Divas trip to South Africa

Our journeys into the world of wine took us to South Africa in April of 2006.  At the invitation of Distell, one of the largest wine and spirits companies in South Africa, we spent two weeks traveling from Johannesburg, to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Franschoek and Hermanus with stops in between in Soweto, Stellenbosch and Khayelitsha.
 
We were moved by the history and beauty of the country as we visited Nelson Mandela's birthplace, his cell on Robben Island, the top of Table Mountain and Cape Town's beautiful waterfront. We spoke with black and white South Africans too about their hopes and dreams for the future of their nation. Among many lovely experiences was an afternoon with our host, Christine Joubert at her family's estate.
 
Divas Uncorked addressed the prestigious Nederburg Wine Auction, the first consumer group and the first people of color to do so.  The crowd of over 1400 listened to our message urging South African winemakers to reach out to women and consumers of color in their marketing and advertising.   
 
We fell in love with so many remarkable South Africans while we were there...South African songbird Yvonne Shaka Shaka who hosted a dinner party for us on first evening, Karl our driver and protector, Katinka our guardian angel who possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of wine and an even sharper wit, winemakers at Distell, gracious executives at Distell, and of course the determined Christine Joubert who was open and receptive to the Divas Uncorked 'wine savvy, not wine snobby' message of inclusion of all in the wide world of wine.   
 
Thank you for a once in a lifetime experience.

Below are a few pictures from our trip: