FOR a gift that ticks all the right boxes, look no further than Tokara’s ultra-elegant Méthode Cap Classique. Let the maiden 2011 vintage, available in a slick black gift box, add a touch of style to your Christmas cheer.
This 100% Chardonnay is crafted from cool climate grapes grown on Tokara’s prized Elgin property. The Blanc de Blancs owes its elegance and finesse to the more than four years the wine matured on the lees. These spent yeast cells that remain after bottle fermentation to create the vibrant effervescence, impart texture and complexity to the wine.
The fine, consistent mousse interplays with aromas of freshly baked brioche, fresh apples and a hint of lemon blossom typical of Chardonnay. Delicate bubbles explode in your mouth upon entry leaving you with mouth filling flavours of toasted almonds, freshly buttered toast and notes of lemon and lime preserve.
This dashing MCC is set apart by its unusual Butterfly bottle, specially designed to lend gravitas and sophistication. The depth of flavour is extraordinary and well worth the cellar door price of R650 including the stylish gift box.
For more information, go to www.tokara.com
Put the Balance into gifting with generous twin- pack
Christmas gifting on a budget is a fine balancing act. Balance, the quirky, easy drinking range of wines has it covered with a handy gift pack of two refreshing summer wines and a long stemmed glass to suit your pocket.
Quality driven yet affordable, Balance wines are perfect for life’s lighter moments. The gift packs include the vibrant Balance Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2018 and the vibey Balance Shiraz Rosé 2018. The white wine is crisp and juicy – ideal with light summer foods and Asian inspired dishes. The fruity Rosé teems with raspberries and prunes and goes swimmingly with fuss-free foods – think pasta, pizza, smoked salmon and salads.
The Balance gift pack is available exclusively at Checkers stores countrywide at a festive price of R149.99. You will also find it at the Overhex Winery & Bistro if you are passing through Worcester over the holidays.
Innovative Mensa gift pack unfolds as a nifty ice bucket
Mensa, the ultimate book club wine taking storytelling to the next level through digital innovation, has come up with a novel gift pack for the festive season that doubles up as a nifty ice bucket.
The gift pack literally unfolds into a cooler making it ideal as a fun stocking filler or as a centre piece for sharing at the Christmas table. All you need to do is add the ice.
Launched earlier this year as the first South African wine supported by an augmented reality (AR) wine app, Mensa has already been lauded for innovative design and packaging at the 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Design & Media Awards in London.
The gift pack is available exclusively at Checkers stores countrywide at a festive price of R74.99. You will also find it at the Overhex Winery & Bistro if you are passing through Worcester over the holidays.
The Mensa label on the bottle comes to life as a book revealing the full story of the wine when scanned using the Mensa Wine App on a smartphone. Mensa also sports the convenient Amorim Helix closure that can be twisted open and resealed by hand.
For more information go to www.mensawines.com, or follow MensaWine on Facebook and Instagram, and @mensa_wine on Twitter.
Survivor Pinotage gift pack comes to the rescue at Makro
Survive the Christmas rush and head straight for the wine aisle at your nearest Makro to pick up a Survivor Pinotage gift pack courtesy of this free-spirited range of quality wines from the Swartland.
The perfect gift for wine lovers, the gift pack comprises a bottle of hearty Survivor Pinotage 2016 and two trendy stemless wine glasses. The pack depicts the legendary Nguni cow that jumped off a bakkie and chose as its new home the Rust’s Constantia farm near Malmesbury where the Survivor grapes are grown, declaring: “The cow stops here”.
Firmly rooted in low-yielding dryland Swartland vineyards, Survivor Pinotage is enjoyed for its structure and fullness. This is a fruit driven wine with rich flavours of prune, plum and cherries complemented by elegant notes of spice and cedar. The wine was barrel-matured for 18 months. This home grown wine variety is a perfect fit for an authentic South African festive season braai of sweet barbeque ribs, boerewors and steak.
The Survivor gift pack is available exclusively at Makro stores countrywide at a festive price of R169. You will also find it at the Overhex Winery & Bistro if you are passing through Worcester over the holidays. For more information visit www.overhexsurvivor.com