Thursday, December 27, 2012

Fine Wine and Liquor magazine - China

美酒醉人 美景摄魂

发布时间:2012-12-06 来源:《酒典》杂志  作者:李燕萍 译:  点击数:244
——2012开普酒展暨南非葡萄酒探寻之旅(上) 

 
The roots of the South African wine industry can be traced to the explorations of the Dutch East India Company which established a supply station in what is now modern day Cape Town. Until now, South Africa has had over 350 years’ history of winemaking. The South African winelands stretch from the rugged mountains and multi-directional slopes of the coastal region to the open plains of the Klein Karoo where viticulture takes place mainly in the riverine valleys, mainly have a Mediterranean climate. Currently, there’s about 101,016 hectares of winegrowing areas in South Africa, most of them are located in the coastal Western Cape.
 
Around the end of September, the author was invited by Wines of South Africa (WOSA) to see the Cape Wine 2012 and to experience the beautiful winelands and cultural heritage of South Africa. WOSA is a non-profit industry organization which established in 1999. WOSA's mandate is to promote the export of all South African wines in key international markets. 
 
Here is the first half of the article, the second half will be published in the next issue.
 
1487年, 探险家迪亚士奉葡萄牙国王约翰二世之命,寻找通往印度的新航道,突如其来的巨浪将他的船队推到一个无名的岬角上。迪亚士死里逃生,将这个救命岬角命名为风 暴角,也就是今天的好望角。因为好望角,人们开始了解南非。1652年,南非第一批移民荷兰人登陆开普敦,随后德国、法国、英国等相继登陆,带来了欧洲的 文化和葡萄酒酿造技术。至今,南非已有350年葡萄酒酿造历史,是世界第八大葡萄酒生产国。
南 非,更是人类文明的起源地之一,有3个首都、4个种族、国旗上有6种颜色、11种官方语言、至少19个政党。在这里,海洋、山地、湖泊、丛林、平原和湿地 完美融合。9月下旬,很荣幸受南非葡萄酒协会(Wines of South Africa,简称WOSA)之邀,我踏上了向往已久的南非葡萄酒之路——参观开普酒展(Cape Wine 2012)和南非的葡萄酒庄园。
WOSA成立于1999年,是非赢利机构,代表着南非500多家葡萄酒出口商,旨在推广及提升南非葡萄酒的出口。Su Birch女 士是WOSA的现任CEO,亲切优雅,在南非及国际葡萄酒界享有极高的知名度。Michaela Stander女士是我此次南非之行的主要联络人,也是WOSA的欧洲及亚洲市场经理。Michaela美丽大方,性格开朗,处事迅速、细致,让我的第一 次南非之旅充满了美好的记忆。
 第一天: Sugarbird Manor酒店, Oldenburg酒庄
南非的空气非常清新,走出机舱,一位手持WOSA名牌的英俊绅士前来迎接,他叫Gert,是南非Go Cape旅游公司的一名资深导游,对南非的历史、人文及葡萄酒旅游线路了解很透彻。在他的引领下,我们开心上路,前往位于斯泰伦布什(Stellenbosch) 郊外德文郡山谷(Devon Valley)的Sugarbird Manor酒店。Gert介绍说,斯泰伦布什是南非的第二历史名城,也是南非葡萄酒的心脏地带,地理位置得天独厚,且风景如画。这里名庄林立,出产的葡萄 酒销往欧、美、亚等国家,多数酒庄还提供葡萄酒旅游全线服务,包括参观葡萄园和酒窖、品尝当地美食、品酒、买酒、野餐、住宿等,有些酒庄内还有艺术馆、博 物馆、高尔夫球场和音乐会等。www.wine.co.za是目前所有南非网站中提供葡萄酒旅游信息最全的,链接了已开发的全部南非葡萄酒旅游线路所涵盖的酒区及葡萄园介绍、联系方式和线路图等。
到达入住的Sugarbird Manor酒店后得知,原来酒店就坐落在拥有21.6公顷的南非国花——帝王花(Protea)的种植农场Protea Heights内。从酒店眺望,举目之处,一处处葡萄园坡地连接着一片片不知名的绿色植物,娇艳的花儿星星点点散布,远处天空般湛蓝的山脉被落日的余辉洒上一抹红晕,宛若尘世之外。
从 震撼的美景中回过神来,我们出发去行程的第一站——Oldenburg Vineyards(Oldenburg酒庄)。酒庄位于Banhoek 山谷,界于泰伦布什与Pniel之间。据介绍,Banhoek的意思是“Scary corner”(恐怖的角落),几个世纪前这里曾是危险地带,各种野生动物如老虎、美洲豹、大象等驻扎于此。如今,这里风景优美,是人们享受宁静与安乐以 及出产高品质葡萄酒的地方。这里除了有新锐精品酒庄Oldenburg Vineyards,还有南非一些名庄如Thelema Mountain Vineyards、Tokara Winery、Delaire Graff Estate等。

