Cathy Marston Wine Course: Round 2

Cathy Marston is an acclaimed wine writer and educator. She's been in the wine industry longer than I've been allowed to drink and her knowledge of wine and the making of it is inspiring. But what I really like about her, is her passion for teaching people about wine.

She doesn't stick her nose up at those of us who are still learning, and doesn't snigger behind her glass when she hears that we have been known to partake in a bottle or two of good-old carbonated pink bubbly from a beer mug every so often.

Exhibit A

Cathy runs a course in Cape Town called Unwined. Over 6 weeks, Cathy takes you through a basic introduction to wine; from how to taste wine, to the difference between a chardonnay and a cabernet. It's really laid back and social and each week Cathy invites a different wine maker to take the class through his/her wines. On average we taste 6 wines per evening but sometimes more, depending on the farm.

This is my second round on the six week course. I decided to do it again because I had such a cool time last time, and because I really still want to learn more. The more wine you drink, the more your pallet learns. Your mind is full of flavour catalogues that it matches to the notes you're tasting in the wine. The more you can teach your pallet that the taste of buttered popcorn means chardonnay, the better- and the only way you're going to do that is by drinking.

On the first course I got to taste wines from Oak Valley, Iona, Kleine Zalze, Steenberg and Chabivin. Last week I attended my first lesson of Round 2 where we tasted wines from Groote Post.

We tasted their Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs as well as the wine makers own wine under his personal label, the Aurelia 2008 Chardonnay Pinot Noir MCC. Groote Post is out in Darling and their wines are characteristic of the colder climate, south-facing slopes and close proximity to the ocean. 

The vines are planted in decomposed granite soil and the irrigation forces the roots to dig down deep into the soil for water and nutrients-picking up flavour and character along the way. Nash and I were actually out there for a tasting a while ago and it is definitely worth the visit.

If like me, you're interested in wine but don't have any real knowledge and are keen to learn, I strongly suggest Cathy's course. The six week course only costs R750,00 and that includes all your course materials and tastings.

To join the next course, check out the website.

I'll be giving away one spot on the next course to a lucky reader! To win, email me and tell me: Why would you like to do the Cathy Marston Introduction To Wine course? Send your email to kissandmakeup.nat@gmail.com with "Cathy's Wine" in the subject line.