Platter 5 Star Tasting, Stockholm – February 2017
 

On the 6th of February WOSA hosted the second Platter 5 Star tasting in Stockholm. The weather was dreadful and rough winds blew all over the city. I must confess that I had some worries as to whether this weather would affect the number of guests visiting the tasting. But I shouldn’t have worried at all. Even though the wind almost blew us off the roof, we had over 40 distinguished guests walking through the doors. Amongst our visitors we had media from the top magazines, sommeliers from Michelin star restaurants and also our new buyer from Systembolaget, Nikita Nordström. Even the Ambassador H. E. Faith Radebe paid us a visit and tasted through the range of wines.

Most of the comments about the wines were about the freshness and elegance shown in both whites and reds and the fact that the use of oak is more balanced than before. Talking to our guests it was clear that there is a growing interest in cooler climate styles as well as blends with a southern Rhône influence. I had many questions regarding lower alcohols and there seems to be an overall excitement around Cinsaut and Grenache. We also got complimented on the selection of wines, which showed both new and more traditional wine styles and producers, which was exactly what we wanted to achieve.

The format of having a self-pour tasting was very successful and all the visitors really appreciated the fact that they could taste the wines at their own speed without having importers asking for comments at the same time. One of Sweden´s leading wine magazines, Livets Goda, conducted an interview with me just before the tasting, which resulted in a three-page article about WOSA and the South African wine industry. The reporter also added a tasting of her favourite South African wines available in the Swedish market as well as a special article about Mullineux.


 
 
- Maja Berthas, WOSA Market Manager - Sweden