French fizz producer Moët & Chandon is thinking of changing its name to Moët & Checkers after Checkers CEO Whitey Basson told Business Day his “seven stores in Nigeria had sold more Moët & Chandon champagne than all the group’s liquor stores in South Africa combined.” Whitey will soon have to change his nickname to Blanc de Blanc Basson.

The champagne corks were popping at the supermarket HQ after the news broke that profit for the year to June topped R5 billion. With 800 stores in the group and plans to open 600-800 shops in Nigeria in the near future, Checkers is the Holy Grail for SA wine producers.

Which makes the news that Checkers is to sponsor a Checkers Battle of die Berge wine festival next month so sweet. Sweeter even than Moët Nectar Impérial. While wine events pop up faster than porcini in Jonkershoek after rain, this is one with a difference. Open to producers on the Helderberg and Simonsberg of Stellenbosch, it offers producers a couple of the unbeatable deals consumers have come to expect from Checkers:

• Entrance is free;
• The best white, red and pocket friendly wines from each appellation will be promoted and sold in Checkers supermarkets;
• Entrants will be showcased to the public at the annual Checkers Regional Boerewors Championships at Muratie Wine Estate on the 14th of September 2013. No hefty stand charges, no trophies, black tie bashes with overcooked lamb shanks and boring speeches. Just honest wine at an honest price from the largest retailer in Africa.

Next Level wine festivals have arrived with a bang.