Forget history lessons, interesting facts, supermarket choices, hints of vanilla, toasted oak or residual sugar;. Let’s be honest, for most people the only reason they want to learn anything about wine – past the operation of a corkscrew – is so they don’t look like a tit.
At dinner the other night I was paging through a rather limpid looking wine list. Safe wines, boring wines; not one of which inspired in me even a trace of “Wahoo!” I saw one from a producer I have enjoyed before – a Shiraz that I thought may offer something of interest. Boy, was I wrong. It was as interesting as watching paint dry on a black and white television, showing curling. The reason for it’s complete drabness was that it had fallen into the trap that many South African reds are succumbing to. The wine maker was forcing the wine to strongly exhibit flavours and aromas of coffee and chocolate.
One of the things that makes wine stand out in the world of beverages is its ability to age and develop. It is a miraculous thing, tasting something older than you are (frustratingly, this gets more difficulty and expensive as you shuffle along the mortal coil). To taste a living thing formed by the elements […]
In last week’s column I asked what kind of wine content you would like to see me write about. The comment that popped up more than most was about supermarkets, that is, how to deal with a wall of wines, all staring at you from the shelf. Which to buy? How do I know I won’t end up with battery acid? Oh god, the decisions. Too. Many. Wines. Fuck it, I’ll just get that coffee-flavoured Pinotage. Well, you are not alone.
Introducing the first of Harry Reginald Haddon’s weekly columns, discussing wine, and the life that flows from it. Enjoy – it is the sort of read that ages well. – As this is the first wine column I am writing here, I thought I would ask the question: why wine? Why dedicate these 600 or […]
I’m not entirely sure if this is a good idea or a bad idea, but a range of wine packaged in perfume-bottle shaped containers has just been launched in Italy and Germany. The drink is specifically targeted at women and makes life for the non-connoisseur, but still fashionable person considerably easier, as there are only three flavours to choose from.
It’s that time of year again kids – that’s right, the WHO has released their saucy ‘Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2011’ – which means we get to find out if SA’s still a rock-out party country, or if we’ve gotten all lame and started taking our liver problems seriously.
Applying for jobs sucks. It’s awkward and painful and time-consuming. But some people know how to do it right – how to avoid getting caught in the rat-trap of sweaty-palmed interviews and communicate a certain level of coolness at the same time. Presented below is one such person’s job application. Please – read it, and learn to be a better person.
Some weeks ago, Finnish divers discovered several crates of two-centuries-old champagne and beer from a sunken ship in the Baltic Sea for nearly two centuries. They then drank some of it because, hey, why not. And, because sharing is nice, Finnish authorities sponsored a public opening and tasting of the champagne last Friday.
De Grendel Wine farm. An exceptional range of wines, grown and harvested on the De Grendel Wine Farm in Tygerberg, with beautiful views of Cape Town’s Table Mountain.