Wine specialist Bruce Nemet is our newest staff member at Michael’s Wine Cellar. Bruce joins our team this fall having managed a wine retail store in his home state of North Carolina for a number of years and armed with a degree in enology from UC Davis. Studying wine was one of his earliest passions, which continues as strong passion today.
Now semi-retired from a business he continues to own back in the Carolinas, Bruce decided to settle in Sarasota to enjoy the sunshine, beaches and the area’s vibrant cultural scene. We like to think part of culture is, of course, wine!
During the 1980s while working in the wine trade, Bruce was exposed to the (surprisingly at the time!) high quality of one of the world’s wine regions that we specialize in today in the wine shop – our South African wines. In fact, when coming to work at Michael’s Wine Cellar, Bruce was astonished and impressed to see the variety we inventory.
Now, just in time for our many South African themed events this month, we’ve asked Bruce to select just a few of his favorite South African wines available from Michael’s Wine Cellar and online through
www.michaelswinecellar.com.
[Interested in tasting some of these special South African wines this week? Join us this Saturday, 2-4 p.m. to taste 60+ wines at a special South African Wine Tasting. Admission is $10 per person. Click here for more details and reservations.]
Bruce’s South African Picks
South Africa has quite a recent history of winemaking, particularly since the end of Apartheid. In fact, one could say South Africa is undergoing a bit of enological revolution – biodynamic cultivation and sustainability (with a government certificate of approval for those wines that obtain it); an official study into vineyard terroir/varietal plantings; and an overall increase in wine quality and experimentation. It’s been exciting to see the tremendous efforts of today’s new generation of South African winemakers!
Graham Beck Wines
All Under $20!
The Robertson wine district is one of South Africa’s largest producers of wine in terms of quantity, but a handful of families have chosen quality over quantity. The Beck family established the Graham Beck winery in 1983 and their “Game Reserve” portfolio of varietals is one of the best values in varietal wines we carry at Michael’s Wine Cellar – all under $20 a bottle! In fact, the Graham Beck Brut NV (complete with a score of 87 from The Wine Advocate) sells for only $14.95! These wines represent some of the best values we offer from any wine region in the world. In addition to being some of Bruce’s top picks, Graham Beck Wines have been a favorite of Michael Klauber’s personal South Africa favorites for years.
MAN Family Wines
All under $10!
MAN Vintners fruit comes from a variety of areas throughout South Africa’s most important Coastal wine region, but the intent is consistent: value in varietal character. The three proprietors’ wives - Marie, Anette and Nicky - do deserve some credit, however. (Not the least having to do with their husbands being on the job most of the time!) Ever wonder how they came up with the name “MAN Vintners?” MAN was inspired by Marie (M), Anette (A) and Nicky (N).
At Michael’s Wine Cellar, we proudly carry the Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz from MAN Family Wines. All express a mouth-filling, well-balanced fruit forward style with the majority of wine maintained in stainless steel to preserve the freshness of the fruit and allow the wine to best be drunk in its youth. (The Chardonnay is 15% barrel fermented.)
In terms of value it doesn’t get much better than this!
Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Pinot Noir 2014 $42.95
Chardonnay 2014 $29.95
Tim Hamilton-Russell, a retired advertising executive, decided in 1975 to establish a winery in a new (and much colder) region of South Africa: the Cape South Coast region. The ocean breeze, called “The Doctor,” cools the climate enough to the point that Russell thought it would best suit the Burgundian varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
He was right! In fact, he went on to produce what was regarded then as the finest wines in South Africa! (Today there are over 15 wineries in the Walker Bay district, including two which were, incidentally, started by Hamilton Russel Vineyard winemakers who went off on their own.)
Both of these wines are very rich examples of one of the finest estates in South Africa, both earning 90+ points as scored by The Wine Advocate!
Michael and Terri Klauber, plus dozens of our Connoisseur Club Travelers, have enjoyed the great privilege of personally visiting these South African wineries over the years as part of our Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club journeys. If you are interested to traveling to Africa with us in the summer of 2017, click here to learn more about the special departures available through Admiral Travel International.
