In My Kitchen

Episode 15: On Membership and Mentorship

I’ll bring the wine: The 37th annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction takes place on 2 October 2021.

Established in 1982, the CWG is a collective of some of South Africa’s most renowned winemakers.

The CWG and its members are investing in the future, through the Cape Winemakers Guild and its Protégé Programme. Through these vehicles, Nedbank, the Guild, its members and supporters invest in the Mentorship and vital skills transfer that will empower a future generation of winemakers.

The two-week online CWG Protégé Programme Auction, hosted by Bonhams is live from 17 September-4 October.

The 2021 Nedbank CWG Auction is live on Bonhams on Bonhams on 2 October.

2021 marks the inaugural auction for Samantha O’Keefe and JD Pretorius (at Warwick). Three members sing their swan song: Jacques Borman, Jeff Grier and Jeremy Walker.

Pop of Culture: Pairing Miles Mossop’s Maximilian 2018 with an exceptional novel - His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

The Dish: A tribute to Mrs Marais, whom I paid tribute to on Teacher’s Day, 5 October 2020.

A toast to the Nedbank CWG Protégé Programme and Gladys Brown, Assistant Winemaker who has been mentored by Jeremy Walker at Grangehurst

Michael Fridjhon is one of the most pre-eminent thought leaders in the global wine and spirits trade.

I met with him at his offices at Reciprocal Wine Company in Johannesburg. Over a Nespresso and a box of Turkish Delight, he divulged decades worth of South African wine history, and how some of that history has been shaped by Johannesburg, Gauteng’s city of gold.

I’ll Bring the Wine: For decades, the Reciprocal Wine Company has been South Africa’s leading fine wine and spirits merchant. An importer and distributor of many of the world’s most famous wines, Reciprocal focuses mainly on family-owned properties where multi-generational experience and institutional memory ensures the commitment to a long-term vision. Accordingly, the company has become the go-to source for South African wine lovers who seek a variety of high quality, international wines, spirits, and wine accessories. These include the infamous Louis Roederer Champagne and accessories like Riedel glassware.

Michael’s razor-sharp wit made his business day column appointment reading for years. Rmb-winex has become an annual calendar event that has become a wonderful online interactive space for wine enthusiasts during the global Coronavirus pandemic. He has also been at the heart of the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, a prestigious competition. He was also part of the team behind The Colour of Wine, a groundbreaking book by Harriet Perlman and subsequent film directed by Akin Omotoso about the South African wine industry’s relationship with race.

A recipient of the French Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole, he was the Louis Roederer International Wine Columnist of the Year in 2012 and is an honorary life member of the UK's Circle of Wine Writers.

He teaches and directs the Wine Judging Academy run in association with UCT’s Graduate School of Business and has been an adviser to the South African Minister of Agriculture. He is the author, co-author or contributor to over 30 books, writes a weekly column for Business Day, contributes to various international wine publications and provides all the wine scores for WineWizard, an eminent website.

Michael Fridjhon speaks for himself, and in this conversation you’ll hear a variety of views on various topics. You’ll also hear him mention some of Johannesburg’s most preeminent artists, an array of South African winemakers and some of his personal recollections of the past - as well as a poignant view of the present.

Through my conversation with Michael, I quizzed him and he indulged me in a complex conversation about politics and economics - about culture and the cultured.

Pop of Culture and The Dish: Internationally acclaimed artist, Michael Kentridge and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) brought Kentridge’s production of The Magic Flute to South Africa in 2007. In addition, they committed to raising funds to provide matinee performances to children from previously disadvantaged communities, free of charge.

Kentridge granted six South African wine producers the opportunity to use selected Magic Flute images for their label design.

Michael Fridjhon, who shared a long association with RMB through the RMB WineX Festival provided a shortlist of leading South African red wine cellars. The cellars selected to participate in the initiative included Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Boekenhoutskloof, Meerlust, Quoin Rock, Rustenburg and Tokara.

This was a creative initiative between the wine industry, culture and the arts which rose to meet the occasion of this significant outreach initiative.

Reciprocal Wine Company: reciprocal.co.za

Wine Wizard: winewizard.co.za

WineX: winex.co.za

Michael Fridjhon is one of the most pre-eminent thought leaders in the global wine and spirits trade.

I met with him at his offices at Reciprocal Wine Company in Johannesburg. Over a Nespresso and a box of Turkish Delight, he divulged decades worth of South African wine history, and how some of that history has been shaped by Johannesburg, Gauteng’s city of gold.

I’ll Bring the Wine: For decades, the Reciprocal Wine Company has been South Africa’s leading fine wine and spirits merchant. An importer and distributor of many of the world’s most famous wines, Reciprocal focuses mainly on family-owned properties where multi-generational experience and institutional memory ensures the commitment to a long-term vision. Accordingly, the company has become the go-to source for South African wine lovers who seek a variety of high quality, international wines, spirits, and wine accessories. These include the infamous Louis Roederer Champagne and accessories like Riedel glassware.

