World’s best guide to South African wines

Wine Publisher, Elmari Swart, flies the flag for South Africa at the Gourmand World Gala.

Publisher Elmari Swart has scooped up one of two best ‘Wine Atlas or Tourism Guide in the World' awards at the Gourmand World Gala, with Cheviot's latest title, The Essential Guide to South African Wines (by E Swart & I Smit).

"It is a huge honour to be counted amongst the best wine books in the world!" said Swart.

Putting SA wine back on the map once again

Elmari joined the international publishing industry, authors, photographers and the Cointreau family at the theatre of Le Cent Quarte in Paris, on Thursday 11th February, 2010, to pay tribute to this year's guests of honour: The finalists of the 2009 Gourmand competition.

While the European countries and the Americas dominated 60% of entry numbers, Africa has seen a significant increase in finalist numbers in 2010.

Swart holds an M.Sc Oenology degree from Stellenbosch University. She travelled to Europe, Australia and New Zealand, before returning home to write on South African Terroir. Swart's first publication also won Best Book on ‘New World Wines' at the 2006 and 2007 Gourmand Competition and featured in Food and Home Magazine's Exclusive Books top 10 Bestseller list, October 2006 - March 2007.

Celebrating ‘splendid landscapes and winemaking'

The purpose of the wine guide is to provide wine enthusiasts with knowledge about terroir and highlight the unique local viticultural diversity of South Africa, in a portable format.

"Work on this volume was a great excuse to write about splendid landscapes and winemaking in this spectacular country - South Africa, "alive with possibility"," remarked Swart in her author's note.

In addition Swart also won The Young Achiever award, at a recent Financial Mail competition for Wine Businesses, due to in-depth research, unique insights into the subject matter and user-friendliness. Use of custom-publishing and multi-media also clinched the award.

Judges described Swart as: "the perfect candidate for the award. Elmari is indeed the rising star with ambition, drive and demonstrable achievements under her belt that this category embodies."

Mixing business, culture and culinary arts in Paris

The Paris Food and Wine Book Fair took place from 12th to the 15th February, 2010. The event consisted of over 100 exhibitors, including French culinary publishers, international distributors and printers.

Four very busy days saw 3100 trade visitors, entertained by Elmari Swart's wine tasting, highlighting key components of South African terroir.

The winning titles from the 2010 Gourmand competition and a wide selection of culinary and wine books will be exhibited this year at the Cape Town Book Fair, from the 30th of July to the 3rd of August.

The Essential Guide to South African Wines is available at all major book retailers and sells for a recommended price of around R195.

By Lisa Nevitt