NMBT welcomes wine show to city and EC

THE Wine Show Road Show Nelson Mandela Bay received a significant boost last week when it was officially endorsed by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT). 

The event is returning to the Eastern Cape after its hugely successful launch in 2010.The three-day wine extravaganza promises to introduce Eastern Cape residents to a world of wine right on their doorstep from Friday, 10 June, to Sunday, 12 June 2011, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 

According to Mandlakazi  Skefile, chief executive of NMBT, the event is a fantastic addition to the offerings of the region. 

“Nelson Mandela Bay provides a tourism escape for adventure, culture and sport enthusiasts as well as a relaxed family-orientated lifestyle, which has made it one of South Africa’s most sought-after places to live.

“We fully endorse this popular event as it is a great plus to our city’s annual events calendar and helps to create an awareness of our region’s diverse event opportunities. It is an honour to support the Wine Show Road Show Nelson Mandela Bay.”

Wine lovers can taste and buy some of the top labels in the country from all the major wine producing areas in a lively, interactive atmosphere.  Exhibitors range from big co-operative producers to real wine gems from small boutique wineries and will be located on both levels of the iconic stadium’s World of Windows. Winemakers will also present free tutored tasting sessions in the Wine Theatre for visitors, who would like to learn more about specific wines or cultivars.  This is a great opportunity to interact with the winemakers in an informal, yet educational environment and up your wine knowledge.

Catering will be provided by Access Management and will include sushi, gourmet sandwiches and wraps on the top level and hot snacks and meals at the inner-bowl food court with a perfect view of the pitch.  Simonsberg Cheeses will also offer a wide selection of their mouth-watering cheeses to taste and buy.

Confirmed exhibitors include Alluvia Specialist Winery and Private Residence Club, Alto Estate, Arumdale, Boland Cellars, Bonnievale Cellar, Capaia, Catchpole & Co, Crystal Direct, Dawn Wing, Durbanville Hills, Fleur du Cap, Frogitt & Vonkel Private Wine Merchants, Gabriëlskloof, Goudini, Hathersage Wines, Idiom Wines, Major’s Hill, Monis, Namaqua Wines, Nietvoorbeij, Nixan Wines, Orange River Cellars, Packwood Estate, Parmalat, Perfectly Cool Wines, Quoin Rock, Rickety Bridge, Robertson Winery, Roodezandt, Simonsvlei International, the company of wine people, The Goose Wines, The House of JC le Roux, The Winery of Good Hope,  Theuniskraal, Tukulu, Under Oaks, Vrede en Lust, Welgemeend, Weltevrede Estate, Whalehaven, Yonder Hill and Zonnebloem.

Skefile also added that it was initiatives like the Wine Festival that gave the tourism body leverage tyo help sell the city. “Events are a major avenue to grow tourism. The 2010 FIFA World Cup and our recent Nelson Mandela Bay International Music Fesival, also held at the stadium, has shown unequivocally that events bring people to cities – and that is why we endorse and market events, like the  Wine Festival, that bring the tourists in.”
 
Tickets are available from Computicket for R90 per person.  Weekend passes cost R150 per person and special group rates of R80 per person apply for bookings of ten or more people.  Show times:  Friday from 17h00 – 21h00, Saturday from 12h00 – 21h00 and Sunday 12h00 – 16h00.  For more information, please click on www.wineshow.co.za.