Neil Pendock speaks to Marilyn Cooper, one of the organisers of next weekend's Soweto Wine Festival

The Soweto Wine Festival, Juliet Cullinan, WineX and now Sanlam are all bringing the Stellenbosch Wine Routes to Johannesburg. Don't we have too many wine festivals?

The Soweto Wine Festival is unlike any other in SA. It addresses a specific need to grow the black market in Gauteng.

What are the unique features of the Soweto Wine Festival?

It is truly an African festival, with a vibe quite unlike any other wine festival. There is fabulous music, ethnic food, an education theatre and information on local tourism.

Is wine popular in Soweto?

Absolutely. We have seen a growth in both wine consumption and knowledge in the past five years that we have held the festival. Exhibitors are surprised and encouraged each year by the interest this market displays.

Do Sandton and Soweto have the same vinous likes and dislikes?

Certainly. I know when I started to drink wine, I started with muscadel, so there is no surprise that beginners in Soweto like the sweet Four Cousins. But the majority drink labels - Rust en Vrede, Meerlust, Ernie Els, Boekenhoutskloof . is that any different to the wine snobs in the North? However, we hope that by being exposed to new labels, they will gravitate towards wines they like and not just brand labels.