PRIVATE AND CORPORATE WINE TASTING EVENTS

Looking for a new way to entertain friends and family? Searching for innovative marketing ideas? We offer wine tasting events to fit every occasion.

Private parties to celebrate a holiday or birthday, bridal showers, a new twist on girls’ night out, a special touch for your next dinner party, retail store events, not-for-profit events, corporate team-building events, Christmas parties  and more.

We will travel to your location or you can host your event at venue of your choice.

Pair your wines with cupcakes or cheese or chocolates, or consider appetizers or dinner made on site by a catering company, host venue. We will take care of the details for you.

We will customize the event to fit your specific needs.

Everything you need to make your event a success is provided –wine specialists, wine, glassware, tasting sheets, wine crackers and any other special touches required.

Wine Tastings

While WINE is happy to create a customized event for your private wine tasting, here are some ideas to guide you. Remember, your imagination is the only limit.

§  The ABCs of Wine – taste 6 of the principal grape varieties, red and white.

§  Bubble Ballet – explore the world’s sparkling wines, including those from South Africa wine valleys and of course, champagne from France.

§  Big Reds – taste some of the world’s biggest red wines, including Shiraz, zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon as well as red blends.

§  Wines of South Africa – taste some of the best of what the Stellenbosch and Paarl has to offer.

§  Organics & Bio dynamics – discover some wonderful wines being grown by alternative methods.

§  Wine by Variety – choose a grape variety and explore its different expressions from around the world.

§  Wine & Cheese – allow us to choose a selection of cheese and wines to please your palate.

§  Wine & Chocolate – learn how wine and chocolate can be paired to tantalize your taste buds.

§  Wine & Cupcakes – taste cupcakes flavored wines and pair your favorite cupcake flavor with your favorite wine. Best of both worlds.

  

*Any wine tasting can be customized to include wine games. Whether to promote corporate team-building, reinforce learning or just for some competitive fun, DWINE WINES has the perfect party games for your event.

For any inquiries: |call: +267-72693690 | email: dwinewines@gmail.com| Facebook: Dwine Wines| Twitter: Dwine_wines|

                          Not ALL SPARKLING WINE IS CHAMPAGNE!!

With a loud pop, a cork flies into the air, people duck, scream, and laugh as the bubbles start rolling out of the bottle. The clinking of glasses fills the room as a sparkling fountain of fizz fills each glass for a toast.  Now, you may wonder, ìIs this really Champagne, or is this Sparkling Wine?

That question probably doesn’t occur to most party-goers at the time they’re enjoying their hosts ‘bubbly’.  However, there is some thought by most hosts about the difference between champagne and sparkling wine. You may not change your opinion about whether to serve champagne or sparkling wine, but as a host, you will at least be able to make an informed decision.  Let’s see what the difference is.

Champagne

Even though many people use this name to refer to every type of sparkling alcoholic beverage, true Champagne actually hails from a region in France named, yes, Champagne.

The region of Champagne in France has become so popular with their sparkling wine making techniques that many producers have tried to duplicate them.  However, these knock-offs never live up to the name. It’s easy to understand since the French have been producing Champagne in the Champagne region since the early 1700ís.

With Champagne, the wine is actually bottled before it is completely fermented. The fermentation process in the bottle produces carbon dioxide, thus adding the bubble to the bubbly.

Sparkling Wine

Sparkling Wine is not fermented in the bottle, but instead is injected with high levels of carbon dioxide during the bottling process. Because of this injecting of the carbon dioxide, Sparkling Wine usually has a higher concentration of bubbles, offering a more dramatic ‘pop’ when the cork is removed. To the well trained palate, the mechanically infused bubbles can offer a slightly mechanical taste.

Another difference between the two beverages is the origin of the grapes. Just as in traditional wine, the region and conditions in which the grapes were grown influence the final product. The grapes used in Sparkling Wine usually result in a much lighter consistency than Champagne.

Still want to learn more about the difference between the two bubbly beverages?  Challenge yourself to a taste test!  Buy a bottle of Champagne and a bottle of Sparkling Wine. Taste the two side-by-side and you’ll begin to notice subtle differences. Chances are you will notice some nuances, but not a lot on the first try.  Invite your friends to join you.  It’s fun to compare notes to see how sophisticated your taste buds can be.

In the future, when someone pops the cork on a bottle of bubbly, you will have the information you need to discern whether that bottle is Sparkling Wine or if it came from the Champagne region and is truly Champagne. That information probably won’t matter as you and your fellow party-goers are toasting and enjoying the bubbly, but it’s just another fun thing to know about wine. So kindly decist from calling all sparkling wine "Champagne". Dwine Wines takes this personal!!! Seriously NOW (frowns).

email us for your wine orders; dwinewines@gmail.com.

Thanks fo taking time and reading our posts.

Happy commenting,

Dwine Team :)

HOW TO READ A WINE LIST

TAKE YOUR TIME AND MAKE THE BEST CHOICES !!

