RMB WineX, Best Wines on Show awards

Following another successful RMB WineX Sandton, visitors have cast their votes in deciding on the Best Wines on Show. This year saw the introduction of the RMB WineX app and a parallel digital ballot in association with Samsung Electronics. Votes were cast on Galaxy tablets stationed in the wine hall and via show visitors' smartphones and mobile devices.

Vrede en Lust Wine Estate

The Samsung Best Wine on Show leader board added the excitement of a Wall Street price board to the festive ambience: the audited results confirm that Gauteng is keen on a diverse range of wine styles and varieties, as follows:

Best Red Wine on Show

1st place: Vrede en Lust Boet Erasmus 2009 (Bordeaux style blend)
Runner up: De Toren Fusion V 2010 (Bordeaux style blend)

The other eight wines making the top ten best red wine listings are (in alphabetical order according to producer): Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2009, Café Culture Coffee Pinotage 2011, Diemersfontein Pinotage 2012, Morgenster 2009, Raka Quinary 2008, Rupert & Rothschild Classique 2010, Vrede en Lust Mocholate 2012 and Vrede en Lust Syrah 2009.

Best White Wine on Show

(includes rosés and sparkling wines)
1st place: Lynx Viognier 2012
Runner up: Vrede en Lust Barrique 2011 (Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend)

The other eight wines making the top ten best white wine listings are (in alphabetical order according to producer): Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2010, Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2012, Raka Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Robertson Winery Sparkling Sweet Wine NV, Vrede en Lust Casey's Ridge Viognier 2011, Vrede en Lust Jess Dry Rosé 2012 and Vrede en Lust Casey's Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2011.

Commenting on this year's poll, RMB WineX director Michael Fridjhon said, "This year's results show that some of the country's most successful winemakers were also very proficient at understanding the digital technology to drive consumer interest in their products. The diversity of the results also reveals the breadth of the show's appeal among Gauteng wine consumers."

Top sales

Shop@Show, facilitated by Johannesburg retailer Norman Goodfellows offered a cost-effective, convenient and liquor-legislation compliant means of purchasing wines at the show. The repeat of 2011's Great Deals campaign - supported this year by more than 20% of exhibitors offering additional discounts on selected wines - contributed to just short of R3.1 million in wine sales generated over the three day show. Raka was the top selling exhibitor by both volume and value with the Raka Quinary 2008.

Charities benefited

WineX is a supporter of several charities and conservation projects: Rotary Club of Benoni Aurora raises substantial funds through the payment for the stock distribution at the show and proceeds raised from exhibitor wine donations. Annually, the show donates all proceeds raised through the coin-operated breathalysers to the Pebble Project. Additionally, it supports the promotion of RAGE (Rhino Action Group Effort) and WWF's Biodiversity and Wine Initiative.

RMB WineX Cape Town Select takes place in the CTICC Ballroom 29-30 November 2012.