Terracura Wines, in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs, is buzzing with activity in preparation for the harvest, which is two weeks early. Chris Groenewald, co-owner and winemaker of Terracura, is juggling this interview while selling wine, putting wax on bottles and directing repairs on the cellar’s cooling system that broke the day before.
Despite all the chaos, Groenewald remains calm, a characteristic that is of utmost importance if you captain the South African blind-tasting team in the World Blind Tasting Competition, as he did at Château Sainte-Roseline in Provence, France, in 2023, and at Chateauneuf du Pape in the Rhone wine region in 2021.
The South African team is selected based on their performance during the South African Blind Wine Tasting Championship, with the winner being appointed as captain. Each team comprises four tasters and a coach.
But what exactly does a blind-tasting competition entail? The objective is to identify the wine you are tasting without seeing the label. In the World Blind Tasting Competition, teams are given 12 wines and receive points for identifying the grape variety, or varieties if it is a blend, country of origin, appellation, vintage, and producer of each wine.
Groenewald says last year’s competition, in which 33 countries competed, was particularly tough. The Romanian team, which won, only scored 108 points, which is the lowest score achieved by the winner since the start of the competition in 2013.
The event was also very competitive. Romania beat the Netherlands by only one point. Denmark took third place with 95 points and France was fourth with 90 points. South Africa came ninth, with only a 20-point difference to Romania.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
This story is from the March 15, 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 15, 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Understanding eye conditions in horses: causes and first aid
A horse can get a swollen eye from bumping it against a tree, shaking its head to keep flies away, or even snake venom
IPM requires a completely different mindset
You need to investigate any beneficial insects that may appear on your plants, or you can purchase them
Does parrot farming protect wild species?
Those in favour of commercial captive breeding argue that breeding parrots to sell can relieve pressure on wild populations. Researchers Neil D'Cruze and Rowan Martin review the evidence.
Bacterial and fungal diseases of garlic
Garlic can be prone to bacterial and fungal diseases, and it's important that farmers are proactive in preventing infection and practise appropriate management. Magda du Toit reports.
Responsible wastewater management: a crucial part of farming
The inadequate management of waste water is a challenge that the agriculture sector needs to deal with. Magda du Toit spoke to experts in waste and water management about a cost-effective treatment system.
Technology that can help protect South Africa's farms
Farm attacks, murders, livestock and crop theft, and other rural crimes are a growing concern in South Africa. As a result, more and more farmers are turning to advanced security technology to protect their lives, properties, and livelihoods. Sinenhlanhla Mncwango spoke to experts about the security strategies that producers can adopt to combat these threats.
The impact of theft on farms in South Africa
A high number of livestock are being stolen every year in South Africa. Insurance is expensive and farmers are battling to find solutions to the problem, says Dr Lindie von Maltitz, agricultural economics lecturer in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State.
Staying afloat amid the cost-price squeeze
John Hudson, head of agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the importance of environmental and social sustainability for a prosperous agriculture sector.
Free State has no reason to mark Transport Month
Free State Agriculture (FSA) is very concerned about the extremely poor state of rural paved and gravel roads in the province and has very little, if anything, to celebrate during Transport Month, which takes place every October.
SA's food system ‘vulnerable to climate change'
The Just Transition Agenda for Food System Policymaking in SA webinar, hosted by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) in October, highlighted the role that South Africa’s food system plays in contributing to climate change and how vulnerable it is to the impact thereof.
