South Africa is a winner again

No - this is not an overdue reference to South Africa successfully hosting the World Cup but refers to the popularity of the wines served at my daughter's wedding last weekend. As she had got engaged on the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town it seemed appropriate to serve South African wines on her big day.

Between the ceremony and wedding breakfast we drank copious amounts of Simonsig's Kaapse Vonkel 2008 vintage a wonderfully tasty good value "method cap classique" sparkling wine. Alongside was Windhoek's beer mainly drunk, naturally, by the blokes. I note from the latest edition of Off Licence News there is going to be a big marketing campaign shortly to promote Windhoek building on the success of it during the World Cup.

During the meal we had

• Obikwa chenin blanc '10
• Vrede en Lust rose '10
• The Wolftrap syrah mouvedre viognier '09

The toast was Graham Beck's sparkling rose brut. When I had chosen this particular wine I tweeted about it (I'm @grapefan) and got a response from the winemaker Pieter Ferreira (@bubblesferreira) wishing us all luck on the big day. The power of social media.

The wines were all really appreciated by the 100 or so guests and big thanks to SA Wines Online and Oddbins Tunbridge Wells for so ably supplying them and at a decent discount as well. I'm especially delighted for SAWOL as they have just been awarded Decanter's Specialist Merchant of the Year. Their customer service from the initial supply of a tasting case for the wedding through to the on-time delivery has been exemplary. And they are such nice people as well!