Page 18 - Designing Ways 258

TRADE WINDS

Blend the best at

Spier’s new

Riverhouse

ver wanted to discover a
hidden talent? Or challenge
Eyour workmates with a little
competitive fun? Maybe your book club
or golfing crew fancy ditching the books
and clubs and heading straight to the
wine instead? Now’s your chance to try
out an utterly unique group experience!
Visit the Riverhouse at Spier Wine Farm
– where budding winemakers and lovers
of art embark on a collective journey into
creativity.
Led by one of Spier’s award-winning
winemakers, guests are invited to create
an original tasting blend, and even test
their design skills by making their own
wine label. The best blend of the evening
will be rewarded, with the winners taking
home bragging rights.
The recently opened Riverhouse is
decked out with 418 Creative Block
artworks from emerging and established
artists. Creative Block, a project by
Spier Arts Trust, invites artists to create
artworks on a small blank canvas, which considerable exposure by connecting with this process and the art of blending wine,
are submitted for critique, with the best art collectors around the world. Spier named its blended wine range after
being purchased for resale to corporate Collectors choose a number of blocks the project – the award-winning Creative
patrons and the general public. The project and hang them together, building an Block 2, 3 and 5 wines.
offers artists a vital revenue stream, and impactful, collective artwork that has the For winemakers, wine blending
the opportunity to expand their creativity potential to be greater than the sum of combines the best qualities of individual
and artistic territory, while gaining its parts. Because of the synergy between wines to create something completely
new – just like Spier’s Creative Block
blends. For guests to the Riverhouse,
which has already hosted three sold-out
events, wine blending is an opportunity to
flex those impressive winemaker muscles.
Spier Cellar Master Johan Jordaan says:
“Crafting a memorable blend is as much
about being creative as it is about being
meticulous. The process is so exciting for
us winemakers because it is exploratory,
bold and unpredictable. But the results
are always worth it.”
Groups of 8 to 30 people can gather
together to enjoy each other’s company,
creative art, delicious platters and great
wine. Taste, blend – get creative. Both the
featured wines and Creative Blocks on
display can be purchased at the venue. dw

www.spier.co.za

18 Issue 258 • dw