CITY PRESS TRENDING, 4 SEPTEMBER, 2016 3

NEIL PENDOCK with MARLVIN GWESEtrending@citypress.co.za

Wine of the Week: Slanghoek Crème de Chenin 2014; R42

The Book of Genesis tells us itwas the Devil in the form of asnake that tempted Eve to eatthe apple from the tree of theknowledge of good and evil. Amouthful of which started allthe trouble and ended withhumanity locked out of theGarden of Eden.

So, being led intotemptation by a serpent

should come as nosurprise to those with aSunday school education.Slanghoek is the valley ofsnakes on the “wrongside” of the DuToitskloof Pass. Wrong ifyou’re a snob, perhaps,but right in terms ofwine quality and valuefor money. It is also oneof the most picturesquevalleys in the Cape.

And what a sweet evilthis dessert wine is.Sugar is today’s devil asgovernments everywhereseek to tax sweetness asa way of slimming down

chubby children andreducing tooth decay.

But until severe taxestotally destroy thedessert wine category,those with a sweet

tooth can enjoy theopulent ripe apricot

flavours of this stickydelight.

It is made fromChenin Blanc grapes,the most widelyplanted variety inSouth Africa. It is atrue fruit bomb andthe perfect match fortraditional malva

pudding or a chocolate nemesis from Societi Bistro on Orange Street. Heck, you can even taste the ripe oranges in this luxurious nectar.

Sommelier Marlvin Gwese commented after our bimonthly WellsFaber Sommelier Selection blind tasting that “the wine we tasted this morning was just world class. Who said South Africa makes mediocre dessert wines?”

His colleague Joseph Dafana from LaColombe restaurant was even more impressed. “This wine ticks all the boxes. Great highlight of a South African dessert wine, but obviously underrated. The best lesser known I have tasted this year. Well done!”

Six bottles will cost R252, which is less than a bottle of imported Scotch, and, with spring on the way, our thoughts turn naturally to strawberries and cream with an ice-cold glass of sweet snake juice from the valley of serpents.

. Gwese is wine steward at the CapeGrace Hotel, Cape Town

. For more information, or to order thewine, visit slanghoek.co.za

The sweetest juice in the Cape

IMPRESSED Sommelier Marlvin Gwese says the Slanghoek Crème de Chenin is world class

GUGULETHU MHLUNGU gugulethu.mhlungu@citypress.co.za

When the 2016 designer collaboration between Swedish brand H&M and Kenzo was announced, some people asked, “Kenzo who?”

Kenzo (although a big deal among fashion types) isn’t quite as pop famous as Balmain had been in 2015, what with the Kardashians being part of the Balmain Army.

But Kenzo is fabulous, and they dobeautiful, borderline over-the-top, sometimes confusing things with bright colours and a variety of animal prints.

Soon, the H&M X Kenzo capsule collection will go on sale in South Africa,and those who get into the queue early enough (or from the night before, if you are committed) will get their hands on the limited items from the collection.

A sneak peek of it was released recently, and now we know what to (kind of ) expect. Given that the collection launches at the beginning of autumn/winter in the northern hemisphere, it is sport luxe-inspired winter wear. It’s the kind of stuff you wear as casual day wear or (if you are brave enough) can play around with for a more casual evening look.

Some of the items include print jerseyrollneck tops and matching high-waisted leggings that are worn with long black leather gloves and knitted tiger-sock shaft boots. One of my favourite items is an oversized leather jacket with pink faux wool lining – très fabulous!

Leggings are a big feature in the

collection, and most of them are in a high-waisted cut, both for men and women, which is great. Nothing is subtle, but if it were, it wouldn’t be quintessential Kenzo.

. The H&M X Kenzo collection will beavailable at the V&A Waterfront and

Sandton City H&M stores on November 3

ON THE WILD SIDE The H&M X Kenzo collection is sport luxe-inspired winter wear with bright colours and animal prints

H&M goes wild in collaboration with Kenzo

THETASTEMAKERS

What is Orapeleng Modutle Style Avenue (OMSA) and when was it started?

It’s an original brand that is becominga leading name in South Africa’s young fashion designer scene. Thanks to its distinctive style and unique brand identity, it has won recognition and acclaim on an international scale.

Together with growing market success,the brand keeps evolving. This maturation process has become clearer in the recent high-profile collections, where the designs are more luxurious than ever. The development and launch of a complete line of fashion accessories

integrating perfectly with the resortbridal collection show that the

brand has achieved fullmaturity and growth, as

well as a rich and variedoffer.

Who have you dressed?Local celebrities such

as Bonang Matheba,Minnie Dlamini, Nomzamo

Mbatha, Nolly Nolz andBokang Montjane, to name

a few.

Why did you decide to start your own line?

Because I identified a certain womanthat I wanted to dress. The OMSA woman fits an ideal profile, heterogeneous and transversal. More than a mere style, she reflects a lifestyle, a realm of shared passions and attitudes with a strong connection to the defining qualities of all the brand’s collections: feminine, fun, international, business.

How would you describe what you do?For the past three years, the ever-

coherent OMSA style has become a

byword for timeless elegance and sensual refinement. This distinct, recognisable style comes through in the cuts and colours of the clothes; in the glam image of the advertising campaigns; in the evocative interior design of the mini stores.

Tell us about your showcase at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

For my debut, I decided to do a Resort Bridal Collection that is for affluent brides who would get married in warm weather climates like the Greek Islands and the Bahamas.

The collection caters for the bride, attendees, the bridal party and the mother of the bride. It is characterised by nautical glam style and yachting themes.

What’s next for the label?I would like to open flagship stores

across South Africa and thereafter penetrate the global market.

. You can shop for the line at99 Winterberg Complex, Equestria

Estate, Equestria, Pretoria. Emailinfo@orapelengmodutle.co.za for more

UPMARKET OMSA showed a luxurious collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week recently PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

IDEAL threadsWith his sophisticated clothes and high-end aesthetic, Orapeleng Modutle is fashion’s new talk of the town.

Gugulethu Mhlungu caught up with the young designer

BLISS OMSA’s bridal collection is for affluent brides who want to get married in warm weather

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