Need a personal, pocket-sized sommelier?
Wade Bales’s wine app takes the pain out of choosing
THERE’S so much choice out there, but wine drinkers are reluctant to try new labels, styles or varieties, “matchmaker” Wade Bales tells me at the recent Wade Bales Whisky and Wine Affair at the Firs in Rosebank.
Showcasing more than 20 of South Africa’s premier wineries, including Dalla Cia, Edgebaston, Creation, Ernie Els Wines and the Delaire Graff Estate, alongside malt whiskies old and new, the event is touted as “from the winelands to the highlands”.
“There are more than 700 wine producers in South Africa. But only about 50 or so make it on to the supermarket shelves. I want to provide a platform for all producers, big and small. My wine society introduces wine drinkers to a range of producers,” Bales says.
Gauteng is the biggest market, with the most potential.
“Gauteng is a wonderful market for us and people are really interested in our products. They want to learn more about wine and they love what we do. It’s very encouraging.”
With this past week’s Brandy Fusion festival, which showcased the best distilled grape products this country has to offer, and the Wade Bales affair the week before, it’s clear the market has become increasingly sophisticated, with niche whisky and brandy producers proving as popular as some of the most celebrated wine estates.
Bales’s app, wine23.co.za, allows users to download, for free, the comprehensive guide to wines to access information about more than 7 000 wines from the winemakers themselves. An industry rating has been developed, based on an aggregate of the wine’s performance at competitions and major tastings, and users may rate, review and share wine notes. If you’re interested in wine, you’ll love it.
It’s like having a sommelier in your pocket, Bales says.
“How many times have you stared at a menu, desperately trying to recall the name of the chenin blend you tried back in Franschhoek? Or struggled to remember that distinct merlot you had over a meal with friends?
“Inevitably, you settle for the same old wine – or the secondcheapest on the wine list. And that’s what I want to change.”
For the Wacky Wine Weekend in Robertson on June 4-7, a list of the valley’s wineries made it easy for visitors to decide which to visit. The list included tasting notes for each estate’s wines.
The sign-up was free and users could rate and review the wines they tasted, contribute tasting notes, and add them to their list of favourites.
By way of example, three Robertson producers were recommended – the low-key family farm Bon Courage Wine Estate, which is acclaimed for its bubblies (a brut reserve, an award-winning blanc de blanc and a cuvée rose brut); the De Wetshof Estate, which produces fabulous chardonnay; and the boutique winery Arendsig, where the focus is on single-vineyard, terroirspecific wines.
The way the app works is simple: download it from the App Store. It is soon to be available on Google Play too.
Use your camera phone to take a picture of any wine label and immediately get the winemaker’s tasting notes and other useful information for free. You can also type in the name of the wine and use the app’s search function to find a wine.
“Favourite” your stand-out wine, add it to your wish list for the next time you’re wine shopping or record your personal comments for future use.
You may also rate the wine and share your evaluation with others.
If you like a wine, you can buy direct from the farm’s online store for door-to-door delivery.
Bales’s picks for a wintry weekend:
● Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2014. Although its sauvignon blanc established Mulderbosch as a household name, this chenin blanc exhibits fruity aromas typical of this variety: mango, papaya and ripe grapefruit, while a subtle oak character lends depth to the aromatic profile. With the tangy acidity, the palate fleshes out to a succulent and weighty mouthful. Served at between 12ºC and 15ºC, it is a beautiful partner for shellfish, grilled tuna, and lemon and herb roast chicken.
● Ernie Els Meritage Reserve 2014. This is a great cabernet sauvignon-merlot blend, with chocolate, berries and plums tempered with the savoury, nutty flavours imparted by ageing in French oak barrels. Serve with a “umami” beef stew or chargrilled peppered steaks and enjoy now or within eight years of the date of vintage.
In last week’s review of Bistro Michel, I said Michel Morand’s first customer at Gatrilles, Dick Foxton, was a PR consultant who did work for SA Tourism. Foxton is not in public relations and works as a political consultant. He did, however, consult for SA Tourism in the 1990s. I apologise for the error.