Cape Wine Master Newsletter May 2012
As the cold tightens its grip everywhere across the country and winter truly sets in, we are able to enjoy the warm hospitality, cosy fire places and all the food and wine offerings at the wine tasting rooms across the winelands.

Dissertation: Rise of the Dragon - the Chinese wine market
Producers in the wine industry are competing in an increasingly global marketplace. The phenomenal growth of the Chinese economy over the past decade has encouraged international suppliers to enter the Chinese market.

Four new Cape Wine Masters graduate
The Cape Wine Academy and the Institute of Cape Wine Masters have announced the names of four new graduates to join its ranks at a ceremony at Morgenster Estate in Somerset West on Friday, May 4.

Entrepreneur wins prestigious Van Ryn's Award
A Gauteng entrepreneur is the 2012 winner of the Van Ryn's Award for Brandy Excellence. Derek Ramsden, who graduated from the Cape Wine Masters (CWM) programme at a function held at Morgenster on May 4, achieved the highest score in the examination section devoted to brandy.

When to drink South African Weisser/Rhine Riesling?
The gentil aromatique, as the grape is also called, has more charm and as much ageability as any Bordeaux wine.

The Cape Wine Academy reaches 100 000-student milestone
Since its inception 32 years ago in 1979, over 100 000 students have enrolled for various Cape Wine Academy courses throughout South Africa.

Wines worth it or worthy wines?
A 1996 Merlot from Stellenbosch may seem like a fine choice for an expensive meal, but despite its grand age and aristocratic pedigree, it's actually hardly worth opening.

Join the Cape Wine Master tours at WineX Sandton
The Johannesburg CWMs are presenting no charge 60 minute "tours" at WineX in Sandton in October 2011 in collaboration with WineStyle. They will walk wine enthusiasts through a selection of exhibitors, where we will have discussions with the winemakers, taste wines in the theme of the tour.

Bouchard Finlayson celebrity lunch
What better way to spend a Sunday winter afternoon than having lunch with a heavenly view that stretches indefinitely into the afternoon with the best food and wines at your disposal?

Cape Wine Academy offers tutored tastings at Wine Festival
Learn more about the wonderful world of wine at the fun-filled, interactive tastings which are on offer at the Wine Theatre presented by the Cape Wine Academy during this year's Stellenbosch Wine Festival, to be held at the Paul Roos Centre from 28 to 31 July.

Self-taught winemaker wins Van Ryn's Brandy Award
Newly graduated Cape Wine Master (CMW) Mary-Lou Nash is the 2011 winner of the Van Ryn's Award for Brandy Excellence, achieving the highest score in the section of the Cape Wine Academy's Cape Wine Masters' examination, devoted to brandy.

Three new Cape Wine Master's graduate
Three new graduates have been awarded Diplomas as Cape Wine Masters at a ceremony being hosted by Lourensford Estate in Somerset West on Friday, May 6.

Riesling in South Africa
The fortunes of Riesling, the grape of nobility and finesse, are going from strength to strength in its "home country" of Germany, but there are signs it may be losing its way a little in South Africa, where its identity is becoming unfocused despite some very strong support from classic winemakers.

Growing wine sales through education
Walk into any wine outlet today and you will be astonished at the array and variety of wines on offer. It is almost overwhelming as there are a plethora of new labels, brands and styles available.

Master meets Bacchus
Bennie Howard judged at the 10th International BACCHUS Wine Competition held in Madrid, Spain. Bacchus remains the largest wine show in Spain. The judging takes place in the centre of Madrid in the Casino de Madrid, a majestic building dating back to 1836 and used since then as a private club forthe businessmen in Madrid.

Cape Wine Master Copy
As 2009 is winding down we have had much to celebrate in the South African Wine Industry this year.

Cape Wine Academy MD named finalist in 'Women in Business and Government 2009' Awards
The Cape Wine Academy is proud to announce that Marilyn Cooper, Managing Director of the Cape Wine Academy, who is also a Cape Wine Master, is one of the 3 finalists in the CEO Magazine's 'Most Influential Women in Business & Government Awards' in the Arts and Culture Sector.

Cape Wine Master Copy returns after 10 years
After ten years MASTERCOPY, the newsletter of the Institute of Cape Wine Masters, returns with regular updates of what is happening in the Cape Wine Masters world.

Cape Wine Academy offers tutored tastings at Stellenbosch Wine Festival
Fun-filled, interactive tastings as well as a South African Wine Course, all presented by professionals in the wine industry, are on offer at the Cape Wine Academy Tasting Theatre during this year's Stellenbosch Wine Festival, to be held at the Paul Roos Centre from 30 July - 2 August.

