Franschhoek billionaire now major UK wine retailer

Nick Roditi, the reclusive financial pundit of the Franschhoek Valley, yesterday spent R124 million taking his share of UK internet retailer Ocado to 9.3% in the company’s disappointing debut on the London Stock Exchange, according to the Financial Times.

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Nick, former hedge fund manager for George Soros, needs to step in and jack up the wine offering at Ocado, which lists only 40 SA brands as opposed to 106 from Australia and 51 from New Zealand. France leads the field with 251 but the top end of Franschhoek, in fact the whole valley, is conspicuous by its absence. The most expensive wine is a 3-litre bag in box Kumala Cinsault-Pinotage for £19 while the cheapest is the Whale Caller Shiraz/Cabernet for £4 – nothing to blow up a Platter pundit’s skirt. Many of the SA wines are listed without vintage being specified.

Nick, if you e-mail your postal address, I’ll send you a copy of the Good Value Guru Diaries 2010 just out that contains 100 good value wines including several from your own valley.