Afternoon Delight

His South African accent enamored the crowd as he poured wine. And those blue eyes; the pale color the sky gets when the sun shines brightly. The combination had the women swooning. "He" is Nick Gebers. His winery is Post House in South Africa.

Gebers was on a whirl-wind tour of The Sunshine State this week, promoting his wine. He made several stops in Southwest Florida, including a wine tasting at The Twisted Vine, downtown Fort Myers. The outdoor courtyard was perfectly set; flowers in bloom, white linen table cloths, a trio of musicians. Mother nature cooperated with lots of sunshine and a subtle breeze. Chef Daniel created delicious tapas for each of the four wines we tried.

First up was the Post House Bluish White; a blend of Chenin and Sauvignon Blancs. It's fruity but not sweet, and would go well with seafood or dishes with some mild heat. My two favorites were the Bluish Black and the Penny Black. The Bluish Black offers nice complexity at an even nicer price (around $20 retail). The blend of Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet and Merlot is full of dark fruit and drinkable with or without food. When I see it on a restaurant menu I know it will be a good bottle to share.

The Penny Black is an inky blend of Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot. It's a little more complex and would be good with a more robust meal. Penny Black is also the name of the very first stamp ever printed. All of Gebers wines are creatively named after stamps. He says he has more ideas for names of wines than he could possibly bottle.

The Post House Treskilling Yellow closed the show. The 100% Chenin Blanc and was a huge hit with the white chocolate dipped Strawberries! It was a treat that sent tasters back for seconds and thirds.

Twisted Vine currently serves the Bluish Black by the glass and Penny Black by the bottle. Oh, and if you want to see Geber's eyes in person, his winery does have a guest house.