Margaret and Larry Dickenson from Canada were hosted by Norma recently

 

Warwick Wine Estate Crowned Overall Winner at this year's Santam Classic Wine Trophy Awards

Warwick Wine Estate was named overall winner at the 2010 Santam Classic Wine Trophy Awards held at the recently opened Taj Hotel in Cape Town, on Friday, 5 March.
A panel of international judges praised the Warwick Trilogy, the Estate's cabernet-driven flagship blend, for its handsomeness, elegance and qualitative consistency with each successive vintage. This top honour at the Santam Classic Wine Trophy Awards follows Trilogy's 'Top 100' Wine Spectator listing in 2009 and a thumbs-up 4½ Stars in what is, arguably, the most authoritative local wine guide, Platter's South Africa Wines . Although accolades are synonymous with Trilogy, Managing Director, Mike Ratcliffe was, nevertheless, delighted about this recent scoop, as the winery prides itself on advocating 'quality without compromise' and actively pursues positioning South African wines in a competitive global context. 
The audience was comprised of celebrated wine- and lifestyle- media, members of the trade and representatives from respective wineries. The festive, vibrant, and relaxed ambience allowed for an informal forum, peppered with several impromptu addresses, characterised by charismatic French judges expressing their affection for South African wines! Organiser, Christophe Durand, exuded praise for the outstanding quality of South African wines entered this year and these sentiments were echoed by the editor of French wine publication, La Revue du Vin de France, Oliver Poels, who asserted that South African wines were 'par with the best from France and the world'. 
The Santam Classic Wine Trophy is widely renowned for its credibility and legitimacy. Wines are blind-tasted over four days, cross-tasted, and re-tasted blind after which the short-listed wines are tasted again by all the judges in the 'grand finale'. Throughout these tastings, protocol outlined by the Organisation of Vine and Wine from Paris is rigorously adhered to.


Mike Ratcliffe
Warwick Estate & Vilafonte
P.O.Box 2 Elsenburg, 7607, South Africa

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER www.twitter.com/mikeratcliffe

can we get Warwick 'The First Lady' Cabernet Sauvignon into the White House?

 

Lights, camera, action! Professor Black in Hollywood's red carpet wines for Oscars

10 wines matched to top nominees in Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator, arguably the world’s leading wine magazine (the benchmark when it comes to authoritative wine ratings), deemed it fitting that they align themselves with the oldest and most prominent award-ceremony in the world, namely, the Oscars.  At this year’s Oscars, Wine Spectator is doing what it does best: rating wines, albeit in a  slightly more light-hearted manner. The panel has selected 10 wines, across 5 categories, each of which  suitably ‘personify’ the nominee, and, by implication, the role he or she plays in the movie. Read the article here.

Warwick was in the limelight on the red carpet this week after receiving an impressive 90 points by Wine Spectator. In addition to this affirmation,  Wine Spectator has nominated Professor Black for Best Actor.  Spotlighted for his supporting role as François Pienaar in the apartheid-rugby-allegory film, Invictus, is the handsome, charismatic and refined Matt Damon. Wine Spectator decided that a bright South African star, Pienaar, immortalized by Damon,  commanded a bright wine with the same stellar constitution. The crisp, tropicality and liveliness -  coupled with a  long floral finish - of Professor Black, made this luscious wine the obvious choice for the Best Supporting Actor role.     

So, wherever you are while watching the star-studded glitterati of the unparalleled-in-stature, celebrity-strewn, glittering, dazzling and extravagant Oscars, following Wine Spectator’s suggestions and hobnobbing with Professor Black will ensure your soiree is chic and that the x-factor is both prevalent and enchantingly enticing.  

Take one! / that’s all folks!

Star-struck in the Winelands

Published by emile@winegoggle.co.za at 8:28 am under News

Mike Ratcliffe as Robert Downey.

AMERICAN magazine Wine Spectator has been having a bit of late by comparing wines to actors. All this with coming Sunday’s Oscar awards in mind. The magazine’s tasting panel has selected ten wines, across five categories, each of which suitably ‘personifies’ the nominee, and, by implication, the role he or she plays in the movie.