Oldenburg vineyard庄主Adrian Vanderspuy(右)和酿酒师Simon Thompson(左)
 
 
到达Oldenburg酒庄,跃入眼帘的是一座古色古香的荷兰式小城堡,城堡外花儿五彩缤纷,侧边小山坡上的葡萄园嫩绿可人。风度翩翩、温文儒雅的酒庄庄主Adrian Vanderspuy先生在酒庄门口迎接我们的到来。Adrian介绍,Oldenburg酒庄的葡萄园面积30公顷左右,大部分位于海拔300-450米的河流冲积平原上,圆形山坡Rondekop是酒庄的中心,因此酒庄也曾一度被称为Rondekop。酒庄66%产红葡萄酒,34%产白葡萄酒,主要种植的葡萄有Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay等。 而Adrian就出生在离酒庄500米左右的地方,但1967年便离开南非生活在海外,每年的圣诞节会回国与家人团聚。这里的山脉及风景让他着迷,于是在 2003年他买下了酒庄。Adrian的祖母则从1950年一直生活在酒庄的这一片农场,当时的农场主人是来自德国的Helmut Hohmann, 后来Helmut将农场名字改为和他出生地一样的名字——德国的Oldenburg。由于酒庄的葡萄园位于海拔较高的坡地,葡萄树能充分吸收阳光,且晚间 能拥有较凉爽的微气候,再加上新晋酿酒师Simon Thompson及葡萄园顾问Paul Wallace,使得酒庄的酒获得很多国际和国内葡萄酒奖项。
 
第二天:帕尔葡萄酒产区,南非葡萄酒协会Green Tie Party
 帕 尔(Paarl)是南非的第三古老城市,距离开普敦大概45分钟车程,与斯泰伦布什、Franschhoek、Wellington、Swartland 等葡萄酒产区相距不远,花岗岩质土是帕尔独特风土的体现,Cabernet Sauvignon、Pinotage、Shiraz、Chardonnay、Chenin Blanc在这里有很好的表现。这里不仅有葡萄酒庄园、历史文化建筑、水果种植农场,更有令人屏息的自然风光。帕尔最初凝聚了国际关注目光是在1990年 2月11日,71岁的纳尔逊·曼德拉(Nelson Mandela)从帕尔的维克托·韦斯特监狱(Victor Verster Prison)里走了出来,结束了长达27年的关押,这27年也被人们称为“走向自由的漫长之路”。纳尔逊·曼德拉是南非首位黑人总统,投身于民族解放事 业,主张以非暴力方式反抗白人的种族统治。在被释放之后的1994年,曼德拉当选总统,1996年,实行了将近50年的倍受世界争议的种族隔离制度被彻底 废除。如今,在南非的主要城市如开普敦和约翰内斯堡均设有曼德拉的雕像,以纪念这位民族解放英雄。
在葡萄酒方面,依然能发现纪念曼德拉的酒庄身影,在我们当天参加的帕尔产区10家酒庄的葡萄酒品尝会上,有一家名为Freedom Hill Wines的精品酒庄,因酒庄俯瞰着维克托·韦斯特监狱——曼德拉从这里迈出了通向自由的第一步,所以起名为Freedom Hill Wines。 酒庄位于Franschhoek 和帕尔之间,历史可追溯至1699年,重点生产红葡萄酒,种植Shiraz、Cabernet Sauvignon、Pinotage等品种,葡萄全部手工采选,且在法国橡木桶里发酵12-24个月。这里的每一款酒都是自由的赞歌,曼德拉在监狱的服 刑号还象征性地被印在其Freedom Walk系列酒的酒标上,酒庄庄主Francois Klomp先生在现场将酒庄的故事娓娓道来。另一酒庄Mellasat Vineyards的 庄主 Stephen Richardson先生得知我们来自中国后,兴奋地问在中国是否有很多人知道曼德拉的故事,同时还说,他就在昨天收到通知,他酒庄的Mellasat M 2005红葡萄酒在香港获得了2012 China Wine Awards的金奖。从他高兴的表情不难看出,他对中国市场充满了美好的期待。

