A sure way to put a woman on fire

Aug 13, 2003

The Sheraton Kampala Hotel turned into a wine academy last Friday as Kampala’s notables learnt a thing or two about wines

By Denis Jjuuko

The Sheraton Kampala Hotel turned into a wine academy last Friday as Kampala’s notables learnt a thing or two about wines. For example, did you know that there is nothing that can put a woman on ‘fire’ like champagne?

Are you aware that champagne is the only drink needed in victory and defeat as Napoleon Bonaparte put it? Or, do you know that it is only wine that can kill silence?

Well, that is exactly what the patrons learnt that evening at the Lions Centre. South African celebrated wine connoisseur Junel Vermeulen was specifically flown in to tell Ugandans what drinking wine is all about.

The lady from the Cape Wine Academy in South Africa (such countries have schools to teach people about wine!) did not disappoint. She knew what she was talking about. And she did so with a lot of confidence. Some guests wondered aloud how she could tell so much about wine without consulting a book.

By looking at the colour of wine, one can easily tell whether the wine is ‘young’ or not. Unlike other drinks, the older the wine, the better it tastes. While looking for wine, do not go for those bottled this year or last year unless you are going to keep it for some time. However, it does not mean that younger wine is tasteless.

Older wines are differentiated by colour. “The most colour it has, the younger it is while white wine gains more colour with age. Red wine loses colour with age,” Vermeulen said.

She then went ahead to identify and describe different types of wine to the guests who included Bank of Uganda governor Tumusiime Mutebile, Radio One’s Maria Kiwanuka and Dr. Martin Aliker. South African Airways (SAA) together with their new partners, Air Tanzania and Sheraton Kampala Hotel purposely flew in Vermeulen for this wine-tasting event and it instantly paid off.

She explained the different processes of winery and then made a magical act by opening a bottle with a knife! She sharpened the edges of the bottle mouth until the cork popped off and did so without corrupting the wine with pieces of the broken glass.

At this time, wine was flowing like the River Nile for the three and a-half hours we were there. And true by the South African’s word, after a glass or two, most guests became chattier. Those who pretended to be reserved showed their true character –– they opened up. Couples were seen getting cozier –– holding hands.

Who said Ugandan men do not know how to love? (You know most ladies think love is all about pulling a chair in an eatery, holding her hand in public and opening a car door for her). Anyway, since I had not attended with the chosen one, I do not know what happened to those who came with their wives.

Thereafter, it was time to taste cheese, chicken, fish fingers and other delicacies. Regional manger for SAA, Rethabile Matseke seemed to enjoy the function and to her, she was rewarding her clients.

Party man Klaus Holderbaum and his wife must have had a nice time as well as Sabrina’s Hope Mukasa. Bottles of wine and dinners for two were won in a raffle draw. And hey, always go for wines, if you want more fun.

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