 Stellenbosch’s Warwick Wine Estate was in the limelight on the red carpet this week after receiving an impressive 90 points by Wine Spectator, says a media release. “In addition to this affirmation, Wine Spectator has nominated Warwick’s Sauvignon Blanc, Professor Black 2009, for Best Supporting Actor.  

 “Spotlighted for his supporting role as François Pienaar in the apartheid-rugby-allegory film, Invictus, is the handsome, charismatic and refined Matt Damon. Wine Spectator decided that a bright South African star – Pienaar, immortalized by Damon – commanded a bright wine with the same stellar constitution. The crisp, tropicality and liveliness – coupled with a long floral finish – of Professor Black, made this luscious wine the obvious choice for the Best Supporting Actor role.”

 No mention is being made however on rumours of another Hollywood production heading for South African shores, this time to film a script by Michael van Niekerk depicting the rise of the country’s wine industry post 1990. Using the Stellenbosch winelands as a backdrop, the story tells of five wineries’ vision and energy in using South Africa’s liberated status to launch the nations wines internationally. Strong personalities and a few dramatic events make, according to Van Niekerk’s publicist, for a terrific storyline. “No title has been finalise, but we might as well ride on Clint Eastwood’s recent success and call the movie InVino,” the publicist said.

WOSA - Shirley??

Although casting has to be finalized, movie insiders reckon that Mike Ratcliffe, Warwick’s marketing dynamo and industry young-gun who is a character in InVino, is set to be played by either Robert Downey Jr or Ralph Fiennes. Steve Martin is a shoe-in to play colourful restaurateur turned winemaker Ken Forrester, while Shirley MacLaine is keen to take-on the role of Wosa whizz Su Birch.

 So who knows….perhaps the SA wine industry will make it all the way to the red carpet next year.

Trilogy is the overall Trophy wine winner at the Classic Wine Trophy - best red blend!!!

Warwick Wine Estate emerged as the overall winner at this year's Santam Classic Wine Trophy. At the awards dinner, hosted at the Taj Cape Town hotel, the Stellenbosch estate was commended by the panel of French judges for their Warwick 'Trilogy' red blend showing consistent quality and elegance in the competition each year.

Trophies for Best White Wine and Best Red Wine went to the Hoopenberg 'Integer' Chardonnay 2006 and Vriesenhof Pinot Noir 2007 respectively, while Klein Constantia again won the Best Sweet Wine Trophy for their 'Vin de Constance' 2005.

The evening was a festive occasion, with several impromptu speeches and the charismatic French judges expressing their affection for South African wines before an audience of wine media, trade and estate representatives. Organiser Christophe Durand said, “the judges were full praise for the number of superb wines entered this year.” Editor of French wine publication, La Revue du VIN de France, Olivier Poels, spoke of how “the best South African wines are level with the best from France and the world.”

The judges didn't find anything exceptional from the sparkling wine entrants, so no Best Sparkling Wine Trophy was awarded this year. The panel also noted an absence of quality Sauvignon Blanc.
Hoopenberg 'Integer' Chardonnay 2006, Sumaridge Pinot Noir 2008 and Reyneke 'Reserve Red' 2007 where awarded the three GQ Choice Awards, presented by GQ wine editor, Jonathan Steyn. GQ selects three wines each year from amongst the Santam Classic Wine Trophy medal winners with quality, value-for-money and the average consumer in mind.

The Santam Classic Wine Trophy is unique in South Africa that it only awards a set number of medals and trophies each year to ensure legitimacy and credibility for winning wines.

Warwick also wins a return ticket to Paris worth R15000!

Warwick Trilogy wins GOLD again at the Santam Classic Wine Trophy

The Warwick Trilogy 2006 has just been announced as one of the handful of GOLD medal recipients at the 2010 Classic Wine Trophy.

