Despite denials to the news by wine whiner Neil Pendock that his ‘favourite’ target, Wines of South Africa (WOSA) CEO Su Birch, was to resign, said resignation has now been confirmed by WOSA.  A fitting ‘going-away’ award for Ms Birch is the 2013 UK The Drinks Business Lifetime Achievement Green Award, it was announced earlier this week.

The Drinks Business Lifetime Achievement Green Award is the world’s largest programme to raise the awareness of the importance of environmental issues in the beverages trade, in recognising those that are leaders in sustainability and environmental performance.  The Lifetime Achievement Green Award recognised Ms Birch’s dedication to ‘environmental and/or ethical causes’.

Ms Birch is previously been namd The Drinks Business Woman of the Year, received the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s Women in Wine Award, while Wine Intelligence named her one of the ten most influential wine personalities in the world.

After thirteen years at the helm of WOSA, Ms Birch will vacate her position in September.  Her last activity will be the ‘The Beautiful South’ tasting in London, a platform for wines from South Africa, Argentina and Chile.

One wonders if Pendock will target Ms Birch’s successor too, with his regular unprofessional abuse!

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage