‘Wine is bottled poetry’, to quote Robert Louis Stevenson, while Ernest Hemmingway called wine ‘the most civilized thing in the world’.  From sacrament to intoxicant, the much loved nectar of the grapes has and still continues to play a vital part in our unfolding story.  In the Western Cape, a region world famous for its wine estates and vineyards, the love of wine is particularly ripe and abundant.  South Africa is the 8th largest wine producing country in the world with 430 000 cellars producing 800 million litres of wine every year!  Public tastings and wine tours are a regular feature in the country’s tourist circuit with towns such as Stellenbosch and Franshoek receiving thousands of wine enthusiasts every year.  For the serious connoisseur this weekend presents an opportunity not to be missed.  The WineX Rand Merchant Bank Wine Festival is taking place at the CTICC.  Featuring 1200 different varieties of wine to taste , come and meet local and international winemakers, taste their current releases and learn about the latest trends in winemaking.  If you are serious about your wine or just interested in finding out what all the fuss is about, this is one not to miss!