If you relax and don’t stress out over it, a restaurant wine list can be easy, even fun, to read. Even the most complicated wine list can be easily read when you know how most are organized. The wine list or ‘menu’ is typically broken down into sections, and possibly by classifications of wine.

No matter how the wine list is organized, there should be basic points covered, such as an item number, name of the wine, vintage and sometimes a brief description of how the wine tastes.

Let’s take a look at some of the possible ways in which a wine list can be organized to help familiarize you with typical wine lists.

Standard Categorization

A typical categorization of wines on a wine list is by type; Champagne, sparkling wine, white wines, red wines, and dessert wines. Sometimes the reds and whites are divided between sweet and dry, but this isn’t always the case.

Further subdivisions could be by country or region, especially as applied to red and white wines. You may see, for instance, classifications for Italy, Germany, France, California, New Zealand, Washington State, or South Africa (Botswana doesn't make wines).

Progressive Lists

While every wine list is categorized in some form, there are modern, wine-conscious restaurants which display their wines with more of a neo-style list. This type of wine list may have wines within a category additionally listed in order of specific characteristics of the wine, generally from lightest to boldest.

Categories of wines by variety or region may be excluded entirely by a restaurant in favor of a list developed solely by taste and characteristics. You will see categories with descriptors suggesting a wine is “Fresh and Crisp” or “Full-bodied and Serious.”

Wine List Basics

If a restaurant prides itself on their wines, they will more likely provide more information about the wine they have in their cellars. These menus will have a bin number, also called an item number, which refers to the location of the bottle of wine in the cellar. This information is more for the waiter than for you, but it does look very fancy, indeed, conjuring up images of a big, dark wine cellar full of classic vintage wines (as was the case when i was at the wine estate restaurants in Stellenbosch) .

Every wine list should include the name of each wine. This is not to be confused with the different varieties of wine. This is the name of the vineyard where the grapes are grown and the wine is bottled. This could be as simple as Coturri, or as elegant as Chateau Montelena. By displaying the name of the wine, you know exactly which winery is represented by each wine.

The vintage tells you which type of grape is used in making the wine. If the wine is a blend of several years, the menu may denote a NV, for non-vintage. Other notations are VV, which means the wine vintages change each year. Descriptions are usually only present if there are fewer wines on the menu, but you may find a couple descriptors after the variety of wine even on longer wine lists.

As you can see, a wine list or menu offers basic information to help you make your decision. Recognizing how a wine list is organized should save you some distress and you should now be feeling a bit more relaxed. Next time you go to a nice restaurant, ask to see the wine list and have fun ordering!

or simply ask for the Dwine wine list and enjoy the best wines. You wont regret it :)

Pssst, would you like to join our wine club??

its got exciting benefits, email us for more details: dwinewines@gmail.com

Happy commenting!

TYPES OF WINE – WHAT TICKLES YOUR FANCY??

Know Your Reds and Whites 

Red and white are only the beginning of the types of different wines. This initial classification of wine is based only on the color of the wine and has absolutely nothing to do with the types of grapes used to make the wines.  It also has nothing to do with the different combinations of ingredients, the various vintage years, or even the quality of the wine, or the time the wine is aged.

Let’s take a look at some of the different types of wines that may be familiar to you, and some you may not have been introduced to as yet.

Reds

Red wines are made with either a red or black variety of grape. Just as there are different types of citrus such as tangerines, grapefruit, clementine, or naval oranges, which all have different properties; grapes also have a wide variety of taste and color. These different grapes are then crushed and some even blended into different combinations in order to make the various types of red wine.

Shiraz, also known as Syrah by European vintners, is a hearty red wine with intense, spicy undertones as well as an extremely long finish on the palate.

Merlot is usually considered an ìintroductoryî wine as it has a smoother texture and is less rough on the palate.

Cabernet Sauvignon (our personal favorite- Dwine wines team) is probably the world’s best known variety and is brimming with flavors of black currant when still young in age and rolls into more of an oak flavor due to the barrels in which it is aged.

Pinot Noir is a light colored and flavored wine that is rarely blended.

Zinfandel is a highly blended wine that makes the greatest variety of wines, from a light pink blush to the deep, ruby reds.

A few reds that you may not be aware of are the Barbara, used widely for the production of rich cooking wines and tomato sauces; the Brunello, which is only permitted for use in making the bold and rare Tuscan wine, Brunello Di Montaleino; Gamay which is a wine meant to be drunk shortly after bottling for a crisp, fruity taste; and Tempranillo which is a full-bodied red wine, usually blended in with Grenache to develop the flavor.

Whites

Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are undoubtedly the two most popular grape varieties when it comes to white wines. These are usually the go-to wines for most white wine drinkers. Chardonnay has a velvety citrus flavor, while Pinot Gris has a bit more acidic bite as a young wine.

Sauvignon Blanc is another popular white wine, which is drier and less fruity than many of the other white wines, but still offers a fresh finish.

Semillon is an interesting white wine with more of a fig-like character. Semillon is usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc to help increase the fullness of the wine.

Muscat, which has no resemblance to muskadet wine, but common to the name, provides an extremely musky aroma.

