Hundreds of top one hundreds

There is a plethora of Top 100s at the moment. This week’s edition of Time magazine features “the 100 most influential people in the world” while negociant Wade Bales has picked his Top 100 SA wines from 50 producers and will showcase them in Newlands the week after next. Which is most confusing as Robin von Holdt does a similar thing in St. James but I’d put Wade ahead as the St. James selection pool is 440 wines submitted to Robin’s competition along with a hefty entry fee.

wade

While Wade has got Klein Constantia and they don’t enter hardly anything since they were snapped up by bicycle interests. Plus Meerlust, Ernie Els, Steenberg, Delaire Graff and Hamilton-Russell, a winery I’ve heard is up for sale or is that just Southern Right? Could Chas Banks be on the prowl after snapping up Mayacamas? As the Wine Spectator reports “Banks is looking to expand his winery investments further, noting that he’s looking at several other deals announcing in the next few months.”

Wade also seems to have picked up a handy new sponsor in the shape of BNP Paribas Cadiz Securities. Have Diners Club departed or are all their resources now focused on trying to rescue the Platter Wine Guide they recently purchased?