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Editorial Just when you think you know
On the eve of writing this, my wife and I did the popular Dirtopia full-moon hike on Delvera to the top of Klapmuts Mountain. It was our third time, but I must confess, I had until that afternoon had reservations and contemplated cancelling for two reasons: a backlog of work which I could have caught up with on a spare evening and, secondly, the prospect of facing the incessant black southeaster.
Eventually, through her insistence I decided not to be a fader and to just get out there. Also, as my daughter was joining in with a visiting friend from Durban ...
All in all it turned out well, becoming more pleasant and inspiring by the moment, as we wound our way up the slopes with backpacks filled with wines, picnic snacks, windbreakers and torches for the return journey. The sun was setting near a partly cloud-capped Table Mountain in the west, with the glowing green vineyards rolling away to the coast in the distance.
Once reaching the peak and cosily hiding from the vehement, icy cold southeaster behind some boulders in lush and fragrant fynbos, all stresses of the day were gone and the mood was warm as we awaited the appearance of the glorious full moon over the Klein-Drakenstein Mountains to the east. We could marvel at the joys of nature in the winelands; liquid and otherwise.
This, together with a colleague, Christo Spies, and his wife who we had encountered on the way up without knowing about each other's hiking plans. But that's how it happens in our world. Some people just get out there and do it without any fuss.
I also found out the next day that WineLand's Wanda Augustyn had at the same time had a moonlight picnic at the Paarl Taal Monument with family and friends. Also quite wind-blown and worn, but glad that she had done it.
Moral of the story: We're at the start of a new year and perhaps a good resolution is to just get off our bums more often and do things. Getting things done - whether professionally or for personal experience and enrichment. If you don't try you won't know ... because, as our chairperson Abrie Botha says, "Just when you think you know, you know nothing."
Just contemplate the story of Van Loveren's Jonas Cupido in Wynboer this month - part of a new series on cellar workers' experiences and dreams. He was born on a wine farm and had to start work by grade 8. After an absence he returned to the farming environment, cleaning up vine off-cuts outside the cellar. Today he's a winemaker who wins awards and has been to France as an exchange student.
So, just do it.
Cassie
Suid-Afrikaanse besighede het pas aanlyn aangesluit by 12 lande en 100 ander stede - met Google Maps en EasyInfo wat hoofstede en strate karteer en vinnige en maklike toegang bied tot 'n uitgebreide besigheidslys.
Plaaslike besighede sal hierby baat vind, omdat die ooreenkoms gebruikers van Google Maps help om alle plaaslike besigheidslyste met die klik van 'n muis op te spoor en sodoende jou besigheid se sigbaarheid aan Jan Publiek te verhoog.
Op die plaaslike wynfront is daar ook heelwat beweging in die regte rigting. Kyk maar na die koning van Cabernet, Coenie Snyman. Dié wynmaker van Rust en Vrede asook Diners Club se Wynmaker van die Jaar glo Suid-Afrika se wyne is beslis besig om al meer aandag te trek in terme van styl - met meer sappige tanniene en vrug.
Vir Suid-Afrikaanse produsente blyk dinge ook meer rooskleurig te lyk. Hymli vertel meer oor wat daar tussen die lyne te lees was tydens die Suid-Afrikaanse Wingerd- en Wynkunde Vereniging (SAWWV) se mees onlangse werkswinkel ... Suid-Afrikaanse produsente is in 'n mededingende posisie, mits ons die wynkaarte reg speel.
In die Walker Bay-gebied word veranderings in "ou" areas aangespreek en nuwe, interessante liggings ontdek. Die resultaat? Eiesoortige wyne uit drie wynwyke vanuit die Hemel-en-Aarde gebied wat beïndruk - van Ataraxia se engelagtige Pinot Noir tot Creation se voller Merlot.
Alwyn Liebenberg se Quinta do Sul het ook reeds die kollig gevang. Die geheim, ongeag skeptici, blyk te wees in ‘die omgekeerde bereiding' van sy port, maar wie sal regtig weet. Dat dié wyn op SA se voorste wynlyste pryk en voorraadvlakke gevaarlik laag daal, is maar net nog 'n bewys dat Alwyn stewig op koers is.
Mag 2010 'n wynjaar in die regte rigting wees.
Wanda
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 2009/10 Directory Now Available! Facts, figures, contact details and much more... 
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