A lack of government funding for SA wine marketing was fingered by Dana Buys (below, with Gary Baumgarten from Anthonij Rupert Wines) as a major limiting factor for SA wine exports. “Italy gets €500 million a year for marketing. WOSA applied to DTI for funding and was turned down. A booth here costs R55K, which we’re paying ourselves.”. Some urgent fence-mending between WOSA and the DTI is indicated after an acrimonious public slanging match some years ago

A tasting of the unreleased maiden vintage 2007 flagship Bordeaux-style blend from Anthonij Rupert, put together by Michel Roland from equal parts Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc with some Petit Verdot plus Merlot, showed there is a new kid on the ultra-premium block. “Its been submitted to Wine Spectator” confided Gazza “and we’re waiting for a rating.”. Hopefully even better than the ninety two and threes the Cabernet and Merlots collected. Meanwhile the entire vintage of 2007 Optima – three containers – has been sold to China and SA wine lovers will have to settle for the 2008 which is good value at R125 a bottle.