Last Friday evening saw 100 Johannesburg women gather at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton for the third annual Ultra Liquors 100 Women 100 Wines judging competition.
Their job was to taste their way through a few hundred wines and, in teams of 10, pick their favourites according to the 10 drinking occasion they were judging.
The top winners in each category are;
GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Don Simon Sangria
CELEBRATION
Boschendal Brut Rose
WINTER WARMER
Beyerskloof Pinotage
BEST BRAAI WINE
KWV Bon Esperance
ULTRA SPECIAL WINESKWV The Mentors Orchestra
SUMMER SIPPING
DGB St.Anna.
PASTA PARTY
Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir
WORKING WEEK
Du Toitskloof Pinotage
LONG LUNCH
St.Claire
ROMANCE IN A GLASS
Amani I am I
Their job was to taste their way through a few hundred wines and, in teams of 10, pick their favourites according to the 10 drinking occasion they were judging.
The top winners in each category are;
GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Don Simon Sangria
CELEBRATION
Boschendal Brut Rose
WINTER WARMER
Beyerskloof Pinotage
BEST BRAAI WINE
KWV Bon Esperance
ULTRA SPECIAL WINESKWV The Mentors Orchestra
SUMMER SIPPING
DGB St.Anna.
PASTA PARTY
Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir
WORKING WEEK
Du Toitskloof Pinotage
LONG LUNCH
St.Claire
ROMANCE IN A GLASS
Amani I am I
The 100 judges won their places at the competition by entering through Destiny Magazine, one of the event sponsors, along with Imam Cosmetics and The Maslow Hotel.
Many of the women were new to wine, but nevertheless they established very quickly what they liked, or disliked. A quick swirl and a sip, pause, have a think and a chat with a friend. Toss it in the spitoon or drink it back. Easy!
Women buy and drink most of the wine in South Africa. Which means they make most of the purchase decisions.
This means they have a minute or less in the wine aisle to make a choice. A few factors come into play here; price, brand familiarity, label design and shelf positioning.
But perhaps the strongest influencing factor is word of mouth, or personal experience; that red at last weeks braai; the delicious white blend that you had at a friends book club meeting, or what your friend actually recommended.
The most important wine critic to these women are their friends.
The full list of winning wines will be on promotional display in selected Ultra Liquors outlets.
Ultra Liquors 100 Women 100 Wines. 2013. Results.
GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Don Simon Sangria
Haute Cabriere Tranquille
Warwick Three Cape Ladies
Robertson Bukkettraube
Groote Post Chenin
Zorgvliet Silvermyn Sauvignon Blanc
La Motte Sauvignon Blanc
Warwick 1st Lady
Cloof Ruby Darling
Allee Bleue Starlette Rouge
CELEBRATION
Boschendal Brut Rose
Graham Beck Brut
JC Le Roux Rose
Simonsig Rose
Simonsig MCC
Krone Borealis
Steenberg 1682 Chardonnay MCC
Laborie Brut
Graham Beck Rose MCC
JC Le Roux Brut
WINTER WARMER
Beyerskloof Pinotage
Kanonkop Kadette
Laborie Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Alto Cabernet Sauvignon
Diemersdal Shiraz
Secret Cellar Red Blend STS
Hartenberg Cab Shiraz
Bellingham Mocha Java Merlot
Darling Cellars Black Granite Shiraz
Flagstone Longitude Red Blend
BEST BRAAI WINE
KWV Bonne Esperance Select Red
Obikwa Shiraz
Obikwa Moscato
Savanha Cabernet Sauvignon
Tall Horse Merlot
KWV Cafe Culture
Darling Cellars Chenin
Graca Rose
Two Oceans Cab Sauv
Tall Horse Cab Shiraz
ULTRA SPECIAL WINES
KWV The Mentors Orchestra
Tokara Sauvignon Blanc
Rupert and Rothschild Classique
Cederberg Merlot
Groot Constantia Rood
Solms Astor Langarm
Klein Constantia Cab Sauv
La Motte Millenium
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc
Nederburg Baronne
SUMMER SIPPING
St.Anna
Two Oceans Quay 5 Blush
Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc
Cederberg Rose
Jordan Sauvignon Blanc
Secret Cellar Chardonnay
Orange River Cellars Chenin Blanc
Beach House
Leopards Leap Sauvignon Blanc
De Grendel Rose
PASTA PARTY
Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound
Melck’s Shiraz Cab Sauv.
