Constantia Fresh

Setting the standard of what an industry show should be, Constantia Fresh is, undoubtedly, the coolest wine show that I have ever attended. Set on the lawns of Buitenverwachting, (one of South Africa's most famous wine estates, located in the middle of Constantia,) it was a cool, casual event that showcased the best of South Africa's Sauvignon Blanc to the best of South Africa's Sauvignon Blanc.

When I showed up on Saturday, I was impressed by the array of farms taking part in this show. Primarily from Durbanville, Constantia, Elgin and Hermanus, the event attracted undoubtedly the top Sauvingon Blanc producers in the country

along with a sprinkling of compatriots from New Zealand and France. The name of the show was Constantia Fresh: For the Love of Sauvignon Blanc, and the whole day was geared towards showcasing this singularly celebrated South African varietal. Using the specific and specialized platform of Sauvignon Blanc allowed the show to take on a unique air of industry knowledge, passion and experience. People came because they really wanted to know more about Sauvignon Blanc and the producers came because of their passion for the grape. Where as usually for these shows, you get underlings that come and pour for the "bigger guys," almost every wine farm was represented by the owner, the wine maker or both. On the Elgin table, virtually every wine farm was represented by their owner, and even Paul Cluver, known for never wanting to be caught dead at a wine show, was pouring happily away.

The intimate involvement of the wine farms created a very convivial intra-industry vibe that allowed winemakers to share the best of their crop with people who would truly appreciate it. In this spirit, winemakers pulled out their private reserves for the tasting, bringing out truly unique wines that they usually hold back for themselves and special guests. While the array of wines were truly impressive, some definite standouts for me were the 2002 and 2003 Newton Johnson Sauvignon Blanc and Diemerdersdal's eight blocks. The first from Hermanus and the second from Durbanville, I had never gotten to try these famed Sauvignon Blanc houses and they certainly lived up to their behemoth reputation. The kiwis were also a nice surprise and offered up something very different from the rest, but, at the end of the day, if truth be told, my heart still was caught up in the Elgin wines. Though I'm clearly biased, there is just something about the wines in this valley, some subtlety, elegance and soft pizazz that has me hooked!

And I'm not alone in this estimation; the Elgin table proved to be a stand-out attraction throughout the day. There were six Elgin Valley vineyards represented-- Highlands Road, Elgin Valley Vineyards, Iona, Paul Cluver and Oak Valley-- and they represented the greatest number of labels from any one region. This concentration of fantastic wine farms truly made an impression on people, and the crowds were eager to finally get to sample the "buzz" of Elgin. For the whole of the show, the "Elgin" table was filled with curious wine enthusiasts and our corner of the lawn remained the busiest stretch of green all day long.

As much as we appreciated the crowd's response, I also believe everyone at the Elgin table equally relished the chance to share this experience with their neighbors. There truly is a comaraderie that exists in the valley, and I think that people enjoyed the set-up, when it was just the producers shooting the shit, as much as they enjoyed the show itself. Part of this intimacy stems from the size of the valley, (in which the other producers truly are your neighbors,) but part of it also stems from the nature of Elgin's reputation. In the past few years, Elgin has rapidly been gaining recognition as the up-and-coming-top-wine-region, and people quickly realized that the more great wine farms that are in the area, the more the Elgin name gets put on the map. In this way, we have a unique business scenario in which both coordination and teamwork are rewarded. Everyone benefits from everyone else's excellence, and, since Elgin's repute is our own, the more attention and buzz we can draw to the valley, (by pointing to the superb quality of wines all across the area,) the better it is for us all.

While the wines were certainly the attraction of the evening, the quality of the food was not to be undersold. Each of the regional wine tables were set up to include a chef in the middle who was offering food pairings. From sauteed scallop on a half oyster shell, to plum drizzled duck, to sesame crusted trout and scallion squares, the food was phenomenal and offered a fantastic complement to and respite from the endless row of wines. All of these tasters, however, proved only to be a prelude, as the big picnic at the end rolled out onto center stage. The night culminated in a large BBQ that provided endless fillets of Beef, grills of brats and skewers of fish. Showgoers and exhibitors alike lined up to fill their plates, and then all headed to the grass to enjoy the delicious spread with a glass of wine. The atmosphere was completely relaxed as people lounged on the lawn, and a live band provided the perfect acoustic accompaniment to an already sublime evening.

All in all, Constantia Fresh was one of the most amazing wine events I have ever been to; when the night came to an end, it was all I could do to pack up, jump in the car and leave this little Sauvignon Blanc Eden.