“The reason for hosting a show of this kind – and the reason that Rand Merchant Bank has been its headline sponsor since its inception – is to put the country’s finest producers and the region’s true wine enthusiasts into the same space,” said show founder and international wine judge Michael Fridjhon. “By reducing the number of evenings at which the winemakers are required be in attendance we make it possible for them to be present for the entire show. This in turn means that we’ve narrowed the focus by creating an environment in which wine consumers can actually engage with the people who make the wines. Obviously this means we’ve had to restrict the number of exhibitors as well as the number of visitors – all in order to ensure that the wine enthusiasts get quality time with quality producers.”    

This show upgrade comes with a venue change within the CTICC and with a new look and feel to the exhibition space. “Some of the décor changes implemented in the past couple of years have been taken a step further,” says Janice Fridjhon, who heads the event management team. “With restricted space for visitors there will also be a smaller allocation of the Early Bird discounted admission tickets. We obviously want to encourage the wine clubs and the serious students of wine to take advantage of this arrangement without making WineX just another night out,” she said.    

As in the past, WineX visitors can stock up on exhibitor wines at competitive prices via Shop@Show.  For those too busy to make it to the wine farms, this facility offers a convenient one-stop-shop alternative and includes a delivery to your door.   The annual Best Wines on Show ballot, with great prizes attached, adds to the fun of a wonderful wine evening in the city.  

Show details:

*Dates: 19 and 20 August – Two days only!   

*Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)    

*Time: 5pm to 9pm daily    

*Tickets and Bookings: Early Bird R90 for all tickets booked by Sunday 15 August .  Thereafter and at the door: Thursday night R100 and Friday night R120.   

Includes tasting glass and unlimited tastings.    

Computicket bookings open. Telephone 083 915 8000 or book online at www.computicket.com.   

Special discount for group bookings (10 tickets or more for Thursday night only) booked via the organisers: telephone 073 265 3094.   

*Exhibitors: A full list of exhibitors will be available on www.winex.co.za; festival guide and list of wines available from 1 August.   

*Parking: Ample parking available at the CTICC.    

*Event queries:  Telephone: 011- 482 5936; Email: alex@outsorceress.co.za; winex@outsorceress.co.za   

*Website:  www.winex.co.za