Describes South Africa's viticultural background to illustrate the shape of that industry's present marketing picture in the light of diminishing anctions and the country's present socio‐economic changes — being out of the international market for such a long time has had interesting effects...

This is intended to be the first of a series studying the way in which a small number of people have had a compelling effect upon the South African Wine Industry. John Platter's annual production of his South African Wine Guide since 1980, with tasting and other notes on every South African wine...

The author outlines the recent career of Phyllis Hands, the South African born founder of the Cape Wine Academy. He shows how, since a chance association with a small vineyard in the early days, she has steadily increased her involvement with the South African wine industry. She has now...

Nederburg Wine Auction, celebrating its 20th event this year (1994), has truly established itself internationally alongside auctions in France, Germany and America. It was the brainchild of a past managing director of the giant winemaker wholesalers Stellenbosch Farmers Winery. Dignitaries from...

The relative popularity of South Africa's leading grape varietals and some blends are discussed from the time vitis vinifera was introduced to the Cape of Good Hope in the 1650's to the present day. The word ‘Cultivar’ which is sometimes used, is the South African word meaning cultivated...

Natural wine was not a factor in South Africa until after 1935. However, the hybrid Pinotage was produced in the 1920's and the now quasi government KWV representing wine farmers, was far reachingly empowered to fix the price of distilling wine. South Africa is traditionally a national brandy...

This is the third in a series highlighting the influence an individual can have on the South African Wine Industry. De Wet decided that the Plant Control Board's bureaucracy should be breached because he felt it was doing more harm than good to the wine industry. As a fifth generation Afrikaner...

This is an update of the article in Number 3 of Volume 4 of the Journal in 1992. The omnipotence of KWV backed by the Afrikaans — led government shielded wine farmers to the extent that they became complacent both before and during the world sanctions. The change of government, downfall of...

The study of wine labels can be a non vinous entry to the wine world. There was self labelling of vats before 3000BC — followed by that of smaller vessels, and later, corks. Paper labels were used in the nineteenth century, and became compulsory in the twentieth. To assess a wine, the grape...