The Revolution in motion (picture)

The official video of the 2011 Swartland Revolution is here. Made by the multi-talented and enthusiastic Frenchman, Sébastien Burel, who flew in for the weekend to capture the event of film.


He says, in his intro "probably the best wine related public event in the world. It is definitely the craziest, the funniest and also the most serious one, when it goes to the quality of the wines tasted during the weekend."


Enjoy!

A revolution in pictures, day 2

Mullineux Magic:

Beer break:

 Expert Opinion:

    

Bar Bar Black Sheep Festival Feast:

Swartland Independent Street Party:

Photos by Maree Louw, Naturallight Photography.
Lunch at Bar Bar Black Sheep.
Styled with the help of Cornelia Badenhorst, De Liefde.
For more pictures of the tastings and lunch etc visit Maree's blog, just click here for pictures from the Reuben's BBQ, click here.

Photos from the revolution - Day 1

They have arrived! The first of the official Swartland Revolution pictures, taken by Maree Louw.
We are so blessed to have so many amazing skills in our extended Swartland Family. You may see the men (and Andrea, deservedly so) on the posters and up on the stage, but behind every successful wine maker is a stylish wife.

Maree (Callie's wife) Louw took these pictures at this week's Revolution in Riebeek Kasteel.

Registration @ The Royal Hotel:

Quality First a tasting by Olivier Clape:

Reuben's BBQ Extravaganza:

Lucky for most, Maree didn't make it to 6 Degrees...

Tasting & Registration @ The Royal Hotel.
BBQ @ Bazaar.
Bazaar, styled by Cornelia Badenhorst, De Liefde with the help of various Swartland legends.
For more pictures of the tastings and lunch etc visit Maree's blog, just click here for pictures from the Reuben's BBQ, click here.

“Wine is bottled poetry.” Robert Louis Stevenson

We have received the list of wines that will be tasted during the seminars at this year's revolution. Exciting times, as we count down to 11.11.11 The Day of The Revolution. Today it is only 77 days away!

So, without further ado I give you, (most of) the wines you will taste at the 2011 Swartland Revolution:

Saturday morning tastings,

Mullineux Magic:

>Mullineux Schist Chenin Blanc
>Mullineux Granite Chenin Blanc
>Mullineux Viognier
>Mullineux Clairette blanche
>Mullineux White Blend

>Mullineux Granite Syrah

>Benchmark Granite Syrah
>Mullineux Schist Syrah
>Benchmark Schist Syrah

Expert Opinion:

Jamie's favourites:
>Le Soula Blanc (Cotes de Fenouillèdes, Roussillon)

>Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet Syrah (Northern Rhone)
>Adriana Occhipitini Frappato (Sicily)

Michael's favourites:
>2005 Chateau Beaucastel, chateauneuf du Pape
>2007 Domaine Mathieu, Cuvee Marquis Vignes Centenaires, Chateauneuf du Pape

>2008 Domaine Gayda, Chemin de Moscou, Brugairolles

Jorg's favourites:

>Matassa Blanc (Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon)
>Terroir al Limit L'Arbossar (Priorat)
>Niepoort Batuta (Douro)

The wines from Olivier Clape will be revealed a bit later.

A bottle of wine begs to be shared; I have never met a miserly wine lover. - Clifton Paul Fadiman

The final programme is out of the box!

With the raging success of the inaugural Swartland Revolution organisers have made 250 tickets available for this year’s Revolution that will take place on the weekend of 11 – 12 November 2011.

With guest feedback that included praise such as “the best wine event that I have ever attended”; “like Woodstock... but without the sex”; “world class performance” and “a revolution against boring wines, against boring events; this was a revolt against the plain and the sad, the straight and the narrow; it was simply a benchmarking of joie de vivre” most of last year’s attendees have already booked their place at this year’s event.

The programme for 2011 has just been finalised and is bigger (and even better) than in 2010;

Three tastings of benchmark wines:

- Eight wines from the local Mullineux Cellar;

- Olivier Clape presenting six of his wines from The Northern Rhone in France

- and nine wines, all personal favourites selected by London based wine writer Jamie Goode, ze German Sommelier Jorg Pfutzner and local kenner Michael Fridjhon.

The food will again be “simply superb” as noted by 2010 revolutionary:

- Celeb chef Reuben Riffel and his team are ready to braai up a storm once more. If last year’s BBQ was any indication we can expect mountains of perfectly prepared meat, salads to stun and fire grilled veggies that will impress even the most hard core carnivores.

- For Saturday lunch the team at Bar Bar Black Sheep will again prepare a truly local feast to mesmerise guests.

The event will conclude with The Swartland Independent Street Party. At R50 per person this tasting is more accessible and open to the public. With local producers showcasing their natural wines it will attract a whole new crowd as we take over the Riebeek Main Street and party into the sunset.

Tickets sold via Webtickets.

Poster Politics

It seems our poster has gotten a few people's attention.

In a new blog post on Grape.co.za Tim James talks about the (infamous) poster, this year's programme and the revolution in general. Says James, "The crucial element for the next Swartland Revolution party has been revealed - the poster. On which no comment is necessary, or desirable, or even possible...."

He also notes that he is "very pleased to say that they're having me along again - this year with the privilege of "moderating" the tasting that les Mullineux will be presenting of their brilliant wines."

and we will add no comment to this quote: "There's going to be a tasting of international wines presented by (at least) Michael Fridjhon and Jamie Goode (who I hope is going to discover in the Swartland at least a few of South Africa's top 100 wines that aren't in the list of the Top 100 SA Wines - at present he seems to be having some difficulty in seeing the difference between those two categories!)"

Read it all here.

Another enthusiastic blog comes from Ingrid Biesheuvel (or kungfukittypow on twitter) who is very excited to attend her first Revolution this year.

She says, "I have no words to describe it, other than to say … I kinda like it."

Read her blog post here.

On twitter some comments on the poster:

kitchenvixenSA Bianca du Plessis

@

@kungfukittypow Reminds me of the old Voelvry posters #retrocool!#swartlandrevolution is the hippest wine gang in t universe!

kungfukittypow Ingrid Biesheuvel

I'm speechless - The Swartland Revolution poster says it all.http://wp.me/p1s0DR-1s

beaumonthouse Beaumont House

The Swartland Revolution was allegedly THE best wine event of 2010 so get your booking in early for this November..http://bit.ly/kJcGOm

This should be Goode!

We have just received the delightful news that London based wine writer Jamie Goode will be joining us at the 2011 Swartland Revolution.

To quote his "about me" page; Jamie "is currently wine columnist with UK national newspaper The Sunday Express.

He won the 2007 Glenfiddich Wine Writer of the year award, and contributes regularly to a range of publications including World of Fine Wine, Wine Business International, Wines and Vines, Hong Kong Tatler, Sommelier Journal and Decanter. His first book, Wine Science, won the Glenfiddich Award for Drinks Book in 2006."

He will be conducting a tasting seminar at the revolution on Saturday 12 November alongside South African wine writer and expert Michael Fridjhon - they will each share four of their favourite wines with us.

More info on the wines to follow soon!

Just be sure to book your tickets before it is too late.