Graham Beck Game Reserve Chardonnay
Neethlingshof Gewurtztraminer
Tokara Sauvignon Blanc
Zevenwacht Sauvignon Blanc
Tangled Tree Cab Sauv
Du Toitskloof Cabernet Sauvignon
Bellingham Ancient Earth Chardonnay
WORKING WEEK
Du Toitskloof Pinotage
Wolftrap Shiraz Mourvedre
De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc
Barista Pinotage
Spier Merlot
KWV Bonne Esperance Select White
Vondeling Petit Blanc
Arabella Sauvignon Blanc
Glen Carlou Chardonnay
Secateurs Chenin
ROMANCE IN A GLASS
Amani I am 1
Zevenwacht Merlot
Nederburg 56 Hundred Cab Sauv
Meerlust Red
Le Bonheur Prima
Vondeling Petit Rouge
Glenelly GC Cabernet
Boland Cappupinoccinotage
Iona Sophie Te’blanche
Allesverloren Shiraz
LONG LUNCH
St.Claire
Van Loveren Colombard
Two Oceans Quay 5 White
Theuniskraal Moscato
Beach House Rose
KWV Classic Chenin Blanc
Drosty Hof Light
Table Bay Chenin
Pecan Stream Chenin
Kleine Zalze Chenin.
Many of the women were new to wine, but nevertheless they established very quickly what they liked, or disliked. A quick swirl and a sip, pause, have a think and a chat with a friend. Toss it in the spitoon or drink it back. Easy!
Women buy and drink most of the wine in South Africa. Which means they make most of the purchase decisions.
This means they have a minute or less in the wine aisle to make a choice. A few factors come into play here; price, brand familiarity, label design and shelf positioning.
But perhaps the strongest influencing factor is word of mouth, or personal experience; that red at last weeks braai; the delicious white blend that you had at a friends book club meeting, or what your friend actually recommended.
The most important wine critic to these women are their friends.
The full list of winning wines will be on promotional display in selected Ultra Liquors outlets.
Ultra Liquors 100 Women 100 Wines. 2013. Results.
GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Don Simon Sangria
Haute Cabriere Tranquille
Warwick Three Cape Ladies
Robertson Bukkettraube
Groote Post Chenin
Zorgvliet Silvermyn Sauvignon Blanc
La Motte Sauvignon Blanc
Warwick 1st Lady
Cloof Ruby Darling
Allee Bleue Starlette Rouge
CELEBRATION
Boschendal Brut Rose
Graham Beck Brut
JC Le Roux Rose
Simonsig Rose
Simonsig MCC
Krone Borealis
Steenberg 1682 Chardonnay MCC
Laborie Brut
Graham Beck Rose MCC
JC Le Roux Brut
WINTER WARMER
Beyerskloof Pinotage
Kanonkop Kadette
Laborie Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Alto Cabernet Sauvignon
Diemersdal Shiraz
Secret Cellar Red Blend STS
Hartenberg Cab Shiraz
Bellingham Mocha Java Merlot
Darling Cellars Black Granite Shiraz
Flagstone Longitude Red Blend
BEST BRAAI WINE
KWV Bonne Esperance Select Red
Obikwa Shiraz
Obikwa Moscato
Savanha Cabernet Sauvignon
Tall Horse Merlot
KWV Cafe Culture
Darling Cellars Chenin
Graca Rose
Two Oceans Cab Sauv
Tall Horse Cab Shiraz
ULTRA SPECIAL WINES
KWV The Mentors Orchestra
Tokara Sauvignon Blanc
Rupert and Rothschild Classique
Cederberg Merlot
Groot Constantia Rood
Solms Astor Langarm
Klein Constantia Cab Sauv
La Motte Millenium
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc
Nederburg Baronne
SUMMER SIPPING
St.Anna
Two Oceans Quay 5 Blush
Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc
Cederberg Rose
Jordan Sauvignon Blanc
Secret Cellar Chardonnay
Orange River Cellars Chenin Blanc
Beach House
Leopards Leap Sauvignon Blanc
De Grendel Rose
PASTA PARTY
Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound
Melck’s Shiraz Cab Sauv.
Graham Beck Game Reserve Chardonnay
Neethlingshof Gewurtztraminer
Tokara Sauvignon Blanc
Zevenwacht Sauvignon Blanc
Tangled Tree Cab Sauv
Du Toitskloof Cabernet Sauvignon
Bellingham Ancient Earth Chardonnay
WORKING WEEK
Du Toitskloof Pinotage
Wolftrap Shiraz Mourvedre
De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc
Barista Pinotage
Spier Merlot
KWV Bonne Esperance Select White
Vondeling Petit Blanc
Arabella Sauvignon Blanc
Glen Carlou Chardonnay
Secateurs Chenin
ROMANCE IN A GLASS
Amani I am 1
Zevenwacht Merlot
Nederburg 56 Hundred Cab Sauv
Meerlust Red
Le Bonheur Prima
Vondeling Petit Rouge
Glenelly GC Cabernet
Boland Cappupinoccinotage
Iona Sophie Te’blanche
Allesverloren Shiraz
LONG LUNCH
St.Claire
Van Loveren Colombard
Two Oceans Quay 5 White
Theuniskraal Moscato
Beach House Rose
KWV Classic Chenin Blanc
Drosty Hof Light
Table Bay Chenin
Pecan Stream Chenin
Kleine Zalze Chenin.