Yesterday was the first time that I experienced Journey’s End Vineyards, not having heard of it before. It was the home of the first ever Wine Car Boot sale of the members of the Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa (PIWOSA), eleven of the thirteen members offering their wines to taste and buy from the boots of unusual and largely vintage vehicles yesterday! Mulderbosch and Newton Johnson did not participate.

PIWOSA is a collective of like-minded, premium, independent wine producers from across the diverse wine regions of the Western Cape, says its website. It was started in January 2013, and is endorsed by Wines of South Africa (WOSA), Wine & Agriculture Ethical Trading Association (WIETA), and Independent Producers of Wine (IPW). Its goal is to jointly promote premium South African wines internationally.

Each of the 13 wine estates has its own microclimates, and unique sites and soils. The PIWOSA members share a ‘collective belief in the very high potential of our collective viticultural regions and their relevance in the greater global premium wine market‘, stated the introduction message by PIWOSA Chairman Rollo Gabb of Journey’s End in the event book. ‘As a united force we aim, over time, to help open up the world to premium South African wine consumption and to bring the spotlight very much onto the flourishing premium facet of the South African wine category’, he continued.

The Wine Car Boot tasting and sale is an UK initiative which was brought to the Winelands by Ruth Spivey. The event yesterday was intended to raise funds for the international marketing, one would presume, at an entrance fee of R150. The participating wineries were the following:

*   Ken Forrester Vineyards from Stellenbosch: with a range of hand-crafted, individually-made wines that complement a wide variety of food styles, and that offer value for money.

*   Paul Cluver from Elgin: first wine producers in cool climate Elgin. The family-owned wine estate uses traditional winemaking techniques to make ‘elegant, terroir-expressive wines‘.

*   Cederberg from Cederberg: their vineyards are the highest in the Cape Winelands, at over 1000 meters above sea level, with diverse soil types, unpolluted air, and crystal clear water. Owner and winemaker David Nieuwoudt makes wines that reflect the sandstone mountain terrain.

*   The Drift from the Overberg Highlands: very secretive in the notes about its wines!

*   Glenelly Estate from Stellenbosch: located in Ida’s Valley, and dates back to the 17th century. Owned by May de Lencquesaing, believing in its soil, micro climate, and potential for making quality wines.

*   Klein Constantia from Constantia: produces top wines that reflect the cool Constantia, and the world’s best dessert wines Vin de Constance.

*   Journey’s End in Stellenbosch: based in Sir Lowry’s Village, small family-focused family wine estate on Schapenberg Hills, producing quality, hand-crafted wines from its coastal vineyards planted on decomposed granite and quartz-based terroir.

*   Jordan in Stellenbosch: established 33 years ago, superb views, excellent award-winning wines. Clever play on words, in having decorated their truck with boots too!

*   Raats from Stellenbosch: 15 years old, and specializing in Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, producing them of outstanding quality, wishing to create the wines as international benchmarks.

*   The Winery of Good Hope in Stellenbosch: specializes in site-specific, natural wines, with old bush vine Chenin Blanc, high altitude Pinot Noir, and challenging Syrah and Syrah blends.

*   Mullineux & Leeu in Franschhoek: hand-crafted wines made by Chris and Andrea Mullineux. ‘One of the most celebrated wine brands in South Africa’.

The event had a number of side-events, such as a spitting competition, grape and spoon races, a water biscuit eating competition, barrel rolling, and three legless races! Two food trucks provided food to buy.

One can admire the wine estate owners, most of them present, for their energy, after having spent two days at the Nederburg Auction, and attending and hosting one function after the other for the next week, with Cape Wine 2015 taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from Tuesday to Thursday this week, the most extreme wine marketing week for our industry this year. PIWOSA will have stands at Cape Wine 2015.

Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa, Tel 0718 905 645   www.piwosa.com Twitter: @PIWOSA

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click