Friday night's Bulls game went almost unnoticed by about 400 eager wine tasters at The Wade Bales Wine Festival. "The wine and the Bulls are equally good, but right now the wine takes preference" laughs Vic Berger outside the marquis that has been erected to house the festival at Montecasino's Teatro.

The tasting is an initiative by the Wade Bales Wine Society to create a wine festival “with a difference”.

A clearly excited Bales explains: “Wine festivals often have far too many wines on show. It can be intimidating, confusing and overwhelming.

“We invited 50 high profile wine estates, arguably the best in South Africa, to showcase their flagship red and flagship white wine. To put their best foot forward.”

They also limited the number of people who could attend the event, which ran for only two evenings, to 500 per night to make for a more intimate experience.

From “feminine” sauvignon blanc to “bold” Ernie Els, there was something to suit even the inexperienced palate.

“We’ve had a fantastic response, Montecasino’s been a fantastic venue and we definitely hope it’s going to be an annual event,” Bales says, pushing a wine glass into my hand.

And festival-goers of all ages seem to agree with Bales as they wander from stall to stall, boxes of cheese in hand.

Jean-Pierre Maegli, a 65-year-old Swiss electrical engineer who retired in South Africa, says the event was “lovely”.

“Beautiful wine, beautiful food, beautiful country,” says Maegli with a smile.

Steve Glass, a 48-year-old marketing and media consultant from Gauteng, tells me the tasting had a “fantastic” selection of wines and was really good value for money.

“I attend wine tastings all over Gauteng and this is the best one I’ve been to,” says Glass.

The event even drew a younger crowd, more new to the world of wine.

Siphokazi Ntondini, a 23-year-old IT business analyst, says the tasting was her first.

“I saw an advertisement and me and my girls thought it would be something we would like to try, you know, part of the whole growing up thing,” says Ntondini.

“It’s a different set up to clubbing, I think it’s more mature and it’s a nice way to grow up.”

Did the girls have any complaints?

Lebohang Khoza, also an IT business analyst, laughs and says: “We can’t meet any men here!”

Mutle Mogase, the black economic empowerment tycoon who also describes himself as an “enthusiastic” wine buyer says, Lebo and Siphokazi are exactly what the wine industry needs.

“A much younger generation of wine drinkers, up and coming people,” he says.

Mogase laughs heartily when I tell him that Lebo feels there aren’t enough guys her age here.

“Perhaps that’s not a positive image, that it’s a girly drink. It’s actually a thinking man’s drink,” says Mogase.

“They need to invite the guys.”