WIN two VIP tickets to the gorgeous Mastercard Bubbly Festival in Joburg on Sunday

Hello lovelies, more specifically, lovelies who reside in Jozi…

I have two tickets (worth R2,000 each I might add *gasp*) to give away to the Mastercard Cap Classique and Champagne Festival on Sunday. I’m going too, and I can’t wait – I love me some bubbles I do.

So go on, read all about it and find out how to win.

Reply to this question on my blog, or via Twitter to @foodieliveshere using #MasterCardBubbly in your reply

Q: Who is sponsoring the 2012 Cap Classique and Champagne Festival in Johannesburg and Franschhoek?

More about The Johannesburg Cap Classique and Champagne Festival with exclusive access to the World MasterCard Gourmet Theatre

The Johannesburg Cap Classique and Champagne Festival – presented by MasterCard – offers visitors the opportunity to sample some of the country’s finest Cap Classiques, at The Wanderers Club in Illovo on the afternoons of 18 and 19 August 2012.

MasterCard is hosting the World MasterCard Gourmet Theatre which is an exquisitely appointed hospitality area within the Festival that will offer a unique food and bubbly pairing experience, with interaction with top chefs, local and international Bubbly producers and cocktail demonstrations, all in an intimate and exclusive setting. Tickets to the Gourmet Theatre are not for sale to the public, so this is truly a VIP experience.

Prize: 2 tickets (1 double) VIP ticket to the Johannesburg Cap Classique and Champagne Festival with exclusive access to the World MasterCard Gourmet Theatre, on Sunday 19 August 2012

And did you know?

The Cap Classique and Champagne Festival, presented by MasterCard, will provide a unique opportunity to sample the country’s finest growing choice of bubblies

MasterCard Worldwide is sponsoring both festivals for the first time this year. The festivals will be taking place on the 18th and 19th August 2012 in Johannesburg and on the 1st and 2nd December 2012 in Franschhoek.

“The growth of the local Cap Classique industry has been particularly significant since 2005, and our records show that the volume of bubbly produced in South Africa nearly doubles every five years” says Pieter Ferreira, chairman of the Cap Classique Association. “We have also seen an increase of 50% in the number of visitors who are attending the Cap Classique and Champagne Festivals, with a record 3000 consumers expected to attend the 2012 Johannesburg event alone.

Ferreira ascribes this significant growth to the fact that South Africans are increasingly embracing bubbly as a drink to be enjoyed every day, regardless of the occasion.

“The Festival will see Johannesburg bubbly fans interacting with winemakers from 26 South African estates, along with representatives from several French brands at the Wanderers Club in Illovo,” says Ferreira. “They will be able to sample some of the country’s finest Cap Classiques, while tantalising their taste-buds with goods from the several exclusive food stalls that will complement the bubbly offerings.”

Visitors will be spoiled for choice, because although the most popular Cap Classiques are those produced in the Brut-style, estates will offer bubblies produced in the Blanc de Blancs, Rose and Sweet styles for tasting as well.

Chef Dario de Angeli, the award-winning talent behind the invitation-only World MasterCard Gourmet Theatre at the Festival, says that this growing variety of Cap Classiques is one of the reasons he is seeing his patrons drink more of this category than ever before.

“The wider variety and the appealing prices of Cap Classiques are rapidly changing South Africans’ perceptions that bubblies should only be kept for special celebrations,” he says. “Just as there are locally produced wines that are either extravagant or affordable, so too are there Cap Classiques or even French champagnes that fit into both these categories,” explains de Angeli

“Local consumers are increasingly choosing Cap Classiques over other similarly priced or more expensive choices on the wine list. With the number of Cap Classique producers in the country having grown to at least 110 estates producing around seven million bottles each year, they are also presented with a wider selection from which to choose, both in restaurants and in retail outlets,” he says

Chef Dario will be preparing some of his signature culinary delights, and we have arranged opportunities for our guests to engage directly with the country’s leading Cap Classique producers. This is a rare opportunity to experience the best of South Africa’s culinary talent in partnership with the country’s finest Cap Classiques – a truly priceless experience”

Just wanna go as a Regular Joe?

The Johannesburg Cap Classique and Champagne Festival presented by MasterCard, offers visitors the opportunity to sample some of the country’s finest Cap Classiques, on the afternoons of 18 and 19 August 2012.

Tickets cost R250 each on www.webtickets.co.za, with a 10% discount if they are purchased using a MasterCard card. Tickets include a MasterCard contactless payment card with 10 tasting vouchers. Further vouchers can be purchased on the day, and visitors can also buy food to complement their bubbly tasting. MasterCard cardholders will also enjoy a 10% discount on any Cap Classiques purchases they make at the Festival. The dress code is elegantly black and white.