Tri Nation Wine Show@Four Seasons on 11/09/09

The Tri Nation Wine Show is followed after the Challenge and held at the Four Seasons. It is where the wines of each class are being tasted by the public and the trophy winner of each class is being presented their awards. This year's challenge shows South Africa as a serious wine producing nation, claiming the top three trophies for Wine of the Show and Red Wine of the Show. The Haskell Pillars Syrah 2007 is the first South African red wine to win the Red Wine of the Show at the Tri Nations. The winery itself is located in Stellenbosch. There to receive the award was the head winemaker of Haskell Vineyards, Rianie Strydom. I hope that I would be able to meet her personally one day and get to know more about how she makes her wines. I couldn't do so that day as she was getting swarmed by people around her after receiving the award.

Tri Nations Wine Challenge.

The entrance to the show.

Glasses laid out.

For more info on Haskell Vineyards, visit their main site or take a look at this interview.

For info about the Wine Show, visit here.

I have also uploaded the list of winners here.

Wines arrived in boxes.

It took about 3 hours or less to get the show running. Most of the logistics were already handled by the staff at Four Seasons. The wines were being transported up to the room. Only the sparkling wines were left in the kitchen cooler to be served chilled before the show.

Before the show.

Labels placed

Wines arranged.

Set up was relatively simple with the help of the staff.

Cabernet Class.

Things starting to come together.

All done.

Basically, we placed labels that indicated the class of wines on each table. Then, we unpacked all the bottles of wine and arranged them around the tables based on which class they belonged. This was easy as all the wines were already separated according to their class and all accounted for. After arranging all the wines in their respective class, we did a quick check against our list on whether the wines were there. Glasses were being set up and other items such as bread and cheeses that were handled by the staff.

Spittoons laid out.

Ready to roll.

Finally, the sparkling wines and Chardonnay classes were being set up. Champagne trays with ice were set on the table and the sparkling wines taken out of the cooler to be displayed nicely. All the wines were being uncorked or opened about half-an-hour before the show started. Everything was just fine and dandy.

Sparkling Wines area.

Within 30 minutes, the bottles were almost empty because it was a pour-it-yourself wine show. As expected, a crowd of sophisticated drinkers attended this show and they gunned straight for the good stuff like Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. That's what happens when everybody helps themselves.

Let the games begin.

Thanks to Judith Kennedy for allowing me to help her for this event. It was also a pleasure to have met Kia and her husband at the show. Both of them are from the US and Kia is a wine writer herself. Remember me, Kia, if I ever visit Cali one day!