Tim James Does it Again in Du Toitskloof Wine Writer Competition
Wednesday, 3 December, 2014
Du Toitskloof Winery
Make that a double. Tim James, well-known South African wine writer and associate editor of the Platter Wine Guide repeated his achievement last year by winning the 2014 Du Toitskloof South African Wine Writer Award which is held annually in association with Standard Bank.
To tie into Cape Town’s status as World Design Capital for 2014, entrants had to submit original unpublished pieces of between 1 500 and 2 000 discussing the role the local wine culture has played in contributing towards the values and aesthetics of design in the Western Cape.
James, from Kenilworth in Cape Town, scooped the winner’s cheque of R30 000 with a piece titled “Getting the Mountains into (and onto) the Bottle” narrating the role the mountains of the Cape winelands play in hosting the vineyards and creating of the region's wines right through to the packaging of the finished product.
Upon receiving the award, James said it is a great honour to receive this prize, thanking Du Toitskloof Wines for the initiative and the organising of the competition, as well as Standard Bank for the generous cheque.
Dr Gabriël Botma from the University of Stellenbosch’s Journalism Department and convenor of the judging panel, said that this year’s entries included a number of gems.
“This year’s topic was of a more creative nature, and the panel really enjoyed reading and analysing the diverse entries from accomplished wordsmiths,” he said. “We felt that the contestants enjoyed the opportunity of being able to express themselves and could see it in the lively nature of the writing.
“The entries used expressive and evocative language to put their viewpoints across, and there was an admirable degree of research and factual thoroughness. We believe that the standard of wine writing is commendably high in South Africa and if our wines command the same amount of respect, the industry is in rude health. As a journalist and academic I am aware of the importance of wine in writing. As American author Jim Harrison says: “The only advice I can give to aspiring writers is don't do it unless you're willing to give your whole life to it. Red wine and garlic also helps.”
This year’s other judges were Prof Ian Glenn from the University of Cape Town’s Department of Media Studies, travel writer Ernst Grundlingh from Weg/Go and former Wynboer editor Maureen Joubert.
The four other entrants of the Du Toitskloof SA Wine Writer of the Year, in association with Standard Bank, were Ricardo Gouveia, Melvyn Minnaar, Tshepang Molisina and Joanne Gibson.
The judging was done anonymously and the results audited by PWC.
Johan de Wet, chairman of Du Toitskloof Wines, Tim James and Willie du Plessis from Standard Bank.
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