Big Bottle Food & Wine Festival

Big Bottle Food and Wine Festival

It doesn't get grander than this: large brands,
culinary giants and monstrous magnum wines!
Fri, 21 Aug - Sat, 22 Aug 17:30 - 20:00
 
The Cape Town Club | 18 Queen Victoria Str | City Bowl
www.bigbottle.co.za
enjoy@finewineevents.co.za
BIGBottleSA
The Big Bottle Festival's Champagne Tasting

Big Bottle Food and Wine Festival

It doesn't get grander than this: large brands, culinary giants and monstrous magnum wines!

Synonymous with luxury and back for its fifth year, the Big Bottle Festival promises to be grander than ever before. Top-notch vintages and rare, large format bottles are being dug out of the depths of cellars and some of the country’s most respected chefs are engineering innovative culinary creations for this two-day food and wine affair at The Cape Town Club on Friday, 21 and Saturday, 22 August 2015. Although lots of the events have sold-out, there are still a few tickets available if you book fast! 

The South African version of this almost decade-old festival in Germany is aimed at those with a grape passion for vino and is a must-attend for serious wine fanatics. The festival features tailored events for budding winemakers and gastronomes, and a less formal wine walk-about offers grape lovers the chance to sip on exclusive wines and bubblies. Highlights for 2015 include a one-of-a-kind Champagne tasting with Champagne and MCC specialist Paul Gerber, and an exquisite dinner paired with Italy’s finest vintages. Big format bottles are inherently linked to opulence, joy and celebration and the Big Bottle Festival will host 48 preeminent vintners and wine producers from South Africa, specifically invited by the festival’s sommelier team to keep the standards high.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE 2015 BIG BOTTLE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

BIG BOTTLE TASTING: This year’s event features 48 of South Africa’s most prestigious wine producers who will be scouring their cellars for their finest big bottle masterpieces. For newcomers to the event, expect wines of rich and complex flavours – big bottles, which are traditionally prepared for special occasions and limited release are produced with a lower oxygen to wine ratio, meaning more finely interwoven textures and greater depth of flavour. Guests can sample vintages from the likes of Cape Point Vineyards, Jordan Wine Estate, Chamonix Wine Farm, Paul Cluver, Raats Family Wines, Morgenster Estate and Graham Beck. According to sommelier Jörg Pfützner, big bottle wines are special for two reasons, “Wine matures better in big bottles, and I also like the sharing aspect of it. You can share the same bottle with your family and friends – in this way, it brings people together.”

RARE CHAMPAGNE TASTING: Champagne and MCC specialist Paul Gerber, of Le Lude in Franschhoek, will be presenting this exclusive bubbly tasting. There will be 10 champagnes (mostly vintage) from illustrious houses and famous growers on offer, such as Bollinger La Grand Année and Phillipponnat Blanc de Noirs. Aficionados will also undoubtedly be eager to sample the extremely rare 1995 Dom Perignon Rose Oenotheque, directly from the producer’s cave.

GOURMAND DINNER: This indulgent dining affair will be held on the Friday evening, and is set to pair culinary delights with some of the world’s finest wines. This year’s dinner and wine tasting follows an Italian theme. The four-course feast will be prepared by The Cape Town Club’s Resident Head Chef Alfred Venter and will be accompanied by seven Italian wines, such as an incredibly rare six litre bottle of Sassicaia. Originally produced in 1948 as an anti-establishment wine, this vintage is now perceived as ‘Super Tuscan’ and a taste to be treasured.

Diners can also look forward to a glass of 1997 Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, along with Maremma’s 2008 Tenuta Monteti, 2008 Barbaresco from Produttori del Barbaresco, Nebbiolo from Piemonte, 2005 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva and Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben Rye (an exceptionally rare sweet wine sourced from 100 year-old vines located on a tiny island off Sicily).

WALK-ABOUT TASTING: The popular big bottle walk-about on Saturday, 22 August 2015 offers guests the chance to swirl and sip some of South Africa’s finest vintages from large bottle formats. Visitors will also be able to ‘dine around’, tasting delectable canapés and small dishes prepared by celebrity chefs. Guests can expect to sample plates from industry giants such as Rudi Liebenberg from Planet Restaurant at the Mount Nelson, Shyam Longani from the Taj, Christian Harbeck from Raith Gourmet, Christina Semczyszyn from Tjing Tjing Torii, and Garth Almazan from Catharina’s Restaurant. Each chef will create complementary dishes to accompany the wines, which will be served across six of The Cape Town Club’s rooms, encouraging guests to go ‘walk-about.’ Your ticket price includes tastings of all the wines and foods on offer, so it’s best to arrive hungry.

WALK-ABOUT MASTER CLASSES: This year’s festival marks the debut of the event’s master classes, which will be expertly presented by top proprietors and wine makers.

The master classes include:

  • A vertical tasting of Hamilton Russel Vineyards presented by Anthony Hamilton-Russell
  • Matured classic South African white wines presented by Eben Sadie
  • MCC and Champagnes presented by Le Lude winemaker Paul Gerber

TICKETS FOR THE 2015 BIG BOTTLE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

Tickets are available online at Quicket.co.za, or via the Bigbottle.co.za, and prices vary according to the event:

Event

Date

Time

Price

Champagne Tasting (sold out)

Friday, 21 August

5:30pm – 7:30 pm

R1390p/p

Italian Dinner

Friday, 21 August

5:30pm – 7:30pm

R1990p/p

Walk-about Tasting

Saturday, 22 August

3pm – 8pm

R450p/p

Master classes

Saturday, 22 August

Varies

R100p/p

The walk-about ticket includes food, wine, music and a glass. For more information please consult the Big Bottle website, phone +27(0)72 467 5943 or email enjoy@finewineevents.co.za.

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Fabulous fair, sumptuous interiors and fine wine at Tryn at Steenberg.

Have a squiz at our guide to annual August events to find out about more hot happenings taking place during the month.

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