Discovering the Outstanding Wines of South Africa with Special Guest Robin Back and featuring 8 Top Wines

Yes, South Africa's wine country really is that beautiful and we're really excited to introduce you to its wines and why we think it is going to be the next "big thing" on the wine scene. South Africa has a long and storied wine producing history. In 1652, the Dutch East India Company established a refill station to provide for the ships en route to the Spice trade in the East and they began producing wine not long after that. Cape Town, the gateway to the South African winelands, is one of the great wine capitals of the world, where the cultures of Africa, Europe and the East have met and mingled for over 350 years, shaping a city and region both ancient and modern, rich in colorful history and culturally diverse.

Finewine.com's owners, Al and Cecile Giannangeli visited South Africa this past Spring and we were blown away by the quality of the wines and the beauty of the land, vineyards, and people. South Africa's wine-producing areas have a warm, dry Mediterranean climate, with moderating sea breezes and normally clement weather during the summer and harvest, providing ideal conditions for growing traditional European varieties. Experiencing South Africa's terrior and culture helped us understand why its wines reflect the best of both the old and the new - presenting fruit-forward styles with elegance, finesse and restraint.

Join us and special guest Robin Back, whose family has been involved in the South African wine trade for many years, for an in-depth look into South African wines and the culture that makes them so delicious and distinctive. We'll taste 8 top wines including crisp, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc to structured, serious Shiraz, Rhone style red blends and Pinotage, South Africa's own varietal, which is a delicious cross between Pinot Noir and the Rhone grape Cinsaut. These wines will be served with small bites to help illustrate how they pair with food and to judge which actually work better with food and which are just great to drink on their own. Not only will this be a fun event where you'll taste some outstanding wines, you'll learn a lot about both the culture and history of South Africa. To reserve your seat, call 301-987-5933 to reserve your seat as this tasting will sell out.