品鉴会上的另外8家酒庄:
Boland Cellar、Druk My Niet Wine Estate、Fairview、KWV、Laborie Wine Farm、Painted Wolf WinesRhebokskloof Wine Estate、Ridgeback。
午 餐在南非最古老的庄园之一的Laborie酒庄(Laborie Wine Farm)的露天餐厅进行。Laborie酒庄以生产酒质出众的MCC(Methode Cap Classique的简称)起泡酒而闻名,MCC是在南非用法国的传统香槟法酿造的起泡酒。酒庄还生产备受赞誉的红葡萄洒和白葡萄酒、白兰地和加强型 Pinotage甜酒。位于帕尔山脉脚下的Laborie酒庄视野开阔,餐厅正对着山脉和一片葡萄园,无比美丽。旁边是始建于1750年的南非国家级历史文物——Laborie Manor House。 当天适逢9月24日,南非的国家遗产日(National Heritage Day ),也被称为National Braai Day,因Braai在南非语里的意思是烧烤,在这一天全国都是以烧烤的形式来庆祝。这是一个为庆祝南非丰富的文化遗产和多样性的民族传统而设的国家性节 日,鼓励人们不分种族、地区和宗教相聚欢庆,犹如美国的感恩节。
 下 午,我们从酒庄前往南非最古老的城市,也被称为“母亲城”的开普敦,准备迎战明天的开普酒展以及参加晚上的Green Tie Party。晚会是WOSA为庆祝开普酒展的开幕而在前一晚举办的,凭邀请函进入会场,且客人必须佩戴上绿色的领结或领带,这与晚会提倡的环保及可持续发 展相吻合,同时也鼓励人们走路至会场。
晚 会地点在the Lookout酒店, 位于一个小山坡上,面对着开普敦的另一张名片,位于大西洋上的格兰杰海湾(Granger Bay),在这里可观赏到无比壮观的沙滩、桌山和原是秘密政治监狱、关押过曼德拉的罗本岛。晚会上,常见的红地毯变成了绿地毯,环保味道非常浓,带着怪兽 面具的高脚人身穿色彩鲜艳的上衣和白色长裙在会场门口迎接宾客的到来,旁边的一排俊男美女手捧南非MCC起泡酒、法国香槟等供客人选择饮用。取上一杯 MCC,沿着绿地毯一路向上走,欣赏着乐队的现场音乐表演,妙不可言。晚会里面的南非各色美食和葡萄酒,以及现场的民俗风情舞蹈、歌曲和表演更是将晚会推 至高潮,嘉宾皆欢,微醺而归。
 
 
 