Wine specialist Bruce Nemet is our newest staff member at Michael’s Wine Cellar. Bruce joins our team this fall having managed a wine retail store in his home state of North Carolina for a number of years and armed with a degree in enology from UC Davis. Studying wine was one of his earliest passions, which continues as strong passion today.
Now semi-retired from a business he continues to own back in the Carolinas, Bruce decided to settle in Sarasota to enjoy the sunshine, beaches and the area’s vibrant cultural scene. We like to think part of culture is, of course, wine!
During the 1980s while working in the wine trade, Bruce was exposed to the (surprisingly at the time!) high quality of one of the world’s wine regions that we specialize in today in the wine shop – our South African wines. In fact, when coming to work at Michael’s Wine Cellar, Bruce was astonished and impressed to see the variety we inventory.
Now, just in time for our many South African themed events this month, we’ve asked Bruce to select just a few of his favorite South African wines available from Michael’s Wine Cellar and online through www.michaelswinecellar.com.
[Interested in tasting some of these special South African wines this week? Join us this Saturday, 2-4 p.m. to taste 60+ wines at a special South African Wine Tasting. Admission is $10 per person. Click here for more details and reservations.]
Bruce’s South African Picks
South Africa has quite a recent history of winemaking, particularly since the end of Apartheid. In fact, one could say South Africa is undergoing a bit of enological revolution – biodynamic cultivation and sustainability (with a government certificate of approval for those wines that obtain it); an official study into vineyard terroir/varietal plantings; and an overall increase in wine quality and experimentation. It’s been exciting to see the tremendous efforts of today’s new generation of South African winemakers!
Graham Beck Wines
All Under $20!
The Robertson wine district is one of South Africa’s largest producers of wine in terms of quantity, but a handful of families have chosen quality over quantity. The Beck family established the Graham Beck winery in 1983 and their “Game Reserve” portfolio of varietals is one of the best values in varietal wines we carry at Michael’s Wine Cellar – all under $20 a bottle! In fact, the Graham Beck Brut NV (complete with a score of 87 from The Wine Advocate) sells for only $14.95! These wines represent some of the best values we offer from any wine region in the world. In addition to being some of Bruce’s top picks, Graham Beck Wines have been a favorite of Michael Klauber’s personal South Africa favorites for years.
MAN Family Wines
All under $10!
MAN Vintners fruit comes from a variety of areas throughout South Africa’s most important Coastal wine region, but the intent is consistent: value in varietal character. The three proprietors’ wives - Marie, Anette and Nicky - do deserve some credit, however. (Not the least having to do with their husbands being on the job most of the time!) Ever wonder how they came up with the name “MAN Vintners?” MAN was inspired by Marie (M), Anette (A) and Nicky (N).
At Michael’s Wine Cellar, we proudly carry the Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz from MAN Family Wines. All express a mouth-filling, well-balanced fruit forward style with the majority of wine maintained in stainless steel to preserve the freshness of the fruit and allow the wine to best be drunk in its youth. (The Chardonnay is 15% barrel fermented.)
In terms of value it doesn’t get much better than this!
Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Pinot Noir 2014 $42.95
Chardonnay 2014 $29.95
Tim Hamilton-Russell, a retired advertising executive, decided in 1975 to establish a winery in a new (and much colder) region of South Africa: the Cape South Coast region. The ocean breeze, called “The Doctor,” cools the climate enough to the point that Russell thought it would best suit the Burgundian varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
He was right! In fact, he went on to produce what was regarded then as the finest wines in South Africa! (Today there are over 15 wineries in the Walker Bay district, including two which were, incidentally, started by Hamilton Russel Vineyard winemakers who went off on their own.)
Both of these wines are very rich examples of one of the finest estates in South Africa, both earning 90+ points as scored by The Wine Advocate!
Michael and Terri Klauber, plus dozens of our Connoisseur Club Travelers, have enjoyed the great privilege of personally visiting these South African wineries over the years as part of our Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club journeys. If you are interested to traveling to Africa with us in the summer of 2017, click here to learn more about the special departures available through Admiral Travel International.