Riesling, which is originally from the regions of Germany, boasts a dry yet sweet flavor with a good bit of acid to round out this ìpleases everyoneî wine.

This is a short list of the wide variety of wines. Of course, you want to find a wine that you love and can always enjoy.  However, it is good to experiment with different wines to develop your palate and explore new wines. A fun way to do this is to host or attend a wine tasting party.  If you have a local wine shop, ask about wine tastings they host.  Or, grab a friend and a new bottle of wine and imagine the fun and possibilities!

Now inbox us your order of your favorite wine- minimum quantity is 6 bottles ( a case of wine).

Ppssssttt…. Did you know that we also have a wine club coming up?

Benefits; get 12 bottles of wine delivered at your door step every two months and of cause a big discount at our cool wine tasting events.

happy commenting :)

Wine regards,

The Dwine Wines Team

how to properly serve sparkling wine at a gathering

Serving sparkling wine is a tradition that many families enjoy during special occasions and celebrations. When the family gathers, many may consider breaking out that bottle of sparkling wine they’ve been saving for a happy celebration. However, there’s more to serving wine to your guests than just popping the cork and pouring away. Here are a few tips to help you properly serve sparkling wine at your next get-together or special event.

Chill
You don’t want to serve sparkling wine room temperature. Chilling your sparkling wine well in advance is essential for any event. The easiest way to chill a bottle of sparkling wine is by using a bucket of ice and some water, and submerge the wine bottle in the bucket at least thirty minutes before the event. This will ensure that it is the proper temperature for serving to your guests.

Opening
Although many think of popping the cork off of the bottle as the “exciting” part of drinking sparkling wine, it is not always the safest. Corks can fly off and break items, or worse yet, pelt one of your party guests. Controlling the cork and opening it slowly can result in a much safer result. Remove the foil, but keep the wire cage on the cork. Place your thumb over the cork to keep it from flying off, and loosen the wire cage by slowly unscrewing it. Twist the cork and bottle in opposite directions in order to ease the cork out and avoid the dangerous “popping” of the cork upon opening.

Serve
Make sure that your sparkling wine is properly chilled before serving, and make sure it stays that way even after the first glasses are poured. Pour approximately two inches of wine per guest, and place a stopper over the bottle when done. Placing the wine back into the ice bucket is a great way to keep the remaining wine chilled and ready for refills when the guests are ready.

If you’re serving a large number of guests, be sure to have additional bottles of sparkling wine available once the first bottle is gone. It may be a great idea to have the others chilling while the first bottle is being emptied in order to have another few bottles ready to go once the guests start drinking up. Being a well-prepared host or hostess comes a long way in providing the ultimate in party planning and preparation!

hey, kindly use empty wine bottles as candle holders! With this load shedding, im sure you need a candle holder.

Reuse, Recycle... Dwine Team support green environments

Wine Regards,

The Dwine Team

"wine the Dwine Way"

WINE ETIQUETTE: BRING YOU OWN WINE TO A RESTAURANT

While it is not often a known practice, in some countries, you are actually allowed to bring your own wine to a restaurant. Whether you have a special wine you want to enjoy, or have a bottle from a special occasion, many countries such as South Africa and most states in USA will allow you the opportunity to bust open that bottle of wine in their own establishment.

However, along with this privilege also comes responsibility and etiquette. There is specific etiquette that revolves around bringing your own alcohol to a restaurant.

First, don’t bring an inexpensive bottle of wine from the local liquor store down the street. Understand that many restaurants may already have an expansive list of wines ranging from affordable to off-the-charts “special,” and you may likely find something that you will enjoy just as much as a bottle or glass of your every day Merlot. In many restaurants, there is a corking fee, which is the cost of them opening up your bottle of wine. In some cases, this fee may be extremely high and not worth the desire of having your own bottle served by the server or sommelier. Instead of focusing on a budget bottle of wine, only bring in wines that are aged or special. A bottle of wine from your wedding night to drink on your tenth anniversary is perfectly acceptable to bring to a restaurant. That bottle of Tassenburg from Liquarama is not.

Second, try and bring the wine in at an appropriate temperature. While your server or sommelier can attempt to chill the wine for you, it is best if you bring it in as close to its serving temperature as possible. This will not only save time and energy for your server or sommelier, but will also ensure a better tasting glass of wine.

Third, don’t be afraid to share a glass with your server or sommelier, especially if you’re saluting a special occasion. Those this is not expected, it is always nice and very considerate to share your special event with those around you. If the sommelier or server politely refuses the drink, let it go and enjoy the glass yourself. Some individuals have very particular favorites when it comes to their wines, while others will want to enjoy a sip of a good aged wine or celebratory champagne.

Fourth, tip your sommelier or server well, and according to the retail value of the bottle of wine you brought. Understand that you may already have a corking fee on top of this, so depending on the bottle of wine and the significance it holds for you and your table, you may be better off just enjoying it in the comfort of your own home.

special thanks to Wine Club Experts.

Wine Regards,

The Dwine Wine Team