The first ever Cape Town 2008 Sexpo opened in the city today with over 120 exhibitors promoting health, sexuality and lifestyle products.
Recent Sexpo Sex Survey’s revealed the following:
- Capetonians are having more sex, exceeding the national average of 65% (Sexpo Sex Survey 2007) of couples who have sex at least once a week, by 7%.
- The Mother City is also the most welcoming of different sexual persuasions, with one of the largest openly accepted gay and lesbian communities in the country.
- Women ranked men’s hands, eyes and lips as attraction points.
Armed with this information I set off to the Cape Town Convention Centre to assess whether or not wine would feature at the Sexpo. A total of three wineries are represented: Beau Joubert, Cloof and Akkerdal.
Cloof Wines of Darling have two aptly named wines, The Very Sexy Shiraz and The Dark Side with labels unashamedly playing on the theme of romance and seduction: The Very Sexy Shiraz – “grown in vineyards described as ‘Shiraz Heaven’, this wine’s luscious fruit was accessorised with the very best French Oak, making a package that is so appealing and seductive that it could only be named after the experience one has when drinking it”.
The Dark Side – “succumb to the hedonistic allure of gorgeously sensuous Cabernet Sauvignon entwined with Shiraz and the spiced vanilla of French Oak”
Akkerdal owner/winemaker, Pieter Hanekom, offers a white and red wine under the Passion label. The white is a blend of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay with an alcohol of 12,5%. The red blend includes Syrah, Merlot, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Beau Joubert Wines are located in Stellenbosch and whilst they do not offer wines with suggestive labels , they do recognise the need to be “out there” in the market place introducing themselves to new consumers. It is a fact that there a various wine shows currently taking place, including the tourism Indaba in Durban, however, new markets do mean new customers and increased revenue.
Wine is a living substance and as such appeals to people at different times of the day, different moods, at mealtimes and yes, even to sex. It is as natural as sex itself and therefore makes a perfect , at times helpful, partner in the journey of relationships. Most vinophiles put thought and consideration into choosing the perfect wine for an occassion, while at the same time are happy to throw caution to the wind and experiment with a new and untried varietal.
The Sexpo is an opportunity to get your product out there and meet consumers that perhaps do not attend wine shows. Hopefully more producers will be ready to show and tell at next years event.