The sub-prime mortgage meltdown has yet to make it to Franschhoek judging by the party Investec Private Bank were throwing today on the lawn below the Madonna of Franschhoek statute aka the Huguenot memorial. Nedbank played hosts to the Cap Classique & Champagne Festival last year in a couple of plastic marquees downtown by the Spar. The verdict on the venue change this year: much better.

Cooler and with more elbowroom, the festival confirms that conspicuous consumption is alive and well in SA. An entry charge of R150 bought you a booklet, a glass and ten tasting tickets which don’t take you very far if you favour French fizz. Laurent-Perrier Brut was 3 tickets a (half) glass while Moët rosé was 4. Which is the price you pay for drinking labels. Much better off sampling the 2005 Green Man Blanc de Blanc from Karen and John Loubser who grow the grapes out in Robertson. The Green Man is the Pan archetype of Celtic mythology and refers to the green hue of fresh young Chardonnay. Karen comments gnomically that mythology plays a big part in the winemaking.

Bouncy Ross Gower was showing off a fruity 2005 Pinot Noir fizz that called out for Margot Janse’s designer mini Bunny Chow for accompaniment while Graham Beck’s bog standard Brut NV shows just how high winemaker Pieter Ferreira has raised the bar for local fizz. There was a zero sulphur bubbly from Villiera and a Pinotage Brut rosé from Simonsig. Conspicuous by its absence was the excellent Comtesse Alexia Champagne released by Woolworths at the Cape Grace on Thursday night as well as a new R325 a bottle bubbly from Constantia Uitsig.

A maiden vintage with no track record, it would have been most interesting to compare it to the R195/bottle Alexia and the R148/bottle Brut Tradition from Tribaut being poured with much gusto by Jean-Philippe Colmant, barefoot. Who nearly collected a slap from a Franschhoek Grand Dame when he asked if her usual tipple was brandy and coke.

Can a local newcomer bubbly really be worth double the price of the French stuff? Alas, punters were unable to taste for themselves and will have to rely on the usual regurgitated press releases that pass for wine commentatry in some organs. Pendock uncorked will attempt to source a bottle and supply an independent opinion.