The authentic spirit of revolution has passed from the Swartland to Bot River. Ten points of difference between last night’s Barrels & Beards celebration in a barn at Anysbos and last year’s Swartland Revolution in Riebeek-Kasteel.
- Cost: Bot River: R150, Swartland: R1750 pp;
- Cellars in the Friends of Tim James CWM t/a UCT Top 20 Wineries: Bot River: 0, Swartland: 3 in the Top 10;
- Braaimeister: Bot River: owner of the Stanford pub, Swartland: Reuben Riffel of the One&Only;
- Foreign dignitaries: Bot River: a car full of passing Chinese with cameras, Swartland: assorted UK pay-to-play journos and surfing bloggers;
- Revolution symbol: Bot River: fat tailed Afrikaner sheep, Swartland: North Korean red star ripped off from Anton Espost;
- Bubbly: Bot River: sparkling Chenin Blanc from Wildekrans and Genevieve Chardonnay MCC, Swartland: Bollinger Champagne;
- Sommerliers: Bot River: Xavier Didier (Michelin 3 star Tantris in Munich), Swartland: Joakim Hansi Blackadder (Rust en Vrede);
- Influences: Bot River: Hemel en Aarde Valley, Swartland: Franschhoek;
- Wine styles: Bot River: cool climate elegance, Swartland: big alcohol blockbusters;
- Bowties: Bot River: 0, Swartland: 1.