Durban – The city’s glitterati and wine-lovers swilled their glasses, nosed the contents and raised a toast to the opening of the 34th Mercury Wine Week on Wednesday night.

KZN’s premier wine-tasting show is under way in the Sun Coast marquee, beautifully decked out in black and cream with splashes of silver.

Hundreds of wines from more than 80 exhibitors kept visitors enthralled. Many people started their evening comparing the range of sparkling wines and méthode cap classiques including the Haute Cabrière Belle Rose, Klein Constantia Brut MCC and the House of JC Le Roux range.

Among the talking points were the differences between the coffee pinotages offered by KWV-owned Café Culture and the powerful mocha smoothness from Diemersfontein.

Firm favourite Raka, with its range from cabernet sauvignon to malbec, merlot, mourvèdre, shiraz, pinotage and sangiovese (and that’s just their red wines), was a delight to the senses.

Taking a break between wines, visitors also sampled the cheeses on display from Fairview, Checkers and La Petite Cheese; olives from Midlands-based Romesco Olives and the new pestos developed by local company, Foodies.