The latter anxiety quickly disappeared for us. During our time here we discovered too many things to count about the wine world and met too many amazing people to make one feel as though this is not just an industry, but rather a community.
We’ve stepped into the doors of your homes and offices as young men, far from our own home, day after day, morning and night and the enthusiasm and kindness which we have been greeted with each and every time, from our first day until our last, has been nothing short of amazing. We’ve sat across the table with so many of you who spend your days and nights striving to improve South Africa’s wine in many different capacities and, the wisdom which we have been given time and time again, has not only altered and changed the way we see this country – it has also continually reinforced our belief that South African wine has a very bright future in America, our home.
It’s our deeply held conviction, and ultimately the driving force behind this journey that wine is a deeply personal endeavor. Unlike many other items, a bottle of wine is so much more than the sum of its parts. It inherently reflects and possesses so many beautiful aspects of our human experience – it is a form of art that is created not by one man, but rather a blend of earth and individuals. From those who grow the grapes, choosing to invest their time and resources into a pursuit which we know is not often met with any grand financial reward to the distant customer, there is an emotion and happiness which wine often interjects into everyone’s life along the way. There are few things which can claim to be the source of as much emotion, good and bad, as wine can.
We are now embarking upon our return to the US with this knowledge and experience in our pockets, knowing that it will carry us forward for the many long years ahead and it remains our mission to show as many people as we can the beauty of South Africa, the beauty of its people and the beauty of its wine.
Thank you so much for everything you have done, we only hope that we can do justice to the kindness and generosity which we have been shown.
Sincerely,
Walker Brown & Charles Brain
Creators of Lubanzi Wine