We found this little gem of an article on how to open a bottle of wine & champagne (or MCC) with flair, gusto and eloquence. Enjoy…

Now that you’ve gone out
and spent a few bucks
on a bottle of wine,
wouldn’t it be nice to be able
to open it up with a casual flair?
Do you really want to make that
champagne cork fly across the room,
and bean Aunt Hilda in the head?
Here are some simple guidelines
that will help convince your new love interest
that you’ve been doing this all your life.

First and Foremost

Remember that anything involving wine
should be enjoyable.
When you successfully pour a cork-free
glass of wine, appreciate it.
On the other hand,
if the cork breaks in half,
and won’t come out, what the heck!
Push it into the bottle,
pick out the bits of cork
and stop worrying.
The world hasn’t come to an end.

Champagne, sparkling wine and white wine
are best when served well-chilled.
Red wine, on the other hand
is best opened when only slightly
cooler than room temperature.
To accomplish this:
Put white wine in the refrigerator
at least two hours before you plan to open it.
Champagne or sparkling wine can go in
even earlier than that.
Red wine (really any wine)
should not be kept in sunny areas,
or on top of the refrigerator.
Find a cool, dry place where the
temperature remains fairly
consistent year-round.
A quiet, cool spot such as
a closet, hallway, unused fireplace,
or space under the stairs will do.
Do not store wine near goods
that emit strong odors,
because the wine “breathes”
through its cork and has a tendency
to absorb odors from the air.

Wine should always be stored
lying horizontally,
so that the cork remains
moist and elastic.
It is important not to disturb
wine bottles too much
before opening them.
Sparkling wines should not be agitated
if the server wants any of it to remain
in the bottle after opening!

Choosing your weapon

There are quite a few different
corkpulls on the market nowadays,
and I’ll cover three of them:
the traditional waiter’s pull,
(my personal weapon of choice)
the winglever and the
two pronged “dishonest butler”
(so named because it doesn’t destroy the cork).

Using a waiters pull:
Place the bottle upright on a flat surface
or securely hold it between your knees
at a slight angle, with the top easily accessible.
Firmly place the point of the corkscrew
in the center of the cork,
and twist it straight in,
until the screw part is
completely in the cork.
Pivot the corkpull,
so that the forked indentation
grips the edge of the
bottle’s mouth and the pull’s
handle is pointed down.
Grasp the handle firmly
and pull straight up.

Using a winged pull:
Place the bottle upright
on a flat surface.
Position the point of the corkscrew
over the center of the cork.
Firmly grasp both the bottle neck
and the barrel of the pull under
the wings with one hand.
Twist the corkscrew by the “key”
at the top until the round mouth
of the pull is seated over the mouth
of the bottle.
Allow the wings to rise until
they won’t go up any farther.
Put a hand on each wing
and push them all the way down.
The cork should draw out of the bottle.
If any part of the cork
remains in the neck,
grasp the entire corkpull in one hand
and gently pull it straight out.

Using the “dishonest butler”:
Place the bottle upright on a flat surface.
Gently insert the tip of the longer prong
between the edge of the bottle and the cork.
Now bend the thing so that you can insert
the other prong between the other side
of the cork and the edge of the bottle.
Once you’ve got both prongs between the
cork and the bottle’s edge,
grasp the top of the pull
and rock it back and forth.
The prongs should sink further in
with each movement.
When the handle is right up against
the top of the bottle,
pull the cork out
with a slow twisting motion,
clockwise for righties,
counterclockwise for lefties.

Opening a bottle of sparkling wine -
This includes Champagne,
as well as sparkling white
and rosé wines.
The first method here is the correct
one to use when you would like the wine
to taste its best.
Use the second method
when consumption
is not as important as the fun
of watching corks
fly around the room.

Correct Method

Step 1:
Securely hold the bottle at a slight angle,
with the top easily accessible.
Remove the foil and wire cage
from the bottle,
being careful not to
aim the bottle at anyone
(no fooling around here).

Step 2:
Firmly grasp the cork with your palm
over the top of it
and gently twist the bottle,
not the cork.
You’ll be able to feel the cork sliding
free by itself, and you’ll need to keep
it under control so that the cork “pops”
as little as possible.
Try to insure that it only makes
a little ‘gasp’ when it comes out,
and the wine shouldn’t froth.

Fun Method

Step 1:
Securely hold the bottle
at a slight angle,
with the top easily accessible.
Remove the foil and wire cage
from the bottle,
being careful not to aim
the bottle at anyone
(no fooling around here either).

