Tomorrow's stars

This week the winemakers and marketers of the Cape took over the CTICC for Cape Wine 2012.
Organised by WOSA (Wines of South Africa) the aim of the event is to showcase the best of SA's wines to journalists and buyers from all over the world.

The Swartland Independent took over the back corner of the exhibition hall in true Swartland style and were very well received.

On Thursday morning there was a tasting entitled "tomorrow's stars" and it features two Swartland Independent members - Callie Louw from Porseleinberg and Craig Hawkins from Lammershoek.

Harry Haddon made these videos about the respective farms as an introduction and I think they give a very good view of the lovely Swartland from two different hills.

We hope this little check in on the region will make it easier to count down the next 42 days to the Revolution...

Experts with opinions

Our Experts have been confirmed. Hendrik Thoma, German Master Sommelier and Neil Beckett, Editor of The World of Fine Wine, will each share 3 of their all time favourite wines during the Expert Opinion Tasting on Saturday morning.

The wines will be revealed soon, but I can tell you there are four French, one Portugese and one German gem...

Watch this space.

Hendrik Thoma

Neil Beckett

in record time

Tickets for the 2012 Revolution sold out within 52 hours, we are very humbled by the support and excitement.


Those who still wish to join in the revolutionary spirit can join us for the Swartland Independent Street Party - an open event where you can taste all 16 Swartland Independent members' wines.


Tickets for the tasting (including a tasting glass, all the wines and live entertainment) are R100 per person and on sale via webtickets or can be bought on the day.

Wild Wild Swartland...

Jo at TwoDesign has outdone herself again this year with another great poster, wilder than ever!

Programme Update

Please note tickets are not yet available and the current list of email address (mostly revolutionaries from previous years) will be THE FIRST to know when they DO go on sale. Our next meeting is on May 18th at which point I will be able to give some more information on ticket sales.

For now, we have confirmed a few key aspects of the programme, while others will be announced in the build up.

What we can tell you, to make sure you will want a ticket, is this:

Friday afternoon’s Quality First Tasting will feature wines by legendary father and son team Alain and Maxime Graillot – another inspiring Rhȏne tasting to look forward to.

There will once again be a BBQ extravaganza on Friday night with more meat than you can eat, LOTS of wine (this year specially produced for the braai), music to get you dancing and some unique Swartland gees!

The popular Babbelas Burger and coffee will get you going on Saturday morning, before you sit down for a tasting of 8 Swartland wines (two each by AA Badenhorst Family Wines, Porseleinberg Wines, Mullineux Family Wines and Sadie Family Wines) selected to showcase the different terroirs from the various Mountains and Hills of the appellation.

After a beer break we will once again have Expert Opinion, where three kenners will each share two inspiring wines.

Lunch this year will be prepared and hosted by a team of Revolutionary Moms – headed by Adi’s mom Judy Badenhorst (who needs no introduction to the gourmet Cape food scene) and harvesting the talents of Ena Louw (who regularly caters for the greater Freestate region with hearty meals that leave you physically and mentally satisfied); Mrs Sadie Snr (who is Vredenburg’s most respected Tuisnywerheid Tannie) and Anita Rock – Chris’s mom - (who officially makes The Best Lemon Meringue Pie in Gauteng!)

There will also be another auction and as always the ever growing Swartland Independent Street Party (there will be more space to lift your drinking arm this year, we promise!)

More updates will be added as they get confirmed. watch this space!

SR2012 it starts here!

Next week we will have our first meeting for 2012 and the ball for the third Swartland Revolution will get rolling!

Ticket sales should open by the end of March. If you would like to be informed once that happens, follow us on twitter or send a mail to swartlandrevolution@gmail.com.

The event will take place on 9 & 10 November this year. Not as snappy a date as 11.11.11 but there is something about 9-10.11.12 also...

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!