The Cape’s Chenin Blanc bandwagon continues to gather pace as Jancis Robinson chooses two SA Chenins – the Origin Swartland Chenin 2011 and the Jordan, Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2011 – in the 14 whites she lists today as part of her Financial Times 25 summer bargains.  These are the only SA wines chosen under a £10 cut-off price ceiling.

Interesting Israeli wine producer

Yet more reason for consumers and producers to embrace the Spier Pizza and Chenin Challenge we’ll be nailing down next week.  And something for the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group to ponder as their FNB Sauvignon Challenge rolls around.

Jancis’s Sauvignon stunners were from Chile and France and if it wasn’t for the £10 ceiling, New Zealand would have undoubtedly been there, too.  This was the lesson of the Concours du Sauvignon Competition earlier this year: SA Sauvignon is in danger of becoming a legend in its own lunchtime with overly acidic green wines turning off consumers and international judges alike, in droves.  The challenge for SBIG is how to rejuvenate a style that looks like its seriously running out of steam and something for the FNB judges to take on board when they taste the new crop of Sauvvies in early August. If they can leave their parochial cellar palates at home.