“You are a bit of a young fogey at heart, aren’t you?” observed UK wine writer and international judge at this year’s Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, Anthony Rose. This hypothetical question was directed at me as I was defending a particular style of Chenin Blanc deemed to be ‘traditional’ and therefore less desirable.
We were seeking to identify the top Chenins – worthy of an Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Gold Medal – and, unfortunately, the style I was punting just wasn’t as appealing as the more ‘luminous’ and bright styles in the line-up. “That is Jean Daneel [Chenin] five years ago,” noted panel chairman Christian Eedes, implying that we have moved beyond that. But I liked Jean Daneel’s Chenins then, and shoot me, but I still do. Continue reading
“Organic is no longer a movement, it is an imperative.” These are the words of Greg Garden, Group Brand Executive of Nedbank. He was addressing guests at the annual Nedbank Green Wine Awards, held in partnership with Getaway magazine, last week. And although the focus here was on wine and sustainable wine farming, the importance of a holistic approach to the earth and its resources in totality couldn’t be overstated – also in light of the upcoming Cop 17 /United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban. 
