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<\/p>\nAlways wondered how to tell a sauvignon from a chenin, and a pinotage from a pinot noir? If upping your wine game has been on your bucket list since the first time you found out that a bouquet is more than a bunch of flowers, what better time than lockdown to make your cup overfloweth with wine knowledge!<\/p>\n
Enter South Africa\u2019s largest and most loved travelling wine show. In response to COVID-19, the TOPS at SPAR Wine Show, in partnership with South Africa\u2019s top wine educator Cathy Marston, is delivering two accessible, fun, interactive online courses to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.<\/p>\n
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Comments Andrew Douglas, Owner and Producer of the TOPS at SPAR Wine Show, \u201cThe Wine Show is all about giving our guests the chance to step into the South African winelands and to experience the beautiful landscapes, drink in the rich aromas, and indulge in our globally celebrated wines. While we may not be able to do that through our national wine tour for the moment, we are excited to be able to bring the full enjoyment and appreciation of wine into homes across the country through these two online courses as a COVID-19 limited offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two entry-level courses \u2013 \u2018A Newbie\u2019s Guide to Wine\u2019 and \u2018Local & Lekker \u2013 Focus on SA Wine\u2019 are neatly packaged into four live 45-minute online \u2018Zoom\u2019 sessions and are available either as individual sessions or as a combo package. Each session includes 30 minutes of theory followed by an interactive, practical 15-minute tasting session with Cathy that will get you swirling, sipping and sniffing your way through your wine collection.<\/p>\n
The first session of \u2018A Newbie\u2019s Guide to Wine\u2019 covers the ground rules of wine, and the following two sessions focus on white and red wines respectively. During the final session Cathy takes a look at the mystery of food and wine pairing.<\/p>\n
For those on quest for a deeper understanding of the nuances of the Cape winelands, \u2018Local & Lekker \u2013 Focus on SA Wine\u2019, will look at \u2018WINEderful Whites\u2019 then \u2018Robust and Red\u2019 wines and styles in more detail. Session three focusses on sweet, fortified wines and brandy, and the fourth session ends on a high note, with Winederlanders learning about South Africa\u2019s finest MCCs and bubbles.<\/p>\n
Cathy, who is renowned for her wicked sense of humour and no-nonsense approach to wine, teaches the internationally recognised WSET levels 1 to 4 wine courses throughout Africa and beyond. She says, \u201cThrough \u2018A Newbie\u2019s Guide to Wine\u2019 our aim is to offer all the tools you need to unlock the exciting but sometimes confusing world of wine. We will take you through the main \u2018whats and whys\u2019 of wine and pairing the right wine to the right food. \u2018Local & Lekker \u2013 Focus on SA Wine\u2019 is a stand-alone session that will further enhance the beginner\u2019s knowledge, looking at everything that matters in the South African wine industry while filling in the history and wine legislation gaps.<\/p>\n
Both courses consist of four sessions, taking place from 18h00 to 18h45 every Tuesday and Thursday over two weeks. The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show\u2019s \u2018A Newbie\u2019s Guide to Wine\u2019 presented by Cathy Marston uncorks on Tuesday, 21 April at 18h00, ending on Thursday, 30 April, and the \u2018Local & Lekker \u2013 Focus on SA Wine\u2019 starts on Tuesday, 12 May and concludes on Thursday, 21 May.<\/p>\n