Rola Motor Group, Nedbank, BoE Private Clients, Die Burger newspaper and LDP Auditors share Cheviot Publishing's commitment to products and services of distinction. On the evening of 7 November 2007, these six companies, together with local winemakers and business leaders, enjoyed a stylish event to pay tribute to the award-winning book, The Essential Guide to South African Wines. Beyers Truter, of Beyerskloof, headed the proceedings with tales of the local wine industry. Key note speaker, Prof. Eben Archer, addresses the guests with a gripping account of the importance of terroir in the production of fine wines as well as pointing out the direction to which local winemakers should be heading to ensure international success. Authors Izak Smit and Elmari Swart then elaborated on the position of their book within the focused approach the South Africa's wine industry is adopting.

Honouring the support The Essential Guide has received from esteemed wine writers Andrew Jefford and Michael Fridjhon, Cheviot Publishing donated R10, 000.00 to local charity Pebbles Project. Elmari Swart presented a cheque to founder, Sophia Warner. "We praise the dedication and unwavering commitment with which Pebbles provide support to children with special educational needs, particularly those whose lives are affected by alcohol in some way, in the Western Cape of South Africa. The foundation of love and education that Pebbles gives these children allows them to realise their full potential and become actively contributors to society. For this, we honour you." said Elmari Swart, owner of Cheviot Publishing.

Guests enjoyed a delectable nibbles and fine wines (Annandale, Bellevue, Beyerskloof, Bilton, Grangehurst, Kanu, Kleine Zalze, Mulderbosch, Neethlingshof, Rust & Vrede, Saxenburg, Seidelberg, Uva Mira, Vergelegen, and Vriesenhof).

The evening concluded each guest receiving a complementary copy of The Essential Guide, which the authors dually signed. Swart and Smit believe that wine is a celebration of life itself. In the authors' words "Pleasure is always said to be heightened by knowledge". The Essential Guide certainly provides plenty of knowledge as well as reading pleasure and will undoubtedly entice the evening's guests to drive out to visit these places of great wine.

The Essential Guide to South African Wines is available country wide from leading books stores, wine boutiques, selected wineries and tourist shops as well as from on-line retailers.

Elmari Swart with Prof Eben Archer, who acted as one of the key contributors to the Essential Guide

Prof Eben Archer addresses the guests of the Rola Motor-Cheviot Publishing event, 2007

Beyers Truter, Prof Eben Archer and Elmari Swart with Rola Motors owner Marius Claassen (3^rd from right) and guests