Five new Cape Wine Masters graduate
Five new graduates were awarded Diplomas as Cape Wine Masters on Friday May 8, 2009 marking the 25th anniversary since the first South African CWMs qualified. This brings the number of successful examinations to 71, and the Institute membership to 64 (including three honorary members).

The South African Wine course - introduction to the wonders of wine
The Cape Wine Academy will be hosting an introduction to the wonders of wine - for everyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating subject!

Hein Koegelenberg congratulates the Cape Wine Academy for turning 30
The Cape Wine Academy celebrates its 30th Birthday this year as well as having reached the major milestone of having trained over 90,000 students. In 1979, the Cape Wine Academy was founded in Stellenbosch, with a view to providing greater awareness and appreciation of South African wine, and today the Academy is recognised by the wine industry as its official general wine education and training body.

Cape Wine Academy turns 30 - South African Wine course giveaways
Persius, a Roman poet once said, "He conquers who endures" and this applies to the Cape Wine Academy (CWA) as it celebrates its 30th birthday this year, reaching an important landmark of having trained over 90,000 students within its 30 years of wine education prowess. (This is your last chance to win one of five South African wine courses.)

Cape Wine Academy Awards South Africa's First Cape Sommelier Qualification
The Cape Wine Academy has awarded Nicci Pain, an Academy Diploma graduate, with the highly acclaimed official Cape Sommelier qualification. Pain is the first South African to be awarded this prestigious qualification. She is based in Kenya and has worked in the wine industry for many years.

Two new graduates join the ranks of Cape Wine Masters
Two new graduates were awarded certificates as Cape Wine Masters on May 9, bringing the number of successful examinations to 67, and the members of the Institute to 62, including three honorary members.

The Rise of Viognier in South Africa
Prompted by the Northern chapter’s self-righteous crowing, we, the Western Cape chapter of the Institute of CWM’s, have embarked on a programme of tasting presentations. The purpose is to raise awareness of and funds for the Institute’s scholarship programme for previously disadvantaged individuals, and to offer some informed insights to the wine-interested public.

CWM Wine Personality of the Year 2007
The Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM) has been selecting a leading wine personality every year for their special award to recognise contributions to wine education, wine promotion or the industry as a whole. At the annual awards ceremony this year on Saturday 5 May 2007, presentations were made to two Wine Personalities of the Year.

Fairview Estate flies the flag at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2007
At the 14th Concours Mondial de Bruxelles which took place in Maastricht, The Netherlands from 29 April to 2 May 2007, Fairview clinched a total of 10 medals – one Grand Gold, 2 Gold and 7 Silver.

Seven new graduates join the ranks of Cape Wine Masters

Seven new graduates were awarded certificates as Cape Wine Masters on May 4, the biggest group ever in the history of this select association – five men and two women.

Wine Personality of the Year named by Cape Wine Masters
The Institute of Cape Wine Masters presented their WINE PERSONALITY of the YEAR Award on Saturday 6 May to Gunter Brozel, one of the doyens of the South African Wine industry.

Five new graduates join the ranks of Cape Wine Masters
Five new graduates were awarded certificates as Cape Wine Masters on Friday (May 5), including the youngest to date.

South African wines and spirits triumph at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2006
South African wines excelled with a medal tally of fifty-eight (2 Double Gold, 21 Gold and 35 Silver) from 145 entries at the 13th annual Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2006.

Something Old, Something New
Greg de Bruyn CWM puts every vintage of Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc to the tastebud test and reflects on the state of the variety.

Sue's Sydney Wine Letter, Vol 4
News from Down Under of a (celebrated) winemaker who's allergic to alcohol, all kinds of packaging innovations, including wine in a can (the latter proving to be hugely successful, especially with young women), and more on what the Aussies think of China's potential as a wine-drinking nation. Sue van Wyk writes from Sydney...

Sue’s Sydney Wine Letter, Vol 2
In recent days the main focus in the Australian wine industry moved away from the morbid talk of decline in local consumption and overproduction in 2004 and 2005 to wine tourism, wrote Sue van Wyk before departing for South Africa as panel chairperson of the imminent Michelangelo International Wine Awards.

Sue's Sydney Wine Letter, Vol 1
Sue van Wyk is a Cape Wine Master based in Sydney. In this column she will share some insights into the Australian industry with WineNews' readers. In her first contribution we are informed that our wine mates Down Under are grappling with oversupply and its challenging consequences in the trade.

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2005
Three South African wines have been awarded Grand Gold medals at the 12th edition of the annual Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. The results were announced earlier this week in Brussels, Belgium. This is the first time that more than one Grand Gold medal has come South Africa’s way in this prestigious wine contest judged by 192 professional wine judges from 43 countries. Sue van Wyk CWM reports.

