Wineblog

The reaction one gets when being introduced as a South African, always intrigues me. Our taxi driver – probably the most jovial chap in all of Germany – exploded with excitement and started repeating: “Fußball 2010, Soccer, Cup, Ja!”, while the receptionist at my hotel started telling me about the animals at the Stuttgart zoo!

Most of the winos at Intervitis were surprisingly knowledgeable about Wein aus Südafrika and many of them tasted what South Africa is capable of at Düsseldorf a week earlier.

Messe-Stuttgart’s director of communication, Thomas Brandl, regularly visits the Cape and regards Chenin Blanc as a key variety in the future of South African wine. His favourite SA wine is Kleine Zalze’s Family Reserve Chenin – even though he generally doesn’t like oaked whites. “I find that South African Chenins are big enough to stand up to oak, which can very often dominate other varietals, like Chardonnay,” adds Brandl.

A Chenin man - Thomas Brandl

My Chilean travel partner and fellow “Southern Hemisphere ambassador” at Intervitis – editor of Vitis Magazine, Eduardo Rocagliolo – thinks of Pinotage when South Africa is mentioned. And he’s not particularly fond of the variety …

“There are probably some good Pinotages, but this should not be South Africa’s flagship. It lacks elegance.”

Anything but Pinotage, please. Chilean wine writer, Eduardo Roncagliolo

The surprise of the visit was, however, OIV President, Ives Bernard’s taste for South African MMC’s. Bernard resides in Champagne and is a living legend in the home of bubbles. He was the Chief of Production at Moët Hennessy and has tasted sparkling wine around the world. Bernard also played a key role in organising a MCC tasting in Champagne in 2009 – confirming that the MCC-boom is much more than a flavour of the week.   

Although a nod of approval from a big gun is fantastic, it’s the man on the street that eventually buys the wine – and pays the industry’s bills.  

An old timer at a traditional German restaurant in one of the small villages outside Stuttgart came to my table when he heard “Südafrika” and spontaneously said: “Danie de Wet sehr guter Mann!” and then left without another word!

Germany is now the world’s biggest imported of wine. With South African sales also steadily increasing, the word on the street regarding South African wein (and pub crawling) is generally sehr gut. Prost!

At the opening discussion and media conference and formal opening ceremony, the main theme of Intervitis Interfructa 2010, sustainability, was announced and discussed – thoroughly.

The way forward: Solar panels at Torres Winery, Spain.

Their recently established Priorat winery was built partly submerged in order to reduce the need for cooling during the summer months, while rainwater is retained through specially designed dams. Viticulturally, new vineyards are being established at higher altitudes, while traditional Catalonian varieties are now in the spotlight due to their better drought resistance.

Submerged sustainability - cutting on cooling costs through cellar design.

In addition to this the Torres group has invested in 12 000 m² of solar panels, moving towards self sustaining power supply at some of the cellars.

Sustainability was also a key factor in selecting the most innovative developments at the show. These innovations include impressive grape sorting systems, breathable functional clothing and hail protection net systems.

Which brings me to my next task: selecting my own top ten most innovative products, while listening to the lengthy marketing talk …   

Die moeder van alle wyntegnologie skoue, Intervitis Interfructa, skop vanmore af by die Stuttgart Messe – ʼn massiewe konferensiesentrum net duskant Stuttgart se Flughafen.

Ek is van Maandag middag af in Waldenbuch – ʼn pragtige klein dorpie, naby aan die Messe – en het die meeste van die afgelope twee dae gemaak om die gebied, sy mense, sy kos, sy bier en natuurlik sy wyn te ontdek.

Die pragtige dorpie, Waldenbuch.

Op die rak

As ek in ʼn ander land is, kan ek nie anders as om eerste ding by ʼn drankwinkel aan te doen nie – om te kyk watter Suid-Afrikaanse wyn in voorraad is, natuurlik. Ek was veral nuuskierig wat op die Duitse rakke gaan wees, aangesien hulle deesdae liters en liters se grootmaatwyn invoer. (Sawis se grootmaat syfers fassineer my meer as die aandelemark …)

Waldenbuch is naby aan die Württemberg wynstreek, maar ook net-net te ver om werklik ‘n wynkultuur te hê – amper iets soos Piketberg. Die verteenwoordiging van Suid-Afrikaanse wyn het my onder omstandighede eintlik nogal beïndruk – maar ook net soveel verbaas. Hier is nie ʼn drankwinkel nie, maar hulle verkoop wyn by ʼn kettingwinkel groep, Binder, wat weer kan vergelyk word met iets soos ʼn Seven Eleven.

Waar die Walenbuchers hul Suid-Afrikaanse wyn koop

Die wyne wat die Suid-Afrikaanse vlag in Waldenbuch moet laat wapper is Drostdy-Hof – wat ek kan glo maklik op die Duitse tong val – se Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc en Chardonnay, sowel as Bergsig Pinotage 2005 en twee nommers wat ek nog nie op eie bodem teëgekom het nie: Lion’s Pride Reserve 2008 en Ruyter’s Bin Merlot.

Hierdie wyne moet hul man staan tussen kompetisie van Duitsland (uit die aard van die saak die meerderheid van die beskikbare wyn), Frankryk, Italië en Australië. En ek kan met trots sê dat ons gatskop onder die nuwewêreld lande.

Die oesjaar van die Bersig is dalk bietjie aan die ou kant, maar is darem nie rede om skaam te wees nie. Wat die Leeu Meneer betref, het nie sy WO (Western Cape) of rugetiket (“Highly rated category of modern Cape Blends”) vir my leidrade gegee van wat dit is of wie dit maak nie.

‘n Vinnige Google navorsingsessie het wel gewys dat die wyn ook verkoop word op verskeie aanlyn “Weinshops”. Kom ons hoop maar die leeu wapper ook die vlag vir Südafrika. Dit lyk gelukkig asof leeus mode is in Wurttemberg – sien die nuutste labrador modesnit…  

'n Duitse leeu