David Finlayson looking Edgy.....

ThereΓÇÖs a lot of good stuff going on in new plantings, new wines, new styles. Juicy drops concocted from a medley of Rh├┤ne varietals. Hearty, solid Portuguese-styled reds. The odd experiment with Sangiovese and co-Italian variety Nebbiola.

Yes, the South African wine industry is free from its over-regulated shackles of yesteryear, leaving farmers to plant what they want, where they want. Okay, so it takes a call to Duimpie Bayly at the Wine and Spirits Board, but what the heck. Want to plant Gr├╝neveltliner on the Heads at Knysna or Nero dΓÇÖAvola on the Cape Flats, go for it.

Continue Reading »

To: David Higgs, david@rustenvrede.com

CC: www.winegoggle.co.za

Dear David

Excuse me for saying so, but I was not supposed to really enjoy last weekΓÇÖs media lunch at Rust en Vrede. Being part of the team responsible for the event I was busy ΓÇô like yourself ΓÇô busy with a lot of backroom grinding. Organizing, translating fact-sheets, planning the flow of the event with Coenie, Kobie and Jean, arranging photographs, burning CDs, arranging with the esteemed members of the SA wine writing fraternity, and so forth.

This was, when hosting the crème de la crème of SA’s wine media at Rust and Vrede, a pleasure, but one is sure kept on your toes to ensure it will be alright on the night.

Continue Reading »