All the stars at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival

All the stars at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival
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Eight years ago in Soweto, what began as a small gathering of winemakers trailblazing a new market, and a smattering of curious Sowetans, has grown into a major highlight on the Gauteng Calendar.

The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, happening from 6th to 8th September at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus, is now considered a South African ‘must do’ event and is revolutionising the way in which wine festivals are being presented to the South African majority whilst creating a broad, new wine-loving market of educated and established wine appreciators. 

The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, continues to grow from strength to strength adapting year on year in order to continuously attract big brands, influential media and aspirational people in their thousands from in and around Soweto, Johannesburg and internationally. 

The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival in association with Food Network is owned by ‘the people’. ‘The people’ are those that believe obstacles can be overcome, they never give up on their ideas and are motivated by inspiration, hard work and a wish for a better lifestyle. This is the vibe at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival. It is an exhilarating experience as visitors find their love of wine, be it red, rosé, white or sparkling!

It should be mentioned that the most worthy of trends start in Soweto, which is one of the most inspiring cities in South Africa, likened to the energy and creativity of New York and London. So let them see our hearts!

The 3 Cities in Soweto:

For the first time ever at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival,in association with Food Network, our 3 major cities have come together – Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, showcasing their beautiful cities at the festival. They say to travel is to broaden the mind, so visit other provinces and get to know your country. Cape Town is hospitality, wine and whale country and Durban is friendship, surf and spice country. 

Wine, Food, Dance, Kaya:

Look out for the new Kaya FM Chill Zone housing their DJ’s Ed and Fang on decks alongside our proud, local restaurants, which include Thirteen 54, the Soweto Hotel and Roots, bringing together the best in South African hospitality. Following last year’s Shisa Nyama, Honey Badger wines will be serving Shisa Nyama cooked by Chef David and served with a glass of Honey Badger. Honey Badger is a new bold, sweet red wine appealing to those who prefer a rich, ripe and sumptuously fruity wine.

Nederburg Wine & Food Taste Experience:

Don’t forget to enjoy a free Nederburg Wine & Food Taste Experience class. We believe it all starts with this fun-filled class! So don’t miss out, learn something new. MasterChef SA Top 5 finalist Lungile Nhlanhla will be joining WimTruter of Nederburg’s award-winning winemaking team to co-present this fun and interactive experiencewhile Wellington Metshane, a senior member of the team making Nederburg reds, will be on hand to introduce visitors to some exciting new offerings at the winery’s exhibition stand. 

DStv Magic:

This year DStv will be bringing an array of talent from the DStv family, discounted offerings on their products and Jenny Morris from The Food Network will be hosting the DStv VIP's on Saturday night. If visitors purchase any of these products they stand a chance to win a Sony HD LCD TV. DStv will also be bringing Super Sport presenters and Inkaba actors for photo opportunities at the DStv Stand. There will also be a performance by Moneoa for their VIP'son Saturday night. 

TOP Celebrities:

Kaya FM DJ's MC’ing will be our favouriteT-Bose, Bob Mabena and Mo-G – bringing the best Joburg DJ personalities and sound to you! As a VIP, you will be blown away by our guest stars. Kicking the festival VIP’s off in style is the one and only Unathi Msengana for the TOPS at SPAR VIP Lounge on Thursday’s opening night. Msengana is a Metro FM DJ, an accomplished singer and a judge on South African Idols and has recently released her third studio album ‘With Love’ on the heels of her sophomore album ‘In Honour’, which reached Gold status.

Make Your Own Wine:

All you have to do to stand a chance of winning an all-expenses paid trip to the Cape, is to sign up at the TOPS Soweto Wine Festival, in association with Food Network, to make your own vintage of wine in 2013 with the exclusive “own wine making company” WineConnected. Visit WineConnected’s stand to find out how you can make and label your own wine, visit the cellar and vineyards and attend private tastings with South Africa’s top Cellarmasters such as Niels Verburg of Luddite Wines. At the end of this fantastic experience, you will have personally labelled bottles of your own vintage to enjoy with family and friends. 

Heritage Site in Soweto:

Take the time to visit the Cradle of Humankind and Dinokeng exhibition stand. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is located in Gauteng and is a massive 47 000 hectare area, which has produced a host of interesting fossils that throw light onto early human ancestors and their relatives, dating back more than 3.4 million years. Dinokeng is a unique tourism destination, home to Gauteng’s only free-roaming Big 5 game reserve. This Game Reserve is 18 500 hectares of pristine African bush with over 50 establishments’ sites ranging from five-star game lodges to cycling safaris and restaurants and so much more. 

Wines of flavour: 

Visitors are in for a right royal treat with over 900 of South Africa’s wines to taste from firm-favourites like Nederburg, Fleur de Cap, 4th Street, J.C. Le Roux and Four Cousins to upmarket wines such as Alto, Meerlust, Plaisir de Merle, Rupert and Rothschild and Ernie Els to name a few, to empowerment wines that now compete with the best of them such as Kumkani, Ses’fikile and Tukulu.

Tickets:

Visitors are encouraged to purchase their tickets prior to the festival online at webtickets or from the Soweto Hotel on Freedom Square or Morara Wine Emporium in Mofolo Central in Soweto or from the Cape Wine Academy in Bramley, Johannesburg. 

Arrive early as doors will be closing an hour prior to closing times. 

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Meerlust Estate Baden Powell Drive P.O. Box 7121 , Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa