Over 150 wine buffs as well as wine ‘rookies’ were in awe of the slick Wine Show Masterclass which took place at the Rosebank’s Hyatt Regency on Thursday evening 28 May.
Michael Fridjhon is in a class of his own. In his ongoing off-the-cuff presentation, while participants tasted 13 wines ranging from Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Chenin Blanc and Shiraz to a highly Noble Late Harvest and the grande finale of a Cape Vintage Reserve 2012, he commented “Cape Vintage no longer known as Port – can we call it Export?”
Fridjhon’s knowledge base on every aspect of wines is nothing short of phenomenal.
This is a different kind of event planning at which the participants are provided with four wine glasses together with a list of the wines, a receptacle for the wine remnants as well as the appropriate stilled bottled water and water biscuits. Accompanying all this is a pre-taste video while at everyone’s place were wine descriptions and a schedule for note-taking.
The planning has to be exact to ensure masterclass participants receive the next series of trophy wines while simultaneously listening to Fridjhon’s presentation in keeping with the wines being tasted, all at the same time.
Coupled with the wines was a superb display of varying finger foods ranging from pate foie gras, vegetarian wraps prior to tasting with desserts and superb cheese varieties following the masterclass.
Hats off to the Hyatt staff’ impeccable timing with the pouring of the differing wines as required and the executive chef assisting guests with the various foods on offer.
The evening represented a slick series of planning requirements – which would be hard to beat. Well done Old Mutual’s organising team!
