Cape Wine 2012 kicked off with a geselige Ghoema-Ghoema sokkie (relaxed cocktail party) at the Cape Town Breakwater this evening. Gangnam-style dancers in Roland Peens white hats and minors dressed as miners threw mini-breakdance shapes as invited guests crowded the Pinot Noir stand while the Pinotage precinct was deserted, confirming the height of the hill the local varietal has to climb.

Mediterranean blends were arguably the strongest suite with Eben Sadie’s Sequillo 2010 made from Siebritskloof grapes grown on the Paardeberg in the Swartland the most attractive wine while Johan Reyneke’s 2009 was the most exciting. The Sequilo is presented in a clear bottle with a busy label, looking for all intents and purposes like a rosé.

Dragging well punctuated wine events entrepreneur Jörg Pfützner and his new best friend New Orleans sommelier John Mitchell (below) by his eyebrows to the Pinotage precinct to taste the awesome Kanonkop 2010 soon reversed the fortunes for the varietal and by the time the ostrich burgers with blue cheese arrived, elbows needed to be deployed to enforce an exclusion zone around one’s person.

Hats off to WOSA for a super start to a week of wine and wine tourism shows. The only slip up was the lack of bottled water as the municipal stuff in jugs reeked of chlorine.