Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe to host the SA-EU Wine Tasting Function

Pretoria – South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sue van der Merwe will on Friday 26 October 2007 together with the European Union Ambassadors in South Africa, co-host the South Africa-European Union wine tasting function at the Groote Schuur Estate in Cape Town.

The European Union remains South Africa’s strongest trading partner, and with the inclusion of 12 new countries in the EU since 2005, opportunities for collaboration and the expansion of trade between South Africa and the EU have increased.  The expanded EU furthermore presents opportunities for mutual benefit to business people and for investment.

While Europe is regarded as the premier wine producing region of the world, the South African wine industry has developed tremendously and has made its mark on the international wine scenery.  Consequently, South Africa is now regarded as a world class wine industry.

The wine tasting event offers an opportunity to learn more about each other’s regions and to share the tastes and approaches of the different regions of South Africa and Europe.

A panel consisting of two European and two South African wine experts will taste all the wine on offer and give awards in a variety of categories.

Media are invited as follows:

DATE: Friday 26 October 2007

TIME: 16:30 for 17:00

VENUE: Groote Schuur Estate (the original Groote Schuur Residence)
Cape Town

(Please RSVP)
(Please present press cards)

ENQUIRIES/RSVPS: Xolani Malawana 084 508 5833

Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
 
24 October 2007

Programme:

17:00 – 18:00 Tour of the Groote Schuur House

18:00 – 19:00 Drinks and presentation of panel’s awards

19:00 – 20:00 Participants taste the wines from SA and EU