There are those who think that Stellenbosch is one of the loveliest winelands in the world as it is; others, like the strawberry-farming Zetler family seem to prefer it covered with plastic hothouses and vibrocrete walls. Read more

Talking of football (we were, surely?), I wonder why it needed a Portuguese producer to bring out a wine with a brilliant fick-Fufa label celebrating the beautiful ... beverage. Read more

The absurdity of many American tasting notes continues to bewilder me, with their piled-up "organoleptic" adjectives. Read more

With wine getting less and less coverage in print media everywhere, it's gratifying that South Africa seems to be reversing the trend. Read more

Johan Malan was clearly chuffed at the gold medal his Simonsig Merindol Syrah 2007 had won at the Syrah du Monde competition - and surprised when he noticed that I didn't seem impressed. Read more