played in shaping the image of premium South African wine, the desire to plant for the future of the industry and the impact on climate change in the short and long term”.

For more information and to register, visit encountersouthafrica.com or email info@winesofsa.com.

Tuesday, July 4

Between the Bridges

The Queen’s Walk London SE1 8XX

Fill a tumbler-style glass with ice. Add gin and lemon soda, leaving enough room to pour the mango syrup on top. Garnish with the lime.

A benchmark tasting of 50 South African wines presided over by Greg Sherwood MW and renowned viticulturist Rosa Kruger, founder of the Old Vine Project.

Key South African winemakers will be attending including Ian Naudé of Naudé Wines, Sakkie Mouton of Mouton Family Wines, Christiaan Coetzee of Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards in Helderberg, and Kiara Scott of Brookdale Estate in Paarl.

To register and for more details about the event, contact célia@museumwines. co.uk.

Friday, June 30

South Africa High Commission

South Africa House, Trafalgar Square

London WC2N 5DP

Masters of Riesling Tasting

A first chance for the trade to taste the newly released 2022 vintage Rieslings and 2021 Pinot Noirs from the ABS portfolio.

Growers presenting their wines include Dr Loosen, Villa Wolf, Gunderloch, Louis Guntrum, Karl H Johner, Dönnhoff, Schnaitmann, Jean Stodden, Fürst, Allram and Julien Schaal.

For more information and to register, email lesley@abs.wine.

Wednesday, July 5

67 Pall Mall

London SW1Y 5ES

Ihave written much Amazing Lunch this month.

The best starting line was God I Hate Teenagers, but then I remembered saying pretty much the same thing on Twitter eight years ago and consequently being cancelled. God I Hate Twitter. There is so much to hate right now and no I don’t really hate it, hate is such a strong word etc, but I was cycling into work and I stopped to let these Teenagers cross the road, said, are you crossing? And was greeted with the response, fuck up, which I foolishly questioned, did you just say fuck up? eliciting the terrifyingly lyrical, Aye fuck up you stupid cow, cycle on. I assented and did, indeed, cycle on.

I couldn’t, in all honesty, find the tenuous connection to lunch with this one, but it keeps coming back to me, like the mackerel salad I had for lunch.

The best Lunchy stuff was, again, about wraps.

“Scottish people love wraps,” Jordan says, showing me the perfect navel of her Sunday Lunchwrap all tinfoil bound. “It’s all in the preheating of the tortilla and confidence that the bread isn’t going to give way.” Tony says Scottish People Love