Summary: Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar at Montecasino hosts the 1682 Blaauwklippen Stellenbosch wine-pairing evening on Thursday, 29 October 2026, from 18:00. Priced at R795 per person, the event explores the story behind Blaauwklippen’s long-running Blending Competition, giving guests an opportunity to discover how the estate’s winning wine blend is created.
Wine blending is part science, part creativity and, apparently, a competition worth keeping an eye on.
On Thursday, 29 October 2026, Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar at Montecasino invites guests to explore the world of Blaauwklippen at a dedicated wine-pairing evening celebrating the Stellenbosch estate’s winemaking heritage and its distinctive blending tradition.
Starting at 18:00, the experience costs R795 per person and shines a spotlight on the story behind the Blaauwklippen Blending Competition, which has been running since 1984. The competition is described as the longest-running amateur wine blending competition of its kind, making it an intriguing part of South Africa’s wine scene.
- The process gives wine enthusiasts a glimpse into how a winning blend comes together. Entries are recreated at the Blaauwklippen cellar and judged blind by professional wine judges. The winning blend is eventually bottled and sold by the estate, while the winner earns a particularly memorable prize: having their name featured on a limited-edition magnum.
It is a fascinating reminder that creating a distinctive wine can involve more than choosing a favourite bottle. Blending calls for experimentation and an understanding of how different components work together, with the aim of creating a balanced final wine. The Blaauwklippen evening at Verdicchio offers guests the chance to discover more about that process and what goes into producing the competition’s winning blend.
For wine lovers who enjoy learning about what happens before a bottle reaches the table, the event offers something beyond the usual pour and sip.
With its long-running competition and a winning blend that earns its creator a place on a limited-edition magnum, Blaauwklippen brings an interesting story to Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar. At R795 per person, the evening is an opportunity to explore that story over a wine-focused dining experience on 29 October.
⇒ Montecasino, Montecasino Blvd., Johannesburg
- 011 511 1969
- info@verdicchio.co.za
Quick details
- Event: 1682 Blaauwklippen Stellenbosch wine-pairing evening
- Venue: Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar
- Location: Montecasino
- Date: Thursday, 29 October 2026
- Time: From 18:00
- Price: R795 per person
- Wine estate: Blaauwklippen, Stellenbosch
- Featured story: The Blaauwklippen Blending Competition
- Competition history: Running since 1984
- How it works: Blends are recreated at the Blaauwklippen cellar and judged blind by professional wine judges
- Winning blend: Bottled and sold by the estate, with the winner’s name featured on a limited-edition magnum
