The world’s biggest diamond was found in the Cullinan mine outside Pretoria over a century ago but the Cullinans are still pulling out gems. This time in Johannesburg, at the annual Juliet Cullinan Wine Festival, which attracts the glitterati of the Jozi wine scene like controversial columnist David Bullard below, with a blonde and an interesting book.

David Bullard plus passing blonde and an interesting book

Juliet Cullinan is one of the bravest souls in SA wine, as clashing her festival with Rosh Hashana confirms. While urban legend insists that the Chosen Race control retail and distribution of wine in the City of Gold, gentiles put up a good showing this evening with dashing Derek Kilpin (pictured below) mobbed by stockbrokers as he poured Pol Roger, on special at R420 a bottle.

Derek Kilpin, king of Jozi bubbly

My standout wines were the Ondine whites from Ormonde, Thomas Webb’s Sutherland white blend from Thelema, Boela Gerber’s Groot Constantia white blend 2009, the Vergelegen white blend 2009 and Paul Cluver’s 2010 Sauvignon Blanc. The wooded Chenin Blanc from Rijk’s is amazing while George Pagan’s five year old Maderia is full of nuts and toffee. That’s George below explaining how Madeira and Ports are made to a Johannesburg beauty – a picture of educational commitment you simply don’t get in Cape Town, where the teachers are out on strike.

George Pagan and keen student

I’ll be back tomorrow to make a start on the reds like the 2007 Edgebaston Cabernet all my friends are buying.

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