Nov
13
2011
The folks responsible for the demarcation of the Cape Winelands have turned some weird tricks in their time, but non as crazy as in drawing the borders between Stellenbosch and Paarl in the Simonsberg vicinity. Cruising the R44 Γò¼├┤Γö£├ºΓö£Γöñ South AfricaΓò¼├┤Γö£├ºΓö£├╗s Golden Highway in wine terms – Wine of Origin Stellenbosch suddenly becomes WO Paarl. Just like that. No warning, no perceptible change in landscape or terroir. One moment things are Le Bonheur and Lievland and Stellenbosch, and then suddenly the origin system turns to Paarl without any logic, rhyme or reason.
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Oct
08
2011
Went to Paarl to check-out some guyΓò¼├┤Γö£├ºΓö£├╗s eggs. Guy goes by the name of Arco. Laarman. Makes wine at Glen Carlou. One of the best EstateΓò¼├┤Γö£├ºΓö£├╗s in the Paarl area. SA, too. Dig the Pinot Noir. Grand Classique Bordeaux blend. And, excuse me, the Chardonnay. Continue Reading »
Mar
03
2011
I wanted wines from the World Cup vintage, not fleeting virginal un-wooded Sauvignon Blancs or Chenins, but something that had been given the full monty. Autolysis and batonage and wood, and time.
Fortunately in the release-them-quick environs of the South African wine industry, this is not hard to find. Actually, it is immensely easy. All you have to do is look like a writer, hack, blogger kind-of-thing, walk into a winery where you happen to know the owner-manager-PR-poppie, and Bob’s your Auntie…..an unlabelled bottle of 2010-whatever is yours, on the house.
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May
06
2009
David and Walter Finlayson.
Wine maker David Finlayson has resigned as cellarmaster and CEO of Glen Carlou with immediate effect. Along with his father and Glen Carlou founder, Walter Finlayson, David built Glen Carlou into a premier wine estate known for world-class Chardonnay, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Bordeaux blends. A 50% share-holding in Glen Carlou was purchased by the Hess Group of Switzerland in 1995, where-after David progressed to winemaker and CEO. The Hess Group took complete control of the Paarl Estate in 2003.
ΓÇ£I will now be concentrating exclusively on my Edgebaston wine brand which I started a few years ago from my own vineyards in Stellenbosch,ΓÇ¥ says David. ΓÇ£The experience I gained with Glen Carlou in the South African and international wine markets will hopefully stand me in good stead to continue growing Edgebaston and underscoring my commitment to the South African wine industry.ΓÇ¥