Michael’s razor-sharp wit made his business day column appointment reading for years. Rmb-winex has become an annual calendar event that has become a wonderful online interactive space for wine enthusiasts during the global Coronavirus pandemic. He has also been at the heart of the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, a prestigious competition. He was also part of the team behind The Colour of Wine, a groundbreaking book by Harriet Perlman and subsequent film directed by Akin Omotoso about the South African wine industry’s relationship with race.

A recipient of the French Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole, he was the Louis Roederer International Wine Columnist of the Year in 2012 and is an honorary life member of the UK's Circle of Wine Writers.

He teaches and directs the Wine Judging Academy run in association with UCT’s Graduate School of Business and has been an adviser to the South African Minister of Agriculture. He is the author, co-author or contributor to over 30 books, writes a weekly column for Business Day, contributes to various international wine publications and provides all the wine scores for WineWizard, an eminent website.

Michael Fridjhon speaks for himself, and in this conversation you’ll hear a variety of views on various topics. You’ll also hear him mention some of Johannesburg’s most preeminent artists, an array of South African winemakers and some of his personal recollections of the past - as well as a poignant view of the present.

Through my conversation with Michael, I quizzed him and he indulged me in a complex conversation about politics and economics - about culture and the cultured.

Pop of Culture and The Dish: Internationally acclaimed artist, Michael Kentridge and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) brought Kentridge’s production of The Magic Flute to South Africa in 2007. In addition, they committed to raising funds to provide matinee performances to children from previously disadvantaged communities, free of charge.

Kentridge granted six South African wine producers the opportunity to use selected Magic Flute images for their label design.

Michael Fridjhon, who shared a long association with RMB through the RMB WineX Festival provided a shortlist of leading South African red wine cellars. The cellars selected to participate in the initiative included Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Boekenhoutskloof, Meerlust, Quoin Rock, Rustenburg and Tokara.

This was a creative initiative between the wine industry, culture and the arts which rose to meet the occasion of this significant outreach initiative.

Reciprocal Wine Company: reciprocal.co.za

Wine Wizard: winewizard.co.za

WineX: winex.co.za

Episode 13. La Motte Masterclass

I’ll bring the wine: In the office - a cellar experience with La Motte Cellarmaster, Edmund Terblanche in Franschhoek.

Reflections on a 20 year-long career, Elim as a South African ‘jewel’, an international Sauvignon Blanc Masterclass, under the catwalk in the cellar tasting Semillon and the components of Pierneef La Motte Sauvignon Blanc, a Pierneef La Motte Sauvignon Blanc benchmark tasting and more.

Pop of Culture: Leading South African mezzo-soprano and La Motte proprietor, Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg, invites visitors to La Motte to an immersive cultural experience.

Classic music concerts regale guests in the historic wine cellar. In addition, the La Motte Museum hosts a permanent exhibition of South African Maestro, Pierneef’s (1886-1957) life and work. In parallel, the current exhibition, ‘Celebrating the Love of Art, a personal selection by Hanneli Rupert Koegelenberg’ is an invitation to visitors to peruse and study favourite works from her personal collection as well as the family collection. Art historian an La Motte Museum curator, Elzette de Beer provides valuable insight and anecdotes on the current and permanent exhibition.

La Motte Wine Estate | Franschhoek Valley | Franschhoek Wine Farm

The Dish: The Cape Leopard Trust is an active predator conservation working group. It uses research as a tool for conservation. La Motte’s sister property, Leopard’s Leap is taking active strides in Leopard conservation. An introduction to Pardus, a leopard’s leap wine made with passion and purpose.

https://leopardsleap.co.za/products/pardus

From the helm of La Motte and Leopard’s Leap, CEO Hein Koegelenberg shares insights and an invitation to visit Franschhoek and taste the finer things in life.

(Drink Responsibly)

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Twitter: @inmykitchenpod

Instagram: @inmykitchenpod

Red Blends with Friends

Episode 12. Full Circle Moments

I’ll bring the wine: An interview with Mosi Wine and Spirits’ spirited founder, Joseph Dhafana.

The red blend that inspired this episode, Meerlust Red 2019; alongside Epicurean Red 2011 and 2012; Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2017 and Boplaas Ring of Rocks 2018. In my kitchen with KWV Cathedral Cellar wines with Chef Mynhardt Joubert who paired olives and wine. Seeing significance in the seemingly insignificant.

Pop of Culture: Yaa Gyasi’s powerful novel blends history, time end circumstance in a powerfully textured tale that combines history and family. Paired with Guardian Peak 2016 SMG.

