Wines of South Africa to promote #DrinkChenin at 2017 Aspen Food & Wine Classic on June 17th
New York, NY, June 8, 2017 — Wines of South Africa (WOSA) USA, the industry association which promotes the exports of South African wine, is excited to announce participation in the 3rd annual #DrinkChenin Day (www.drinkchenin.com/) on Saturday June 17, 2017. Started by Kate and Thomas Monroe, founders of the Southeast Wine Collective in Portland, OR, #DrinkChenin was created to celebrate the diversity of styles and expressions of Chenin Blanc from around the world. In recent months, South African Chenin Blanc in particular has garnered significant media interest including a recent review in the Chicago Tribune from wine columnist Michael Austin.
To mark the occasion, WOSA will be pouring a variety of South African Chenin Blancs during the grand tasting at the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen (www.foodandwine.com/promo/events/aspen-classic/classic-main). “We are thrilled to be supporting #DrinkChenin this year with some of South Africa’s most prominent producers,” states US Marketing Manager Jim Clarke. “It’s exciting to showcase such a variety of wines at Aspen, from classic names like Ken Forrester and DeMorgenzon in Stellenbosch to producers in less familiar regions like Cederberg as well as Adi Badenhorst in the Swartland.”
In addition, South African wines will be poured in a variety of seminars throughout the event, including “Getting Dirty Down Under: Southern Hemisphere Terroir” with Andrea Robinson, MS, which will feature the Capensis Chardonnay. Prominent South African winemakers such as Ken Forrester will also be in attendance.
Chenin Blanc in South Africa- Stats and Exports: Chenin Blanc is the most popular white grape varietal in South Africa and represents 18.2% of plantings in the country. South Africa has more plantings of Chenin Blanc than any other wine-producing regions – in fact, more than the rest of the world combined. Over the past five years, Chenin Blanc has been the fastest growing South African varietal wine in the U.S., up 35.5% in exports by volume over the last five years. The varietal commands the highest FOB price of all South African white varieties in the U.S. market, and is often recognized as the region’s premium offering. Clarke comments, “It is very gratifying to see the recent increases in value for South African Chenin Blanc. It is a testament to the improvements and advancements being made in the vineyards and in the cellar.”
In South Africa, a focus on Old Vine Chenin Blanc is on the rise, with viticulturists like Rosa Kruger working with wine grape growers to improve quality. Many winemakers have also moved to dry farming, especially with old, bush vine vineyards, which is responsible for a jump in quality.
#DrinkChenin 2017: #DrinkChenin Day will be a celebration of this varietal’s increase in popularity over the past five years and will be promoted nationwide at various retailers and restaurants and on social media with #DrinkChenin. In the U.S., The SE Wine Collective will be featuring a complimentary flight of 12 Chenin Blancs from 4-6PM on 6/17 featuring South African wines. In South Africa, the Chenin Blanc Associationwill be promoting #DrinkChenin with tastings and winemaker events throughout the Western Cape.
WOSA Activity in the U.S. (Summer 2017): Throughout the summer, WOSA will participate in a number events throughout the U.S. and continue to introduce Chenin Blanc as well as other new South African offerings to trade, media and consumers:
- Seattle Somm Summit sommsummit.com – July 9, 2017
- Oakland Wine Festival http://oaklandwinefestival.com/ – July 15, 2017
- Texsom www.texsom.com – August 12-14, 2017
About Wines of South Africa
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is the organization representing all South African producers of wine who export their products. WOSA, which was established in its current form in 1999, has over 500 exporters on its database, comprising all the major South African wine exporters. It is constituted as a not-for-profit company and is totally independent of any producer, wholesaling company or government department but is recognized by the South African Export Council. WOSA’s mandate is to promote the export of all South African wines in key international markets including the United States.
