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QUIZ: Where in the United States
can you Taste the Most South African Wines?

Discovering the flavor of Africa at home

By Madelyn Miller

In my career as a travelwriter, I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel almost everywhere in the world.  But there are still a few places I have not yet made it to. South Africa is at the top of my list.

I want to shop for native crafts, taste the foods of Africa, and drink their wonderful wines.

And recently I had a chance to “sample” Africa without going half way around the world.

I stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and watched the animals that grace the grounds, appreciated the South African crafts and art that adorned the walls and hallways, and tasted the delicious African foods. I also learned a surprising fact: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Features the Largest South African Wine List in United States.

More than 65 of South Africa’s boutique wineries are showcasing their vintages at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort, with the largest offering of South African wines anywhere in the United States.

The hotel restaurants have chosen the finest small wineries that emphasize quality, according to sommelier Stephen Shepherd, breaking ground in this country for some of the vintners.  For instance, they acquired Rust en Vrede Estate Wine 1996, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and shariz from the Stellenbosch region, voted in the “Top 100 Wines of 2000” by Wine Spectator, “a vintage that shows that South African wine can compete with the rest of the world,” said Shepherd.  And the search continues for more top-caliber wines, looking at small wineries to bring their best to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The French first made wine in South Africa 300 years ago, and that tradition carries forward today with superb whites, rich reds and sparkling wines and ports

The winelands of South Africa are among the most beautiful in the world, with vines planted on rolling hills with a background of soaring mountains.  Disney focused on three growing areas -- Stellenbosch, Paarl and Costantia -- to select its boutique wines.

And they’re already prepared for the inevitable diner who requests a California, French or other vintage.

“We’re working to educate the restaurant staff so that when someone comes in and asks for a favorite from California or France, we’ll suggest similar wines from South Africa,” said Shepherd.  “And we also have the opportunity to show great values.”

“It really is an education in South African wines,” he continued.  “For every classic style of wine, there’s a comparable South African varietal, from whites -- chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, semillon or chenin blanc to reds -- cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, pinot noir or merlot.”

What do you serve with all this really great African wine? The resort’s signature restaurant, Jiko-The Cooking Place, offers a savory South African feast awaits.  Flavors of Africa fill the air in a memorable meal blending regional spices and grains.

The experience begins with a basket of warm kalamata olive flatbreads and African dips, followed by maize tamales with herb and white truffle oil, lentil pastilles and cinnamon-spiced beef rolls.  Entrees such as oak-roasted filet of beef and chermoula-basted and roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, olives and roasted garlic are served family-style.  Popular South African wines are paired with each course, which includes a sweet display of desserts

So if you are thinking of taking your children to Disney World, know that you will also have a sophisticated wine tasting opportunity.

And I think there is no better way to prepare for a trip to Africa, then to visit the Disney Animal Kingdom to prepare your palate for all the appetizing things that await you in Africa.

You can also take a “safari” at Disney World

New Sunset Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Offers Up-Close Encounters With Exotic Creatures

Whispering winds sweep across the balmy, Africa-like plain, a peaceful sanctuary at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.  From balconies overlooking the savannahs, hotel guests marvel as creatures large and small roam the grasses, forage for food and play in harmony. 

But now Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge concierge-level guests can actually enter this serene animal reserve for an up-close personal encounter thanks to the newly launched Wanyama Safari experience.

Just before sunset three nights a week, adventurers gather outside the 1,293-room lodge with a guide who readies the group for a traditional game-viewing safari.  Up to eight persons can board a specially designed pop-top vehicle for a bird’s eye view of a typical North African safari.

Safari-goers are absorbed in careful observation as the vehicle moves along the Uzima savannah, the first of three picturesque savannahs that horseshoe the majestic lodge.  A pair of female reticulated giraffes from Northern Kenya pause from browsing and gracefully move within feet of the vehicle.  Guests’ cameras and videos are poised to capture an unforgettable encounter with the tallest of the land mammals.

Joe Kalla, the resort’s animal curator, says the safari strives to recreate the essence of an African experience with free-roaming wildlife in an authentic environment.

“We wanted to give our guests a close look at our animals, understand how we manage the animals and offer a glimpse into the training of the animals,” said Kalla.

The hotel’s savannahs are home to more than 200 mammals and exotic birds representing a cross-section of the African palette -- bongo, greater kudu, zebra, wildebeest, spiral-horned antelope, impala, African spoonbills and pink-backed pelicans, to name a few.  Even the once-endangered national bird of South Africa, the blue crane, has found a home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

“One of the real challenges was introducing animals and choosing the right ones to live in harmony in this environment,” said Kalla.

A customary South African “sundowner” rounds out the safari experience.  Fresh-squeezed guava/pineapple juice, dried beef, figs and nuts are shared with guests in a ceremonial moment. The second part of the journey leads to Jiko-The Cooking Place.

The Wanyama Safari is offered to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge adult concierge-level guests on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 4 p.m.  The 3 ½-hour experience, including dinner, is $150 per person, with a maximum of eight persons.  For reservations, contact
407/938-4755

Walt Disney World Resort is located in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando, and is open daily. For more information, call 407/W-DISNEY or visit www.disneyworld.com 

GREAT GUIDEBOOKS

HIDDEN DISNEYLAND and BEYOND
By Lisa Oppenheimer
Ulysses Press
www.ulyssespress.com

WALT DISNEYWORLD RESORT, UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT AND CENTRAL FLORIDA
FODORS 2003
www.Fodors.com

INSIGHT GUIDES
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT AND ORLANDO
WWW.insightguides.com

HIDDEN MICKEYS
A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets
By Steven M. Barrett
The Intrepid Traveler
www.theotherorlando.com

LEARNING TO BE A WINE WIZARD
RENAISSANCE GIDE TO WINE AND FOOD PAIRING
By Tony Didio and Amy Zavatto
Alpha Books

How to Pronounce French, German and Italian Wine Names
By Dianna Bellucci
They also include a bonus of Austrian, Spanish and Portugese Wine Names
Luminosa Publishing
www.howtopronounce.com

THE LITTLE BOOK OF CHAMPAGNE
by Christian Pessey
Flammarion Publishing

THE LITTLE BOOK OF COGNAC
by Christian Pessey
Flammarion Publishing

The Guide to Colorado Wineries
By Alta and Brad Smith
Fulcrum Publishing
www.fulcrum -books.com

DISCOVERING WASHINGTON WINES
By Tom Parker
An introduction to one of the most exciting Premium wine regions
Ranconteurs Press
www.reconteurs.com

Hidden Wine Country
By Marty Olmstead and Ray Riegert
Ulysses Press
www.ulyssespress.com

TOURING TEXAS WINERIES
By Thomas M. Giesla and Regina M. Giesla
Scenic Drives along Texas Wine Trails
Lone Star Books
www.texaswinetrails.com

ACCESS CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY
A guide that leads you street by street into the Heart of the Wine Country
Updated by Donna Peck
Harper Resource
www.harpercollins.com

GREAT TASTES MADE SIMPLE
By Andrea Immer
(author of Great Wine Made Simple)
www.broadwaybooks.com

WINE FOR WOMEN
A guide for buying, pairing and sharing wine
By Leslie SBrocco
William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers
www.lesliebrocco.com
www.harpercollins.com

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