Step 2:
Now point the bottle away from
you or anyone else,
and grasp it by the neck with both hands.
Press your thumbs against
the sides of the cork,
and first press on one side,
then the other.
By rocking the cork like you mean it,
it will first creep out,
and then pop out of the bottle.
After it flies across the room,
froth will pour out
and everyone will laugh.
Have those glasses handy
to catch the bubbly.

It’s nice to have the proper
glasses to drink from.
Red wine glasses are wider at the mouth
and rounder than white wine glasses
to allow for swirling and sniffing.
White wine glasses are generally taller
and have longer stems to keep
the wine cold longer.
Sparkling wine glasses
are typically much narrower,
so that the bubbles last longer.
White wines may be served
immediately after opening.
Good red wines will benefit
from being allowed to “breathe”
for half an hour.
The idea is to get as much surface
area as possible, to allow as much wine
as possible to come into contact with the air,
while not disturbing it too much.
The process of decanting will allow
your wine to breathe.
Decant wine by gently pouring it
into another container.
Not only does this provide
the neccessary surface area,
but any sediment present
(most likely in very old or unfiltered wines)
should stay in the bottle.
If no decanter is available,
pour off a half-glass 15-30 minutes
before serving and let both
the glass and bottle sit.

When pouring sparkling wines,
wrap the bottle in a cloth napkin
(clockwise, of course, darling!)
for effect and to insulate the bottle
from your warm hand.
(this step alone can make you look
extremely cool!)
Tilt the glass,
and pour down the side of it
to minimize frothing.

If you don’t finish your wine
in one sitting,
(it could happen!)
here are some tips for
saving what’s left.

White wine will generally
keep in the refrigerator for
four to five days once it’s opened.
Red wine, if you keep it
at room temperature,
will only last up to two days.
However, I’ve found it’s never
as good if chilled and then
returned to room temperature.
(so go ahead drink up!)
The less air that gets to it,
the better, so keep the cork!
Transferring your wine
to a smaller container,
such as a clean 350ml bottle,
and corking it tightly
will help preserve it longer.

Remember to enjoy it!

R120 per day and R200 for entire weekend – Kids u/18 enter free

Gauteng is about to be hit by an outdoor wine festival like you’ve never experienced before. Don’t believe us? Ask the 20000 visitors who travelled from far and wide this year to enjoy the country’s biggest wine festival – the Robertson Wine Valley’s Wacky Wine Weekend. Or the 7000 people who came to enjoy our Hands-On Harvest, Robertson Slow and Robertson Wine on the River festivals. Or the renowned travel journalist who named one of our festivals the country’s Best Wine Route Promotion…twice.

They’re all hooked on the Robertson Wine Valley’s famously fabulous festivals – one of which is about to be experienced by you! Yes, we’ve decided to share our Winelands hospitality with other South Africans.

That is why the first ever Robertson Wine Valley Festival @ Kloofzicht Lodge is held from September 18 to 19 at the spectacular Kloofzicht Lodge in Muldersdrift. Brought to you by the Robertson Wine Valley, in conjunction with Kloofzicht Lodge and Tourism Maps, this festival will let you do what thousands of wine lovers love to do every year – meet the winemakers, owners and personalities of the Robertson Wine Valley as they present the best the Valley has to offer.

You’ve probably tasted our wines before. Now it’s your chance to become our friend and have the time of your life!

Gates open at 11h (show ends at 18h)

The Robertson Wine Valley is in the business of bowling people over with its wine tourism innovation, hospitality and, of course, great wines.

That is why it was voted SA’s second favourite wine route in 2008*. For the same reason it received, in 2009, the Great Wine Capitals of the World’s award for Most Innovative Wine Tourism Experience. The judges couldn’t help but be impressed by the Robertson Wine Valley’s four annual festivals.

One of them is the Wacky Wine Weekend, which is so famous for being fantastic that it attracted a whopping 20 000 fans this year. There’s also Robertson Wine on the River (a laid-back spring festival on the banks of the Breede River), Hands-on Harvest (an activity-packed experience to show the wine drinker how the grape made it into the bottle) and Robertson Slow (where visitors simply slow down to revel in the goodness of the Valley).

But it doesn’t end with the festivals. Visitors can enjoy our non-commercial country hospitality and world-class wines (which offer fantastic value at all price points) almost every day of the year. Our 63 members, of which 52 are wineries, offer visitors to Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson an unforgettable experience throughout all four seasons. Of course wine tasting in the order of the day. Our friendly staff will guide you on this journey, whether you are an experienced wine taster or exploring the world of wine for the very first time.

And if you round it off with river rafting, a game drive, bird watching, cheese and olive tasting, hiking or horseback riding (to mention but a few), you will definitely return again and again!

