Since Amorim South Africa’s Recorking Clinic began giving classic old wines a new lease on life through the meticulous process of recorking, wines subjected to this process have found their way onto the platforms provided by various auction houses. And here, these Amorim recorked wines have achieved spectacular prices.

The natural relationship between clay and wine extends beyond the water-retention abilities and agreeable pH levels that make clay soils conducive to viticulture. For close on 2 700 years clay has been used to make vessels for the fermentation and holding of wine. Since those first dubious drops of grape juice were poured into clay pots by the winemakers of ancient Greece, Georgia and Rome, the containers have hardly changed in shape and size. Amphorae, as they are known, are today not only eye-catching aesthetic complements to wineries the world over, but represent a modern vinous movement aimed at capturing the natural purity of fermenting and fermented wine.

An initiative launched by Amorim South Africa three years ago to offer a service whereby rare old wines are re-corked to give them a new lease on life has led to Amorim being selected to give recorking support for wines that are to feature at two premier local wine auctions.

With the current global demand for cork stoppers surpassing 12bn units annually and the wine market’s upward growing curve, the world’s leading cork-company Amorim is going back to basics to ensure sufficient supply of quality product for the years ahead. And by going back to basics we are talking about the source of cork, namely the quercus suber, also known as the cork oak tree. Speaking to the popular Grandes Escolhas Magazine, Antonio Amorim, president of Amorim Cork told of the company’s plans to ensure unhindered supply of product from a new generation of cork forests.

With exhibition space for South Africa’s triennial wine trade showcase completely sold out, CapeWine 2018 is set to yet again raise the bar as South African wine producers ready themselves for the international trade and media gaze when Wines of South Africa (WoSA) welcomes them from 12 – 14 September. And once again, Amorim will be present at this illustrious event as one of the sponsors.

One of the greatest resurgences in the wine world’s recent history is that of Madeira. Long relegated to the lower shelves as an aide for cooking and cheerful sweet quaffing, the fortified wines from this island off the coast of Portugal have lately undergone a renaissance.

Top image: Kobie Viljoen and Amorim Cork MD Joaquim Sá 

The whackiest event in the South African wine landscape has to be the annual Barrels & Beards Festival held by the small but spirited Bot River Wine Route. Annually a group of wine makers make a vow of not shaving during the harvest, at the end of which they host a beard competition and gigantic slap-up party to celebrate the ending of the grape crush, the beautiful beards and the simple joys of being a member of the wine community in this charming rural enclave.

Lights….camera…..action….and cork. With the highly anticipated movie Tomb Raider having hit the screens to international acclaim, it is worth noting that cork took on one of the minor roles.

None of those who were in the De Wetshof winery on Monday 12 March will forget it. Not one.

My fascination for wine began with a cork. And more precisely, the opening of a bottle of wine by removing said cork.