One of Joburg’s most anticipated events on the annual wine calendar kicked off on Wednesday. Taking place over three nights, Standard Bank WineX will bring together more than 150 exhibitors to showcase wine, Port and brandy. On offer will be more than 800 mostly local wines and Cap Classiques, plus a selection of international wine and Champagne.
If the South Africa 2023 Special Report, released by UK-based Master of Wine Tim Atkin last month, is anything to go by, it seems eventgoers are in for a treat.
Providing a comprehensive look at South Africa’s best scoring fine wines, Atkin wrote: “The excellent scores support my belief that South Africa is making the best wines in its history, especially in vintages like 2017 and 2021.” Of the 2,206 wines from 419 producers, Atkins rated 201 wines 95 points and above out of 100.
The four most important aspects which impact the quality of wine are temperature, humidity, vibration and light.
— Tarina Vlok, MD of Elite Risk Acceptances
While this is good news for drinkers and collectors alike, it is important to know how to store your wines if you’re buying them as an investment or to consume later.
“With the quality of wine improving, wine collectors should safeguard their valuable collections, ensuring they remain not only drinkable but also retain or potentially increase in value,” says Tarina Vlok, MD of Elite Risk Acceptances from Old Mutual Insure.
Whether you’re a casual enthusiast or serious collector, Vlok says storing your wine properly is one of the most important aspects to consider. “When wine is stored correctly, it undergoes a transformative process, enhancing and intensifying its flavours.” According to her, the four most important aspects which impact the quality of wine are temperature, humidity, vibration and light.
Here, Vlok shares a few golden nuggets for wine storage:
- Store wine at temperatures between 10°C and 18°C for red wine and between 7°C and 10°C for white wine.
- Keep your wine collections in a cool, dark place as prolonged exposure to sunlight can degrade and prematurely age the wine.
- Store wine bottles horizontally with the label facing up so that the cork doesn't dry out and shrink.
- If your collection is temperature controlled (in a wine fridge or cellar, for example), make sure this temperature stays even, even during load-shedding.
- For the serious collectors who store wine in a cellar below their house, make sure your cellar is flood-proof, particularly if you live in an area that’s vulnerable to flooding. Consider installing a pump or take other measures to protect your collection as flooding may damage labels or result in bottle breakages.
- Do not assume that your wine collection will automatically be covered by your home insurance. To make sure your wines are adequately covered, it’s best to consult an expert.
• WineX takes place from October 25-27 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 5pm-9pm each night. Tickets from R160 through Webtickets. For more information, visit Standard Bank’s website.
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