For more information on the Valley we’re so proud of, visit www.robertsonwinevalley.com.

*Consumer poll: Wine Magazine, 2008.tourismmaps.co.za.

Nestled at the foothills of the Zwartkops Mountains in the Cradle of Humankind, Kloofzicht Lodge is the essence of tranquility and ultimate luxury, a comfortable 40 minute drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Guests entering the luxurious Kloofzicht Lodge are greeted with the stunning vista of endless stretches of water as the infinity pool spills over into the Kloofzicht dam, finally settling into the Zwartkops mountains in the distance.

Kloofzicht comprises 8 superior deluxe suites, 10 superior suites, 20 executive suites and 12 family / executive twin suites, overlooking either the six exquisite fly fishing dams or the unspoilt Zwartkops gorge and mountain. Five star conference and wedding facilities satisfy the needs of even the most discerning guests.

The small but magnificent nature reserve upon which Kloofzicht is built, is home to kudu, impala, blue wildebeest, eland, red hartebeest, springbuck, gemsbok, zebra as well as a fascinating array of bird life. Kloofzicht is home to the Bells Fly Fishing Academy.

TEL 011 317 0600, WWW.KLOOFZICHT.CO.ZA. CENTRAL RES 08611 GUVON

Free wine tasting will naturally take place for the duration of the festival. Take a stroll through all the stalls, get to know the wines and the personalities behind each brand. But of course the Robertson Wine Valley is not all just about wine – neither is Kloofzicht Lodge. This weekend is all about relaxing. For the gentlemen out there – bring your own rod or hire one and fish in one of the numerous dams. For the ladies – come enjoy a magnificent outdoor massage by Chicama Spa for only R200. Kids? Please don’t leave them at home just because this is a wine festival! Beeld has ensured that the little ones will enjoy this weekend just as much as mom and dad. Kids under 18 enter for free, but the activities will be charged for on a ‘pay as you go’ basis. Don’t forget the live music that will entertain you throughout the weekend as well. So bring your picnic blanket and unwind in the great company of Robertson Wine Valley and Kloofzicht Lodge.

For something else, look out for the food and wine pairing done at McGregor Winery’s stall, and the ‘imported’ Robertson goodies such as the products of Olyfberg (Rooiberg and Kranskop’s stall) and Passionate About Pesto (McGregor Winery’s stall).
Should you wonder what to do after the festival has closed? Mimosa Boutique Wines will be hosting a four course food and wine pairing with the prestigious Kloofzicht Lodge on Saturday evening.

Head for the Banks of the Breede for a Festive Family Fiesta!

For the fifth consecutive year, over the weekend of 15 – 17 October, the inimitable and ever-popular Robertson Wine on the River is returning to the banks of the Breede River. Once again the festival is taking place in a spacious marquee at the charming riverside farm, Goudmyn, situated on the R317 between Robertson and Bonnievale.

Enjoy laid-back country hospitality at its best as you taste more than 300 wines from over 40 wineries, while soaking up the rhythm of live jazz, ballads and blues. While wine-tasting is the order of the day, there will be delicious gastronomic delights from which to choose, whilst: browsing amongst the country food stalls, lazy-lunching at the riverside restaurant, shopping your way through the Robertson Farmers’ Market, and much more. Tutored chardonnay tastings will be on offer in the Chardonnay Tent, and other popular attractions will include river cruises as well as arts and crafts from the Valley.

Offering a wide variety of children’s activities, Robertson Wine on the River promises to be a fabulously festive family affair. And, children under 18 enter free of charge, making it more convenient and cost-effective for the whole family to enjoy all that the Valley has to offer! After free admission, children’s activities will be charged for on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ system.

Convenient designated parking areas will be clearly sign-posted en route. For visitors utilising parking areas further a-field, a shuttle-service will provide transport to and from the festivities.

With wines being sold on site at cellar door prices, Robertson Wine on the River provides the perfect opportunity to stock up on your favourite Robertson wines, renowned for their great value, from easy-drinking to top-of-the-range.

This year Robertson Wine on the River festival-goers will have the opportunity to win fabulous competition prizes. The tickets for this competition will only be on sale at the festival site.

This idyllic, open-air spring festival is not to be missed. So bring your friends and family along for an extravaganza of fine wine, delectable treats, great music and complete relaxation amidst a rural ambience of spectacular scenery and warm sunshine.

BOOKINGS: Web-tickets and the Robertson Wine Valley office

ENQUIRIES: Robertson Wine Valley office

Tel 023 626 3167 / E-mail  manager@robertsonwinevalley.com

Website www.wineonriver.com