January 2012
EDITORIAL
Time to reach out and regroup
This new year seriously needs to be one of regrouping, reconstruction, reconciliation and reaching out. With all the issues and challenges at stake, we can’t afford any further luxuries of selfishness, short-sightedness, self-indulgence or opportunism.
Sounding like a politician on a public platform? Yes maybe, but sometimes one has to stop and take stock, and contemplate the real meaning of supposed hackneyed terms or clichés. Almost like “terroir-expressing” and “fruit-driven” …
How in the world are we otherwise going to tackle the challenges of economic pressures, stifling laws, shrinking profit margins, threats to alcohol advertising, health and socio-economic problems, a stagnant domestic market and slacking export growth?
We see in this edition that a significant collaboration has brought about a new competition and overdue attention to the concept and development of the Cape red blend concept.
It’s meanwhile also come to our attention that a potentially hugely powerful wine industry grouping, the estate owners, is regrouping after a few years of maintaining a low profile. The Cape Estate Wine Producers’ Association has a new pilot committee convened by Duimpie Bayly and are planning to come back in full force.
But what we also need more of, are moves to rally the combined powers of the different wine industry groupings and a host of organisations. And strong, fearless and visionary leaders to take the bull by the horns.
Meanwhile, we are proud to have published the eighth annual edition of the Wynboer Technical Yearbook, which now spans 184 pages – made possible by our collaboration with Winetech, VinPro and the AEB Group as sponsor.
Yes, we practice what we preach.
Tyd vir uitreik en hergroepeer
Die jaar 2012 gaan nuwe eise stel – die belangrikste waarvan die uitreiking oor grense wat die wynbedryf se energie verdeel en optimale impak belemmer om sy groot uitdagings en probleme effektief aan te spreek. Die magdom organisasies en aksies van ’n dinamiese en omvattende wynbedryf kan waarskynlik veel beter interaksie hê, kommunikeer en koördineer. Maar sterk, vreeslose en visioenêre leierskap is nodig. Ons is trots om die agste jaarlikse uitgawe van die Wynboer Tegniese Jaarboek hiermee saam uit te gee – danksy ons eie voorbeeld van samewerking oor ’n wyer front.
Cassie