Cape Wine Academy finally back in industry hands
In a press release issued this week it was announced that a consortium of prominent industry players acquired South Africa’s key wine educational body, the Cape Wine Academy (CWA), from private equity funding company pointBreak late last year. WineNews also reports about exciting plans under way at the Academy for making wine education accessible to the inhabitants of Soweto.

Cape Wine Academy possibly back in industry hands
The Cape Wine Academy (CWA) has emerged intact after a tumultuous few weeks, which saw the majority shareholder, venture capitalists pointBreak, threatening to liquidate the institution.

SA Wine Routes and the Cape Wine Academy join forces to improve training of cellar personnel
Better service levels at the cellar door necessary if South Africa is to become a serious-player in wine tourism.

Cape Wine Academy Olive Oil Course
The Cape Wine Academy is branching out into Olive Oil!

Six women graduate as Cape Wine Masters for 2004
All in all an extremely competent team of Cape Winemasters who, between them, speak many languages

South African wines hit the high notes at Belgium’s 2004 Concours Mondial
The best showing for Cape wine in an international wine contest

Cape Wine Academy restructures to broaden reach
Marilyn Cooper (CWM) and Reinier Matthee take over from Clive Torr (CWM)

Cape Wine Academy launches in London
Such is the demand the next course is scheduled for southern England in January

The Cape Wine Academy blind tasting workshop weekend
A forum to practice your blind tasting skills – October 31st to November 1st

Cape Wine Academy Diploma Course
A magnificent way to realize the world through a glass of wine

Discovering the sublime world of wine with the Cape Wine Academy
Offering a range of educational wine courses for the public, as well as hospitality, travel & tourism industries

Cape Wine Academy Cocktail Course
Introducing you to the delights of cocktails

Mad scramble for icon Grange
News from Down-under

Cape Wine Academy Township Tourism Graduates
First Wines of South Africa

New Principal for Cape Wine Academy
Popular appointment in Clive Torr

Cape Wine Academy repositioned
Making it accessible to wider range of wine industry players and students of wine courses

Cape Wine Academy repositioned
Accessible to a wider range of wine industry players and students of wine courses

Seven cellars excel at the 6th Michelangelo International Wine Awards
Slanghoek Winery's Noble Late Harvest 2002 earns Top Accolade

Cape Wine Academy restructured as activities extended
Plans to open centre in Germany to train sommeliers in Cape wines

Cape wine academy restructured as activities extended
Onwards and definitely upwards

Cape Wine Academy to leave nest
Distell has taken decision to phase out funding for the Cape Wine Academy

Unique tastings at ‘Wine Cellar’
Greg de Bruyn, CWM, reports on latest tasting

Pinot Noir ...
... the heartbreak grape

So what is an icon wine anyway?
And what is the difference between it and a benchmark or a cult wine?

So what is an icon wine anyway?
And what is the difference between it and a benchmark or a cult wine?

Little Big News 3
Lawrence eagerly awaits the 2002 harvest!

Teddy Hall on Chenin
And Irina von Holdt CWM on Teddy

Food & Wine - The Cape Wine Academy way
A fun way to learn more about food and wine pairings

Four new producers stake their claim in 2001
Pinotage thoughts

South Africa’s premier wine show 2001
International Veritas judges comment

Clive Torr on winter, vines and wines; story and legend
And some recommended wines

A personal view – Cabernet Sauvignon
Clive Torr, CWM, selects his personal favourites

Status of SA Wine in Spotlight as New CWMs Graduate
Some pointed remarks on the state of the SA industry

Rijk’s private cellar strikes it rich
Debut wine an achiever at both Veritas and Michelangelo

Diners Club Winemaker of the Year 2000
Has the Port Storm blown over?

2000 Absa Top Ten Pinotage Competition
Steytler, Truter and Walker lead the way.

Michelangelo international wine awards 2000
Kaapzicht estate scoops top honours.

Veritas 2000 – an opinion from Sue van Wyk CWM
The year of the fortifieds

An in depth look at what’s new among the red wines this season
Sue van Wyk CMW reports back

Cape Point Sauvignon Blanc outscores all at the National Young Wine Show
It’s official! Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc is South Africa’s 2000 Champion Young Wine.

A benchmark event
Paarl puts Shiraz against some of the world’s best

Red wines at Vinimark
Wine Master Sue van Wyk highlights wines from the red wine portfolio of Vinimark

Cape Wine Academy Tour de France
News of an exciting wine opportunity

Perold - the name lives on in an exceptional wine
History was made on Tuesday 16 November 1999 when KWV released a wine named Abraham Perold.

Villiera takes Paarl Vintners red blend wine challenge with a Merlot/Pinotage
Villiera estate’s Merlot/Pinotage 1998 was declared the winner of the 1999 Paarl Vintners Wine Challenge.

Neethlingshof and Stellenzicht win more international awards