Franschhoek, like CNA, is always first with the goodies. Franschhoek Uncorked, Bastille Day Festival, Cap Classique Festival, Oesfees, Wine Writers Competition… the little valley next to Stellenbosch, like Hertz compared to Avis, tries harder. Perhaps the best recent initiative is the Franschhoek Farm Worker of the Year Award, one of the many highlights at the Franschhoek Oesfees held on Solms-Delta last month.

Jacques Daniels

The winner was Jacques Daniels from Franschhoek Pass Winery and his prize was a “training programme funded by the wine industry, to promote his or her career.” Although he’d probably have preferred the R25 000 first prize from the Wine Writers Competition which closed the previous day.

At the oesfees, I saw only two possible candidates: Winelands editor Cassie du Plessis and next level Business Day columnist Graham Howe whose recent column on winenews must be a hot contender for next year’s competition: “when one of my travel editors called and asked if I’d like to fly horizontal class all the way to Las Vegas and back for the week I didn’t have to think twice.”

Which local scribbler can compete against “waves of flavour in osciètre caviar on crab gelée (in a miniature caviar tin), shaved black truffles and potato, cappuccino of chestnut cream, lemongrass turbot and the creamiest mash ever from “the guy who revolutionised mashed potato” (Jay Rayner)” that Michelin magician Joël Robuchon. I’m so jealous, I could vomit.