Wine Investment in South Africa - Cape Wine Academy

some top producers do not enter their wines in competitions and others don’t make enough
to export to all the critics, publications or shows in key countries.
It is not just about winning competitions. Inclusion in ‘ best of ’ lists and recommendations by
publications such as Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast in the US, and UK magazines
Decanter and Wine, as well as frequent mentions on websites such as Robert Parker’s and
Jancis Robinsons’ will familiarise foreign buyers with many of the best SA wines. Emil den
Dulk, owner of De Toren, recognised this when Fusion V was named the only SA wine to be
rated in the top 100 wines 2010 in US magazine Wine Enthusiast, he believes it ‘raises the
profile of all South African wines’ ( den Dulk, 2011 ).
Regular appearances on restaurant lists will also help; Mike Ratcliffe speaks proudly of
Warwick wines appearing on the lists of ‘four of the top ten restaurants in the world’. Many
foreign buyers are already familiar with names such as Sadie, Meerlust, Warwick,
Kanonkop, Glen Carlou, Thelema, Rustenberg, Rust en Vrede, Vergelegen and Tokara.
Consider the travel website article on Viamichelin.co.uk which enthuses;
‘I discovered this exceptional wine-maker thanks to the venerable Parisian wine shop
Les Caves Legrand on Rue de la Banque. I asked Kristeven M’Boungou, their
knowledgeable and charming New World wine specialist, which South African wines I
should try first. ‘Eben Sadie’s vintages!’ was her unequivocal answer’
( Tresmontant, 2010 ).
Eben Sadie’s wines are an interesting case in point. Firstly, Eben had never heard or read
the quote above and though flattered, he is at odds with any attempt to appease critics or
enter competitions. Despite his red blend Columella receiving 95 points from Parker in
2005, 2007 and 2008 he is completely unmoved by this. He has even withdrawn his wines
from sale in the US. “I make wines to drink.. I don’t run after awards and I don’t take my
wines around the world for approval” ( Sadie, 2011 Appendix H ). Sadie is suspicious of
wine ratings and making wine to achieve ratings;
“Selling on the tail of achievement is risky.”
Sadie points out that wines achieving 95 points one year with a satisfactory vintage the
following have little option but to be given 95 or 96 points the following. The saturation of
wines now regularly receiving 90 points or more makes the assessment flawed. His point is
made by the US website of ‘90pluswines.com’ which currently lists ( though many are past
vintages of course ) more than 7,450 SA wines rated at 90 or more points; generous by any
account.
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