The SOMM Journal

October / November 2015

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{ SOMMjournal.com }  73 WHAT DO A WINEMAKER, A CATTLE RANCHER, A BUTCHER, A restaurateur, a coffee roaster and a proprietor of a bottled water company all have in common? They are the collected professions of one man—Jean Engelbrecht, the proprietor of Rust en Vrede winery, who is one of South Africa's shining star wine ambassadors. Engelbrecht, a tall, sandy-haired, positively robust man with as firm a handshake as a rugby player, is a big fan of America—and specifically of the American wine market. He visits the U.S. at least once a year, some years more often, and is even embarking on a nationwide U.S. steakhouse tour because he believes these restaurants deserve more credit for introducing Americans to thick wine lists, proper stemware and wines served at proper temperatures—all things that have done more for wine consumption in our country than he says he's witnessed in any other country. During a recent visit to San Francisco, Engelbrecht hosted a master class on South African wines at Parallel 37, a chic, upscale fine-dining restaurant and lounge housed within The Ritz-Carlton, dishing out globally inspired California cuisine from several Charlie Trotter alums. Ten wines from four different pro - ducers were featured during the master class. While most American consumers have surely never sat down to a tasting with ten different wines from South Africa, many of the buyers and beverage directors in the room were quite familiar with wines from Capetown and Stellenbosch. Kayci and Joe Weaver, co-Captains at Quince in San Francisco (Joe managed wine programs at Hotel del Coronado and the shuttered Crescent Heights Kitchen & Lounge in San Diego) say they are big fans of the wines because the price points "are so approachable." Paul Mekis, Director of Wine for Rosewood Hotels Worldwide, was excited for the tasting as well. "I've always had a fascination with South African wines and have myself been to Swaartland, Stellenbosch, Paarl and all over." Mekis, who is based in Menlo Park, California at the Rosewood Sand Hill, man - ages 26 properties for the resort group, 14 of which have, "extensive wine lists that I consult with. We just opened Beijing, São Paulo is coming and the Crillon in Paris is coming as well," he said. Gordana Josovic, Beverage Director, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, said she first discovered wines from South Africa 15 years ago. "We used to sell them at Acme Chop House, when no one really heard much about South African wines here in the states," she said. "And Stellenbosch is like Napa on steroids. It's very easy to go wine tasting and most people will stay in Capetown and make day trips. The place is beautiful with all this 17th-century Dutch architec - ture and the backdrop of the mountains—it's breathtaking." The group also included Craig Henriksen, California State Manager for Terlato; Ira Norof and Allison Sandie, educators for Southern Wines & Spirits of California; and The SOMM Journal's own Meridith May and myself; four rock star sommeliers: Amy Racine (Sons & Daughters), Matt Montrose (Atelier Crenn), Bobby Conroy (Benu), Haley Moore (Town Hall, Salt House and Anchor & Hope) and Martin Sheehan-Stross (Wayfare Tavern); as well as Wendy Stanford and the inimitable "chief storyteller" Wilfred Wong, both from wine.com. In his opening remarks, Engelbrecht pointed out that San Francisco is very much like Capetown in terms of weather and style—"very laid back," he said. Of the four producers sampled—Rust en Vrede, Guardian Peak, Ernie Els and Anthonij Rupert—all are imported by Terlato Wines, including a 2014 Chenin Blanc from Protea offered to guests as they arrived, and which at $11 by the glass is "a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay," suggested John Rielly, the Western U.S. Fine Wine Development Manager for Terlato. Quince co-Captains Kayci and Joe Weaver; Parallel 37/The Ritz-Carlton supervisor Rex Cariaga; and wine. com's Wilfred Wong. Amy Racine, Beverage Manager for Sons & Daughters in San Francisco; John Rielly, Fine Wine Development Manager for Terlato Wines; and Paul Mekis, Director of Wine for Rosewood Hotels Worldwide. Haley Moore is Beverage Director for Stock & Bones Culinary Group in San Francisco. Gordana Josovic, Beverage Director, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering.

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