第三天:开普酒展第一天,南非12个顶级酒庄葡萄酒品鉴会
开 普酒展第一天,人气高涨,各酒庄庄主、酿酒师、市场经理等到场,展示他们引以为豪的酒品。观展的人认真细致地向展位负责人询问、品酒、并作笔记,多是西方 人,黄皮肤面孔较少。我也遇到一小部分国人,其中好几个是只进口南非单一国家酒的,据他们说,南非酒性价高,高中低价位的酒都涵盖,选择范围很大。品酒时 与不同展位的负责人交谈后得知,很多南非酒庄对中国市场充满兴趣,希望能尽快进入中国这个非常具有吸引力的市场。
晚 上,在威斯汀酒店行政俱乐部举办的南非12个顶级酒庄葡萄酒品鉴会令人难忘,每一个酒庄只展示一款代表自己酒庄特色及风土的酒并搭配酒店烹制的美食,庄主 亲自在现场接待。会场布置非常专业、高雅,到场客人有来自世界各地的专业葡萄酒作家、品酒师、记者、集团采购商,还有葡萄酒大师。坐在我旁边的恰巧就是来 自芬兰的葡萄酒大师Essi Avellan。在交谈中得知,Essi最近在写一本关于世界各地起泡酒的书,对中国酿造起泡酒的酒厂及其质量很感兴趣。
品 鉴会上印象最深的,也是会上的焦点——Norma Ratcliffe女士和Mike Ratcliffe先生,一对气度非凡的母子,所到之处总带给人一种舒服感。Norma女士美丽优雅,是南非最早的女酿酒师之一、南非葡萄酒行业领导性人 物、开普调配酒(Cabernet Sauvignon、Merlot、Pinotage、Shiraz)的首创者,同时也是好望角酿酒师协会(Cape Winemakers Guild) 主席及长期会员、顶级酒庄Warwick Estate和Vilafonte的女庄主等一系列杰出头衔的拥有者。而作为其家族继承人的Mike在主持整场品酒会时,特意强调了说今晚的12家顶级酒 庄而不是顶级的12大酒庄,时不时还带出一两句幽默的话让现场严肃的品酒气氛一时间轻松了不少。Mike热情地和我打招呼,并简单地介绍说他们的酒进入中 国市场很多年了且非常受欢迎。在我提问后得知最受欢迎的两款酒是The First Lady和Trilogy, The First Lady蕴意既是指她母亲Norma作为Warwick酒庄的女主人及酿酒师,也是南非最早的女酿酒师之一;而Trilogy,由三种葡萄酿造而成的波尔 多式红葡萄酒,正如其名称“三部曲”,此酒获奖无数。当晚品尝的倒数第二款酒正是Trilogy 2009,深宝石红色,樱桃、黑醋栗、隐约的黑巧克力味,酒体非常丰满结实,单宁结构优雅,非常典型的波尔多式佳酿。而品尝的倒数第三款酒也是其家族共同 拥有的酒庄Vilafonte出产的Vilafonte Series M 2009,酒的品质和包装彰显出相当高的水准和大气。此庄定位于酿造兼具奢侈品和投资潜力的精品葡萄酒,是南非人与美国人合办的合资酿酒企业,合资人是著 名的美国女酿酒师Zelma Long。 
Warwick及Vilafonte酒庄女庄主-- Norma Ratcliffe
 
