Échanson Honoraire George Parkes hosted OMGD (Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs) members for a tasting of wines that were made using “Mediterranean” cultivars.

Those who were able to attend were: Vice-Échanson Annalie Kruger, Vice-Culinaire Honoraire Denise Lindley, Vice-Argentier Jean Joubert, Chevalier Paul Kruger, Dame de la Chaîne Carlene Joubert and Échanson Honoraire George Parkes.

George commenced with a brief explanation of the wines and the various wine regions. He began with the white wine varietals of the Rhône Valley in France and from where each cultivar that we were to taste originated from, as well as with the red wines from the Rhône Valley, Rioja in Spain and from Tuscany in Italy.

First flight
1) Strandveld Viognier 2023 - the first three wines were donated by Échanson Nel-Marie le Roux, who unfortunately was unable to attend the tasting.
2) Oliphantsberg Grenache Blanc 2022
3) Oliphantsberg Roussanne 2023
4) Noble Hill White Blend (Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Viognier) - donated by Bailli Honoraire Jan Johnson who was also unable to attend the tasting.

Initially most of the group preferred the Viognier. However, when we enjoyed the wines with some canapes, the Noble Hill then became the favourite wine of the group.

Second flight
1) Perdeberg Vineyard Collection Cinsault 2022 - donated by Jan
2) Strandveld Grenache Noir 2022 - donated by Nel-Marie
3) Fairview Grenache Noir 2023 - donated by Nel-Marie
4) Domaine Fitou Vieilles Vignes 2020 - donated by Jan but sadly was corked
5) As a replacement, George opened a bottle of Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2016 from Château de Beaucastel in the southern Rhône Valley.

Most of the group preferred the Fairview.

Third flight
1) Raka Sangiovese 2021 - donated by Nel-Marie
2) Jasper Raats Silk Weaver Sangiovese, Stellenbosch 2020 - donated by George
3) Felsina Chianti Classico 2017 - donated by George
4) Frazzippa Chianti Reserva 2013 - donated by George

With this flight we enjoyed a bowl of carpaccio with a slice of baguette. When tasted with food the wines changed character.

This flight split the tasters as to the preferred wine of the flight. A number commented on how close the Silk Weaver became to tasting like the two Chiantis, with The Silk Weaver being the preferred favourite.

The Silk Weaver is made by Jasper Raats (whose family have lived in Knysna for over 100 years) in honour of the Italian peasant farmers who came out from Italy to Gouna near Knysna in 1881 to start a silk industry. However, they discovered on arrival that there were no silkworms in the forest or work as promised. Most of them became bush cutters, sawing down many of the local indigenous trees in the Knysna Forest for the sawmills in Knysna.

Fourth flight
1) Mellasat Tempranillo 2017
2) Druk My Niet T3 2016 (Tannat, Tempranillo, Tinta Amarela)
3) Fairview Extrano Tempranillo Grenache Noir blend 2020 - donated by Jan
4) Marques de Riscal Reserva 2014

This flight also split the group with the T3, Fairview and Marques de Riscal receiving equal votes.

After the tasting we left the cellar and moved upstairs to sit on the front veranda with a beautiful view out over the Knysna lagoon towards the Knysna Heads.

Paul Kruger provided a delicious pot of Greek style Karoo lamb shanks and couscous which we enjoyed with a green salad. We finished off the day with a cheese platter and the wines that we had tasted earlier in the day.

This was a really interesting tasting, which showed that the South African wines tasted were not far off the European wines in quality and style. I would like to thank Nel-Marie le Roux and Jan Johnson for their contributions of various wines, towards the tasting.

Vive la Chaîne!
Vive l’Ordre Mondial!

George Parkes
Échanson Honoraire