Charity wine tasting of first growths in Cape Town, Johannesburg

The black-tie events will take place in Johannesburg on Thursday 12 April at the Dining Library at the Saxon Hotel and in Cape Town at the Presidential Suite at the Taj on Saturday 14 April. The executive chefs have created extraordinary courses to accompany each rare wine. After launching in South Africa, the event will move to Hong Kong and Japan.

The non-profit club is donating all event proceeds to iThemba, a local charity that assists children who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, providing pre-schoolers with a safe and creative learning environment.

Raising South Africa's profile

"The event will raise the profile of the South African wine industry by fully establishing its presence in the international market and in the World of First Growths wine network," said The Wine Club spokesperson, Malene Meisner, co-owner of Fine Magazine and the founder of Vinovisitas, an exclusive wine networking site.

The Wine Club is an intercontinental private members club that organises the best and rarest wine tastings in the world for its members, who are connoisseurs, collectors and passionate wine people.

In addition to the array of internationally celebrated vintages, a number of hand-picked South African wines such as Vin de Constance and G.2010 will be showcased to celebrate the rich diversity and quality that the South African wine industry has to offer. Six of the wines to be tasted have received perfect scores in Robert Parker's 100-point wines.

"The high quality of wines, both from abroad and South Africa, will offer cultivated wine lovers a rare opportunity to be part of a series of tastings in an environment surrounded by international and local connoisseurs and collectors," said Meisner.

Guests will indulge in gourmet food and wine pairings, live entertainment, opportunities to network amongst wine-loving royalty and wine knowledge sharing with connoisseurs such as Rene Dehn, co-owner of Fine wine magazine and Romain Virion, owner of Rarest Wine - both members of The Wine Club. The event will be attended by the world's most prominent wine collectors, including the owner of the third largest wine collection in Europe, with special guests jetting in from France and Italy to attend this first-ever type of tasting.

Extraordinary wines

The Cape Town wine list* includes Château Pétrus 1961, Château Lafite 1996, Château La Mission Haut-Brion 1998, Château Margaux 1998, Château Cheval Blanc 1993, Château Pavie 1998, Gaja Sperss 1994, Dal Forno 2004, Sassicaia 1996, Pingus 1999, Contador 2005, El Pison 2003, Penfolds Grange 1998, The Armagh 2005, Torbreck 1999, Screaming Eagle 2007, Abreu 2004, Colgin 2007, G.2010. Champagnes include Cristal, Krug, Dom Pérignon; and sweet wines Château d'Yquem and Vin de Constance.

The Johannesburg wine list* includes Château Latour 1961, Château Haut-Brion 2001, Château Mouton Rothschild 1999, Château Ausone 1993, Château Lafleur 2000, Château Le Pin 1993, Masseto 2006, Ornellaia 1999, Guiseppe Quintarelli 2000, Vega Sicilia 1998, Aalto PS 2003, Clos Erasmus 2005, Clarendon Hills Astralis 1998, Greenock 2003, Three Rivers/Chris Ringland 1995, Harlan Estate 2004, Heitz Martha's Vineyard, Sine Qua Non 2003, G.2010. Champagnes include Cristal, Krug, Dom Pérignon; and sweet wines Château d'Yquem and Vin de Constance.

For more information, email az.oc.ylnoetivniyb@sgnikoob.

*vintages can change due to bad bottles.