The 12th Santam Classic Wine Trophy took place in the first week of March, 2010. In association with leading French wine publication, La Revue du VIN de France, the competition is unique in two ways: wines are adjudicated by a panel of French judges and a limited number of only 17 medals can be won to ensure legitimacy and credibility for winners. The purpose of the competition is to recognize, reward and promote wines of elegance, balance and finesse. Wines should also show ability to age well. The Classic Wine Trophy is given to the most iconic entry, a wine made with patience and excellence.

La Revue du VIN de France will cover the event and ensure international exposure for the winners, and GQ Magazine SA will also award the GQ Choice Award to three medal- winning wines.

Amongst the panel of French wine personalities this year are Patrick Landanger of prestigious Burgundy producer, Domaine de la Pousse D’Or, as well as Laure Gasparotto, wine journalist and writer for French news magazine, Le Point.

The blind tasting of wines entered took place over four days at Mandela Rhodes Place. Winners and media are invited to an exclusive dinner and awards ceremony held on Friday, 5th March 2010 at the TAJ HOTEL, in Cape Town.

An interesting response to one of my Twitter questions from Danny de Nobrega

From: "Danny de Nobrega"

To: Mike Ratcliffe

Subject: Response to Twitter question

Dear Mike,

Since gaining interest (for both professional and personal reasons) in the marketing of wines and particularly those in the luxury segment, I have learned that you have achieved great success in the marketing of your Warwick and Vilafonte wines. I have also noted that you are somewhat regarded as a pioneer in developing and implementing new media strategies to market wines in the top-end market segment.

I have thus been following your blogs and Twitter updates and pondered before how relevant and effective these new media tools are with regards to effectively reaching the top-end consumer.

After reading your Twitter update and accompanying blog post regarding this question I gave it some more thought… Here is my two cents:

Do Wine Blogs Impact Your Brand? Read this article then let me know your thoughts.

I now certainly believe that blogs have an impact on your brand, both in terms of brand awareness and brand equity.

Besides the inherent following a blog may have it seems a growing trend for credible bloggers to be aggregated into major online portals. Your brand may be viewed by the blog's direct followers - where that post gets fed into other portals, newsletters, etc the brand exposure gained becomes significantly more than the blogs followers. I believe this will become a growing trend as many of the top bloggers are experienced writers and journalists by profession and bring with them the credibility that will ensure their posts are aggregated and viewed by a larger audience.

That covers the positive impact bloggers could have on brand awareness.

Now for brand equity. The effects of a positive review or post on a brand is obvious with regards to the blog's direct community. Furthermore as brands in the past had sought out influencers and early adopters and appealed to their brand aspirations, so brands could benefit from bloggers, which in my opinion have become the influencers and early adopters in the new media and online arenas. Thus I believe a positive brand message spread by a credible blogger not only increases brand awareness beyond what is initially thought but also builds positive brand equity. They could steer a potential customer to their initial trial or purchases. It is here however where the offline brand touch-points come into play. All aspects of the brand identity and image should be consistent and live up to its brand mantra or message.

I believe the impact of blogs can be really positive if a brand adheres to the rules. As all new media related articles or posts would say; brands in the online arena should aim to start and build a conversation and not force itself upon online users. I don't believe "buying" a blogger would ever work or as your blog posts says; never get in an 'online flame war'. I believe that this "honest" review of one's brand ensures that bloggers maintain their credibility as influencers and early adopters – ultimately to the benefit to the brand.

In short, wine blogs impact your brand.

Kind Regards

Danny de Nobrega

Luxury Brands

Tel: +27 21 702 3436

Fax: +27 21 702 3437

Suite 181, Private Bag X16, Constantia, 7848

Some cool pics taken yesterday during Martha Stewarts Warwick and Vilafonte tasting in our Mountain Penthouse

Three Power Ladies - Martha Stewart, Norma Ratcliffe & Zelma Long

Inspecting the Warwick Wedding Cup

Choices choices....

Martha Stewart, Norma Ratcliffe ,Mike Ratcliffe

Drinking from the Wedding Cup

Martha Stewart - decisions decisions? Warwick or Vilafonte?

Mike Ratcliffe
Warwick Estate & Vilafonte
P.O.Box 2 Elsenburg, 7607, South Africa

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER www.twitter.com/mikeratcliffe