Warwick及Vilafonte酒庄常务董事Mike Ratcliffe
 
另 一款印象深刻的酒是Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2007,这是一款天然甜白葡萄酒,金黄色,浓郁的凤梨、芒果和葡萄干芳香,酸度清新,丰富的热带水果香,口感非常集中和持久。据介绍,Klein Constantia酒庄的甜白酒是18至19世纪时欧洲皇宫贵族及文人作家等公认的最好的葡萄酒之一,曾是拿破仑被流放到南大西洋上的圣赫勒拿岛(St Helena)时的最爱。
品尝到的其他顶级酒庄的酒还有:
Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2012,漂亮的淡金色,迷人的桃子、甜橘、青椒芳香,口感非常清新、平衡。
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2011,明亮的稻草黄色,柑橘、柠檬香草、西番莲果香,隐约的奶油和杏仁味,非常平衡;
Grand Vin de Glenelly Chardonnay 2011,漂亮的淡金色,柑橘、莱姆皮、苹果香,隐约的香草奶油糖味,酸度非常迷人。
Thelema Merlot Reserve 2009:深宝石红色,深郁的成熟浆果味和雪松味,非常浓厚强壮。
Meerlust Rubicon 2005 (Magnum): 品尝的最后一款酒,1.5升装,此酒呈非常深的宝石红色,开始香气稍有沉思和克制,慢慢地有黑色水果、李子、黑樱桃,明显的矿物质味、雪松烟、雪茄木盒等。酒体相当雄厚,单宁结构复杂。具相当的陈年潜力,如保存得当可存放15-20年。
每一款都各有特色,各领风骚。
(未完待续)

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Platter Wine Guide 2013 - The Warwick team 'hit it out of the park' again.


Five stars from Platter again. Pre-order now.














We are happy to tell you that our Warwick Cabernet Franc 2009 has again received the ultimate FIVE STAR accolade in the 2013 Platter Wine Guide. This award was announced at a glittering function at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town just a few minutes ago.

You may be aware that Warwick was the first winery in South Africa to release a single varietal Cabernet Franc back in 1986. Since then, we have been producing Cabernet Franc as a 100% single varietal vineyard-driven wine and have never skipped a vintage.
 
Pre-order the 2010 vintage today

While the 2009 vintage is long sold-out, today we open pre-release sales on the 2010 Warwick Cabernet Franc. We will commence shipment end of November in time for the festive holiday season. This wine sells out very quickly and we urge you to place your order now. Wine Club members qualify for a full 20% discount and complimentary door-to-door courier throughout South Africa.

info@warwickwine.com

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

WARWICK. WATERSHED. WHY NOT??

 Book today via https://www.webtickets.co.za 

 

 


Friday, August 31, 2012

My Brilliant Career: Happy to Put His Life on The Vine


07/05/2012Mike Ratcliffe tells Thekiso Anthony Lefifi why he abandoned his dream of becoming a skipper - and why he has never regretted taking up the art of winemaking instead...
What does your job entail?

I am managing director of Warwick Wine Estate & Vilafonte Vineyards. Both are high-end family producers of fine South African wine. In a sense, I am the custodian of quality throughout the production and maturation process. Once the wine is in the bottle, I am then chief brand ambassador responsible for allocations and for making sure that the wine is presented appropriately at all times. Finally, I manage a very strong sales and distribution team responsible for placing our wines into restaurants and retailers worldwide. At the end of the day I become chief wine taster as the sun goes down.

What did you want to be when you were young?

I flirted with being a skipper and passed my yachtmaster qualification. Things were stacked against sailing as I grew up in the wine industry surrounded by a family with red wine in their veins. As a family, we are slightly obsessive-compulsive when it comes to this great product and are all involved in wine in some way. My mother was one of the first women to make wine in South Africa and my sister one of the youngest women ever to qualify as a Cape wine master.

How did you get into this industry? And what did you study?

When I joined the family business, I realised just how much I did not know about the industry and decided to educate myself further. With the help of Dr Phil Freese, Brian Croser and Michael Fridjhon I managed to enrol for the graduate diploma in wine business in Australia - at the time the leading wine business programme in the world. A year of intensive wine education was the catalyst that galvanised my thinking and made my future direction clear. I have no regrets.

Are people who leave colleges well equipped to do what you are doing?

Secondary education is invaluable. It taught me how much I did not know and defined the vacuum of knowledge so that I could more effectively seek it out. College also trains you to think about life in general and was critical in defining my thought processes today. It should be said that education is merely a platform on which you build your life experiences. The more solid the platform, the more attainable the grand objectives which I am in the process of building.

What irks you about the wine industry?