The Dish: Great Heart Wines is not only a moving empowerment project from Mullineux Leeu Family Wines, it is also a significant milestone for a young woman winemaker.

Introducing the new head of Street Smart, SA, Zaid Adams.

I’ll bring the wine: Rosé all day. The theory, history and practice of pink wine - including some moments that might make you blush

Make it Pop: Popping into Blackbrick, a vertical village in Sandton that opened its doors in November 2020. Designed to accelerate residents and club members minds, is this the hotel of the future? General Manager Njabulo and Laurice Taitz Buntman, Editor of Johannesburg in Your Pocket give us the lay of the land.

A pop of pop culture! Could you renovate an apartment on television? The Block Australia makes us curious about the reality of being a housewife on a construction site

The Dish: How Dolly Parton continues to make the world a sweeter place. A nod to her vital tribute to invaluable healthcare workers and their sacrifices during this global pandemic, during her Super Bowl Advert. Additional dues to Representative Maxine Waters during Black History month. How poet Amanda Gorman has made the world that much sweeter.

(Drink Responsibly)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @inmykitchenpod

Instagram: @inmykitchenpod

Episode 10. 2020 Won

I’ll bring the wine: A year as difficult as it was damascene. In which we honour our three wineries of the year: Highlands Road, Jordan Wine Estate and Tokara Wine Estate. We also consider some of our most memorable Red, White, Sparkling, Dessert and Fortified Wines tasted in 2020, as well as some good spirits.

View the list on: tasteletsc.wordpress.com

Make it Pop: 15 television shows or specials that kept us glued to the screen even longer than a video call

The Dish: How Follow the Sugarbird and the Journey’s End Foundation have made the world a sweeter place. In a year in which we spoke the language of grief constantly and yet without fluency, we pay tribute to powerful lives and the ones they leave behind, with mention to Allan Mullins and Mam’Dorah Sitole. We also consider Representative John Lewis, and ponder the power of Good Trouble

(Drink Responsibly)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @inmykitchenpod

Instagram: @inmykitchenpod

Episode 9. Blessed be the fruit

Trigger Warning: Spiked drinks.

This episode contains language of a sensitive nature, makes reference to date rape, consent and mind-altering substances. Some names (of people and places) have been concealed or changed, as a token of gratitude and out of respect. Please take care.

I didn’t want to talk about what happened to me recently, but I’ve been learning how prevalent this pattern of violence is and how little information is available. With a high incidence of rape and human trafficking in our society, information and disclosure is our best defense.

Here’s what happened. Please take care.

Please contact Tears (in South Africa) for more information or for support:

- tears.co.za

- Dial: *134*7355#

- Email: [email protected]

Thank you for your tenderness and care. Please continue to #BelieveWomen

Episode 8. Bend it Like Chenin

I’ll bring the wine: Shooting for the stars with Chenin Blanc. A reintroduction to the variety, by Metzer Family Wines, Stellenrust and Durbanville Hills. As enchanting as it is industrious, what can’t this workhorse grape do?

Make it Pop: (Trigger Warning: Eating Disorder mentioned) A quick dive into season four of The Crown. The season of The Margaret’s, the parallels between culture, tradition, proximity to power, our perception of grandiose lifestyles and how we view the passage of time.‬

The Dish: Dolly Parton’s contribution to the Moderns vaccine gives us reason to sing (don’t worry, we don’t). We also appreciate a wonderful collaboration by De Wetshof and Innovation for the Blind, for the launch of De Wetshof Lilya Rose 2020. In an act of bravery and kindness, ‘Are You Okay’? A heartwarming Opinion Piece by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex in The New York Times imagines the world as a kinder place.

(Drink Responsibly)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @inmykitchenpod

Instagram: @inmykitchenpod

Episode 7. I’m Speaking! Sauvignon Blanc

I’ll bring the wine: The gift of Covid! Heidi Kritzinger and Johann Krige remind us to treasure the delight of food and wine at the Kanonkop Black Label launch.

We roll out the red carpet for the winners of the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Awards. Black tie at home, with the best heat-and-at meal ever from Overture, by Chef Bertus Basson and his team paired with Strandveld First Sighting Sauvignon Blanc. More about Sauvignon Blanc and why it’s appreciated around the world.

Make it Pop: (Trigger Warning: sexual violence abs harassment) We consider the revelations made about the Court of Master Sommeliers, we hold space safely and softly, while we consider Everything is a Deathly Flower, poems by Maneo Mohale

The Dish: More Sauvignon Blanc! We taste Groote Post the Sea Salter Sauvignon Blanc 2020, and whet your appetite for a month of conversation on Saturdays with Jenny on KayaFM this November. We share a fantastic scholarship by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers with Charles Woodson to support BIPOC wine industry students in California

(Drink Responsibly)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @inmykitchenpod

Instagram: @inmykitchenpod