Lekker Pinotage! Yea, Yea.

Hi there

Someone told me that Vergelegen have just released a new Pinotage. Please can you tell me how much it costs and where I can get some. I want to buy big - at least three bottles. Many thanks.

Does the V stand for Van Rensburg?

No surprises here. The chairman of judges is a consultant to the winning winery. Nice one, Michael.

Mr d'Amaro's allegation is verifiably untrue and I expect an unconditional apology from him.

I am not really surprised by this article, and the mega players of the publishing wine industry, overseas or locals, became market orientated, and are selling their capacity of opinion leader to the one able to afford it....
At least I can only advise people to read Grape online, at least no advertisement means less risk to buy the writer. And even if many mock the Widow, we all fear her judgement, and this often keeps us on the right side of the border, just by dear to be pinpointed...


Disclosure of Interest: none...

Funny that you make that remark Jean Vicent: most of Grape's contributors are involved in the wine industry (not as jornalists), and/or are highly paid consultants. Publicity/exposure can be done in many ways and paid in many ways.

With a paid circulation of more than 400,000, and readership estimated by MRI, an independent company, at more than 2 million, Wine Spectator is the most widely read wine magazine in the world. That success, I believe, is due to our fundamental policy of editorial integrity, of valuing the readers' interests over those of the advertiser or wine producer.

Our wine reviews are based on blind tastings. An independent analysis of our ratings found no difference in average score between advertisers and non-advertisers. We accept no press trips, junkets or other hospitality from wine producers or government agencies. We have broken stories about TCA contamination in some of the biggest, most powerful wineries in California, South America and France.

I am sorry if these accusations about Decanter are true. But don't tar Wine Spectator with the same brush. We pledge to maintain editorial integrity and uphold the fundamental ethics of journalism.

Thomas Matthews
Executive editor
Wine Spectator

Must say, Wine Spectator is very quick to defend their position - come on Mr.Editor you must have had a few free meals and expencive bottles of wine in your time - show me a wine journalist that does not like a free meal, a good bottle of wine and a chat till late in the afternoon. Personally I had to sit through a lot of them during the last 30 years. Years ago in Durban a well known wine journalist actually fell asleep at the table - but no worries he got his press kit and photos afterwards - did not have to think even only had to eat, drink, sleep and write.

This is all part of the wine scene and we as producers do not have a problem with it. But, when the line is overstepped and we read stories like the Decanters one, it leaves a bitter taste and although we are generally nice people we will always be nice and friendly, but you can be sure that what we think of you, you would not want to know. Winemakers worldwide have a wonderfull way with words.

Maybe it is time for a panel to judge wine magazines and wine writers - panel must be knowledgable wine people from the industry. Also when someting "fishy" goes on this panel can investigate and expose the guilty ones.

It is time for us earning our bread from growing/making and selling wine to take charge of our own destiny.

Talking of editorial integrity and responsible journalism - I wonder if Neil checked these damaging allegations with Decanter. I am no fan of advertorial, but there is a big difference between that and the "offer[ing] stories for sale" that they are accused of here. I suspect that it is advertorials that are at issue here, and, frankly, I seriously doubt the validity of Neil's accusations against Decanter - though I think the use of declared advertorials, as also used much closer to home, is bad enough.

This website is running even greater danger of being sued for carrying libel, I'd suggest, having just noticed the comment about "most of Grape's contributors" being "highly paid consultants". We wish... But sadly quite untrue. None of the core team has any other wine industry involvement. But we couldn't afford to sue for libel even if we thought that a good way of proceeding.

WITH OR WITHOUT THE RETRACTION , BALANCED OR NOT BALANCED, HIGHLIGHTING ISSUES OF THIS SORT NEED TO BE EXPOSED, LET THE READER DECIDE.

It was a brilliant wine tasting experience. I would like to hear more news.

It was a brilliant wine tasting experience. I would like to hear more news.

It was a brilliant wine tasting experience. I would like to hear more news.

It was a brilliant wine tasting experience. I would like to hear more news.

I posted a question concerning KWV's harvest a few weeks ago. Have still not had a reply.