| "The breathtakingly beautiful Cape Winelands are | | | | System (GPS) coordinates. |
| spread over a relatively small area, but the | | | | Released in August 2006, the publication achieved |
| biodiversity of its winegrowing sites ensures that the | | | | astounding media success and became an instant |
| area can produce an extensive range of wines to | | | | best seller. But the authors' most important |
| excite wine lovers the world over." Join | | | | achievement was yet to come - On 6 December |
| award-winning authors Elmari Swart and Izak Smit for | | | | 2006, The Essential Guide won the coveted title |
| an enchanting and insightful journey through | | | | "Best Book on New World Wines - English" at the |
| vineyards, terroir, winemaking techniques and wine | | | | 2006 Gourmand World Awards. The spotlight |
| styles of South Africa's greatest wines. | | | | focussed on this publication again during April 2007, |
| Wine connoisseurs Elmari Swart and Izak Smit share | | | | when the global winners competed in Beijing, China, |
| a passion for fine wines as well as excellence in the | | | | for the title of "World's Best". The Essential Guide |
| art of writing. Together they identified a need for | | | | won its category to become only the third South |
| greater depth in South African wine writing and, in | | | | African book heralded as "The World's Best Book on |
| true entrepreneurial spirit, formed a unique | | | | New World Wines". This places the authors in much |
| partnership to write The Essential Guide to South | | | | esteemed international company, immediately raising |
| African Wines - Terroir and Travel. | | | | the standard for South African writing and |
| Their vision for the publication was to highlight terroir | | | | wine-making alike. |
| wines (wines from a specific origin), to give insight | | | | "South African wines are a success internationally and |
| into winemaking as an art and to further the | | | | so are wine books from South Africa," said Edouard |
| knowledge of, and respect for, wine culture. The | | | | Cointreau, CEO and Chairman of Gourmand, "Wine |
| input of more than 100 of South Africa's premier | | | | tourism is quite developed in South Africa, while |
| wineries, industry specialists and researchers made | | | | terroir is still controversial for some. This book is |
| this a truly remarkable effort. | | | | clearly excellent." |
| The Guide addresses terroir and tourism in a | | | | The South African media agrees with Cointreau: |
| revolutionary way with the new Wine Pockets | | | | "An essential accompaniment to your Winelands |
| system. Individual Pockets highlight a specific terroir | | | | exploration" - Planet Golf |
| unit along with local wine styles, providing an | | | | "The most complete guide to the Cape Winelands |
| overview of the unique qualities of each | | | | ever" - "A first for the Cape Wine Industry" - Michael |
| wine-producing area. Detailed regional, as well as | | | | Fridjhon (SA's top wine authority; wine writer and |
| single-day Pocket driving-maps make The Essential | | | | critic) |
| Guide easy to use for local and international wine | | | | "A valuable contribution to wine tourism. Very good |
| enthusiasts and even include Global Positioning | | | | maps. |