A wonderful example of visual cognitive dissonance this morning from an unlikely source: Su Birch, head of WOSA, the exporters’ mouthpiece, at ProWein the major European wine show. Hailing the SA green zone as “a huge success” the visual makes the point well: a deserted set. Which some producers may view as a huge flop.

WOSA's Green Zone @ ProWein

But then a space thronged with German wine buyers in “tough discussions around listing fees, promotional allowances, price points and volume projections” would hardly be an oasis amid the “frenzy” of the fair. Catch-22.