I often feel that the wine industry works according to a predefined template. I like to try to do things differently and have respect for others in the wine industry who break free of the mould. Wine is a very competitive business and there are so many factors which jointly contribute to greatness - this also means that there are so many inputs which are ripe subjects for innovation, but innovation seems somehow to be lacking. South Africa has to apply the lesson of innovation in its marketing of its great product to the world. Another things that irks me is people who subscribe to the belief that wine quality can be accurately judged subjectively. Every great wine has its own nuances which will have a different appeal to a different consumer - once a certain minimum level of quality has been attained, it should be recognised that every wine has its own appeal. The best gauge of quality is your propensity to order another bottle.

What was your worst year as a winemaker and why?

In 2004 I lost my father, a great mentor and a true leader in the real world of wine - the world that is derived from the pleasure of consumption. This great setback was only slightly balanced out by the 2004 vintage, which produced some of the best Warwick and Vilafonte wines that we have ever produced.

In your opinion, is SA slowly losing its status as the home of the world's best wines?

South Africa has a long and chequered history and has never really had a reputation as home of the world's best wines. This might well change. There is a new energy fermenting in the winelands that is being driven by a growing band of exciting and innovative winemakers and proprietors who are continually challenging the status quo. It is a very exciting space to operate in - especially when you are surrounded by risk-takers. I believe that South Africa's reputation as the home of great wines will continue to grow and that within my career our wines will take their place among the best in the world.

Is there good money in wine producing?

Top producers know how to make money in the wine industry.

What or who inspires you?

My family inspires me. Innovation inspires me. The breaking down of illogical physical and psychological barriers inspires me. Every day that a new life lesson is learnt inspires me. A great bottle of wine aged to perfection and served under perfect conditions inspires me.

What is the one thing you wished you knew before you went into this sector? What would you have done differently?

The wine industry revolves around relationships - both with regards to the people who work for you and with regards to the people who you do business with. The entire concept of a brand is built on a sense of trust that pervades the relationship between producer and consumer. It took me a few years to work this out. A few lost years.
Author: Thekiso Anthony Lefifi 
Article Source: Times Live

Sunday, July 15, 2012

THE OLDEST AND MOST FAMOUS CHARITY WINE AUCTION

Some perspective ...

The Hospices de Beaune is the result of more than six centuries of history. Founded with the aims of healing the sick and comforting the destitute, the hospital has never ceased to develop, thanks, in large part, to numerous benefactors who have enabled the Domaine to grow, thanks to their gifts of vineyards. The funds collected at the Hospices de Beaune wine auctions are entirely destined for the institution’s charities.

An annual event not to be missed, the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction is an opportunity to come together as a family or between friends, to discover the rich variety of the 44 wine Cuvées offered by the Hospices. Superb quality, young Burgundy wines - vins primeurs – can be acquired, at prices to suit all budgets, and it is possible to customise the bottles with your name, or that of your business or organisation, being printed on the labels.

Monday, July 09, 2012

Hello London - good news

We just listed the entire Warwick Wine range at the Hurlingham Club. Well done James & Arabella

Sunday, July 08, 2012

a new angle on Warwick's 'First Lady' Cabernet Sauvignon







An edited extract from a speech about Leadership in the Wine Industry made by Michael Ratcliffe

An edited extract from a speech about Leadership in the Wine Industry made by Michael Ratcliffe at the Stellenbosch  launch of the book ‘Grape - from Slavery to BEE’ by Dr. Wilmot James, Prof Jakes Gerwal and Jeanne Viall.

A way forward for the South African wine industry?

