We chat to Stefan Coetzee of Cybercellar about their collaboration with WESSA | The Month May 2012

Stefan Coetzee of Cybercellar gave our office an excited call recently, keen to tell us all about the online wine seller’s decision to partner with South Africa’s oldest environmental organisation, The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA).

Knowing Stefan as an affable sort, and more importantly, that his Taste SA base in Franschhoek generally has some decent wines to sample, I suggested we meet up for a glass of wine and a decent chat.

Turns out that Cybercellar has been appointed the exclusive online partner for the sale of wines under the Cura label, which in turn is a WESSA wine initiative that serves to raise funds to support the organisation’s conservation and environmental education work. They aim to work in partnership with different wine estates to produce specially-branded WESSA wines. Given that they’ve been in the
conservation business since 1926, it’s appropriate that they’ve chosen the term ‘cura’ which means ‘care’ in Latin.

The first wine estate to partner with WESSA on this project is the Voor Paardeberg-based, Vondeling. According to the WESSA “Vondeling Wines was a natural ‘partner of choice’ due to its long-term commitment to conservation. The estate has over 400 hectares of indigenous fynbos on its mountain slopes, including critically-endangered Swartland Granite Renosterveld. Innovative practices employed by the winery include a renewable energy project and the use of compost teas instead of chemical fungicides to combat fungus. Vondeling is Biodiversity and Wine Initiative certified and is currently working towards Champion Status.”

For WESSA, Vondeling winemaker Matthew Copeland produced a Shiraz based on the Vondeling Erica Shiraz (Platter 4-star) with the addition of Mouvedre (8%), Carignan (3%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Viognier (1%). The result is a unique, premium wine that is good for the imbiber and the environment.

Cura Shiraz 2010, R78.50 p/bottle for 6 or R70.00 p/bottle for 12
The wine has a rich deep purple colour, with luxurious red and blackberry fruit on the nose. The hints of sweet spice, nutmeg, cloves and coriander are reminiscent of the smell of the fynbos depicted on the attractive label. The palate is full-textured and complex, with a lingering finish that carries the floral and spice character seamlessly!

We visit Taste SA in Franschhoek and see virtually every wine in SA | The Month April 2012

Trying to get to grips with that ever-changing beast that is the SA wine industry – from the many family run, small scale producers  to the massive cooperative cellars – is no mean feat, and it’s no wonder then that getting to know the wines produced by that beast is more than daunting for most.

Aware that our regular wine contributors, Cybercellar.com have had some success with introducing a broad range of palates to a massive array of wines and many of South Africa’s most loved producers, we popped over to their Taste SA facility in Franschhoek for a chat to team-member Stefan, to get an idea of what it is that set’s their offering apart from the rest.

The rather swish tasting room in The Yard takes an interesting approach to making its wines available by showcasing up to 14 different wines from a selection of estates and producers, at any given time. What’s immediately clear is that Taste SA and Cybercellar work hand-in-hand giving supporters of the online store the chance to enjoy more than a virtual drop and those visiting Taste, the chance to purchase any of the wines available through Cybercellar (and to say there are many is a euphemism!). Be warned though,
the tasting room only has the 14-odd wines on show at any given time available for tasting, so don’t expect to walk out of the place with arms laden the way you would a liquor store; instead the Cybercellar team will have your wines, from all over the country, delivered to a door of your choice.

Tastings are R50 per person, with optional cheese platters also available, and you can expect to see the likes of Boschendal, Glen Carlou, Topaz, Oak Valley, Diemersdal, Diemersfontein, Amares, Oldenburg, Boschkloof, Marianne, Meerlust, Mont Rochelle, Sumaridge, Spier, Dieu Donné, De Grendel, Steenberg, Elgin Vintners and many, many more.

Noting my impressed gasp, Stefan wasted no time to add that he has a couple of wines available at the moment that come with free nationwide delivery. “I live just up the road,” I point out. Sharp as a tack Stefan points out that with the kind of savings I’m likely to enjoy, it’s time to move. For the record here are the two wines he recommended that come with that free delivery:

Bartinney Wines Noble Savage Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Blend 2009, R65 per bottle for 6/R59 per bottle for 12
The intense, powerful flavour of the Cabernet Sauvignon in this blend is classic dark fruit and black berries and integrates absolutely beautifully with the softer, sexier, more sensuous cherry and raspberry nose of the Merlot.  The palate is round and concentrated, with spicy fruit and juicy tannins! This is an absolutely superb wine that will go well with a range of food and achieved a 4-star rating in Platter’s.                                                              
FREE SHIPPING TO ANYWHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA!

Druk My Niet Wine Estate Mapoggo White 2009, R49 per bottle for 6/R47 per bottle for 12
At first, this wine impresses the nose with layers of fruit that include pineapple, mango, peach and dried apricot. On the second whiff the unmistakable hints of Melon and Green Apple come to the fore and follow through on the palate, perfectly  complemented by hazelnut and vanilla flavours courtesy of the wood. It’s a surprisingly big wine given it’s relatively low alcohol content of 12.5%.
FREE SHIPPING TO ANYWHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA!

Email Stefan stefan@cybercellar.com for orders or more info on Taste SA and Cybercellar.com