SA Cheese Festival Leaves Bad Taste

A letter from my American friend Zelda after a visit to the SA Cheese Festival

Dear Emile

What a pity we couldn’t see you during our recent visit to the Cape. Everything is looking a-for-away for the 2010 World Cup. The city is beautiful and the winelands were far more splendid than I expected. Of course, the stunning weather we had at the end of April helped!

Thanks for the suggestion to visit the Cheese Festival in Franschhoek, especially the tip to be there early. This was very handy as I had never expected to experience a food and wine event of this expansive nature in South Africa. The products were fantastic and I was especially impressed by the help and advice we received from those working behind the stands.

Your cheddar cheeses are especially brilliant!

Of course, we had a good look at the wine offerings, especially enjoying the Pinotage presence. Zach has not quite cottoned onto this Pinotage thing – despite your attempts to convert him – but I enjoyed the wines. Then again, I am no missus Robert Parker.

What did upset me was the loutish drunken behaviour of some people at the festival. We were quite disturbed as this was counter to what we had all been experiencing in the Cape up until our visit to the Cheese Festival.

How is it that wine is served to children obviously under the age of 18? (I believe this is your legal age. Ours is 21!) To see representatives from wineries pouring their wines to kids really left a sour taste and is no good advertisement for the South African wine industry.


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