Would it be inappropriate to ask just who is in charge of the South African wine industry? Who is providing overall leadership for the industries growth and development and who is laying the groundwork for a sustainable future?
Warwick Managing Directo - Michael S. Ratcliffe
The South African wine industry is having a tough time. The trading environment is brutal and global economic conditions show little evidence of improving. The industry is beset with challenges and is in need of direction. Where is the decisive strategic thinking, the ambitious and bold master plan and the careful thought that characterises the most successful global businesses? Where is the cut and thrust?
The leadership vacuum is not a new phenomenon. In the past decade, this leadership challenge lead to complex efforts to create a leadership body called the South African Wine Industry Council (SAWIC), but this well-intentioned project failed due to unnecessary politicisation of the process and through the unfortunate triumph of vested interest over best practice. Since the demise of SAWIC, it has been very quiet. Our industry has many organisations (VINPRO, WKSA, WOSA, SALBA) which provide valuable, but localised leadership. What is urgently needed is a legitimate overarching body to corral the industry in one unified direction?
Of late, there have been questions asked of Wines of South Africa (WOSA) concerning their efficacy at providing leadership to our industry. This is misguided as WOSA is a marketing body with a simple mandate to create a generic marketing capability in the export markets. WOSA does this very well on a limited budget and they are a valuable industry asset. WOSA does not have the mandate to provide broader strategic industry leadership. WOSA’s board is also conflicted as it is (in effect) an organ of the South African Liquor Brand Owners (SALBA) and Wine Cellars South Africa (WKSA) whose majority vote enables them to determine the best use of industry monies for generic export marketing.
One of the key functions of a National leadership organ would be to create and maintain relations with government. Government largely ignores the wine industry apart from an occasional hand-out from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI). The wine industry is a major employer, a disproportionately large contributor to the fiscus and an unutilised secret weapon for South African Tourism. Why is it so difficult for the wine industry to be taken seriously by government? Is it because government is so disorganised and disinterested, or is the wine industry to blame for lacking focus?
What should be done to provide leadership? This speaker does not pretend to know the solution, but is humble enough to venture at least a few points that hopefully will fuel the right kind of debate.

I believe that we need to find a way to resurrect a central representative body with WOSA, DTI, VINPRO, WKSA, SALBA & Government (local and national) all invited to the table. It should be composed of the best people for the job and not strive to be all encompassing in its representation. This board should have a lean staff of well paid senior strategic thinkers, lobbyists and perhaps a few admin personnel. It should have the aim of empowering the intellectual capital that resides in our industry to create a forum for strategic planning. The board should be mandated to establish and foster a high level relationship with local and National government including the departments of Agriculture, Finance, Labour, Public Enterprise and Tourism. It should participate actively and openly in lobbying at the highest level and should have a dedicated budget for this purpose. In order to keep this body lean and accountable, it should be funded by government and should not provide funding to any other bodies.

For this body to have a chance at success, it needs to have someone in Government to talk too. Incompetence, a stubborn lack of interest and unacceptably high staff turnover in the Dept of Agriculture has long been a stumbling block for wine industry leadership. Government and more specifically Agriculture needs to show some leadership, get some focus, stop messing around with the well being of the people and give the wine industry the attention that it deserves.

Through effective leadership, the industry could start to perform closer to its potential, start delivering a meaningful return for all and realise a ‘Grand Plan’ of uplifting an entire generation.

There will be much disagreement with the positions taken above, and many of these comments might be construed as being controversial. However, it would be my wish that the South African wine industry enter into more rigorous debate around the topic of leadership.

“If you don’t know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.” Henry Kissinger

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

The launch function for Warwick Three Cape Ladies at ten Bompas Hotel in 1997



Norma Ratcliffe, Mike Ratcliffe, Pieter Aucamp & Christoph Van Staden


Sunday, July 01, 2012

Warwick going even greener...

The Warwick Wine Estate team will plant 300 new trees at The winery by the end of July in our annual 'greening' strategy.

Friday, May 04, 2012

WARWICK WINTER TAPAS - Available May - August 2012

Caprese Salad
Warwick Home-smoked 
Salmon Trout Niçoise
Beef & Tomato Tartare
Bookings between 11:00 - 16:00
visit@warwickwine.com or call 021 8844410

Apture