{"id":65659,"date":"2015-01-24T00:04:40","date_gmt":"2015-01-23T22:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=65659"},"modified":"2015-01-24T10:42:03","modified_gmt":"2015-01-24T08:42:03","slug":"influential-uk-wine-writer-jancis-robinson-praises-sa-white-wines-deserve-more-international-attention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/influential-uk-wine-writer-jancis-robinson-praises-sa-white-wines-deserve-more-international-attention\/","title":{"rendered":"Influential UK wine writer Jancis Robinson praises SA white wines, deserve more international attention!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jancis<\/a>UK wine judge and writer Jancis Robinson spent most of this past week in the Cape Winelands, after a seven-year absence. \u00a0She spoke kindly about our industry, and offered insights into the UK and USA markets. \u00a0She wrote from Delaire Graff, where she had attended a Chenin Blanc tasting and stayed over: ‘South African wine is in full ferment. It deserves far more international attention than it is currently getting<\/em>‘!<\/p>\n

Unable to attend two public meetings addressed by Ms Robinson, I have looked for information about\"Jancis<\/a> her talks, admired by some, and slated by a few.<\/p>\n

A detailed summary about Ms Robinson’s (with her husband Nick Lander) talk at #RootstockSA, held at Alle\u00e9 Bleue, was written by Judy Bouwer of wine.co.za<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. \u00a0 Key points she summarised were<\/strong><\/span><\/a>:<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 SA wine estates should target UK restaurants, which have far more reasonable mark-ups. \u00a0Young British people spend their money on food and wine, not being able to afford to buy property.\u00a0\u00a0‘They are discerning and want something with a story, something different and unconventional’.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Sommeliers are becoming more influential in the UK and USA, and will be decision-makers about the wines which are listed in retaurants.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 UK supermarkets have squeezed margins and prices, generating minimal profit from wine estates. The trend is to specialist wine shops and online wine services. \u00a0The UK retail trade ‘just don’t really seem to get South African wines’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Restaurant and wine suppliers should work together, in that reasonable wine-by-the glass prices could generate good profit.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 South Africa should focus on its wine diversity and not just promote its indigenous cultivars, such as Pinotage. \u00a0She praised the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Semillon.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Bottle closures are unimportant in the UK, screwcaps on bottles being acceptable if the wine is good. \u00a0In the USA cork is still favoured.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 In the UK market consumers are buying wines in Tetrapak or plastic packs, even Prosecco. This is not a trend in the USA.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Swartland wine estates have made an important impact in the past 7 years<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0The UK restaurant High Timber, owned by Gary and Kathy Jordan, almost only stocks South African wines, and is creating good exposure for the brands stocked.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 UK wine judge Greg Sherwood comes to our Winelands regularly, and regularly hosts tastings of our top wines in London.<\/p>\n

Christian Eedes, Editor of winemag.co.za<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, provided a summary of Ms Robinson’s talk about international wine trends at the VinPro<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Information Day, attended by 860 delegates (she donated her speaker fee to the Pinotage Youth Development Academy<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, which she also visited):<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Wine drinkers are less influenced by point scoring of wines.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 ‘…lighter, fresher and had less oak<\/em>‘ and ‘indigenous varieties<\/em>‘ are on trend<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Soil type is important, and the Mullineuxs were praised for highlighting the soil type on their labels. ‘Minerality<\/em>‘ is a contentious topic.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 She praised our Chenin Blanc, and how they reflect where they come from. Cinsaut and Grenache also have a good future.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0Origin of the grapes is more important than the cellar in which the wine is made.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Alcohol levels should be reduced, she challenged viticulturists.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The use of bigger and older oak, concrete and amphorae barrels is on trend.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Natural wines are a ‘big fad<\/em>‘, but must taste good.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Bottle-fermented sparkling wines are challenging Champagne in the UK, and Cava and Prosecco are taking off.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 She was puzzled about how little impact South African wines have made in the USA, compared to the UK market. \u00a0She warned: ‘Do not under estimate China’.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio:\u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: \u00a0<\/strong>click here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UK wine judge and writer Jancis Robinson spent most of this past week in the Cape Winelands, after a seven-year absence. \u00a0She spoke kindly about our industry, and offered insights into the UK and USA markets. \u00a0She wrote from Delaire Graff, where she had attended a Chenin Blanc tasting and stayed over: ‘South African wine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[7,3,124,1253,1918,21,19,293],"tags":[29622,577,573,29634,184,421,420,2152,32378,14431,25703,9679,1736,29627,26004,1209,942,29623,669,29632,29631,29633,29621,5060,426,29629,7102,13,422,423,29630,2860,29625,1999,2747,29626,561,29624,562,29628,32373,19001,32382],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t