Doald Ackerman makes Flying Cloud, one of tbe best wooded Sauvignons Blanc produced in SA. From Strandveld grapes and one hugely expensive barrel of French oak. Not that anyone will taste it today at Val de Vie in the line-up of FNB Sauvignons Bank assembled by Sneeu Wit en sy Seve Dwergies over four well paid days at Nederburg. For the 20 FNB finalists are nearly all big corporates, as SBIG doubled the volume requirement to 2000 litres to enter the competition. They should have lowered the bar but the big boys are running scared of Donald and others who make Sauvignon out of passion, not for fat salaries.

The whole point of a Sauvignon showcase is to focus the spotlight on little guys lacking the huge marketing budgets of a Nederburg (two FNB wines), Kleine Zalze (two wines), Spier, Durbanville Hills or Co-op wines from Overhex and Windmeul. Here, as with so many other things, SBIG got it totally wrong.

Members still go red with embarrassment over the cack handed attempt to market last year’s Top Ten through Wade Bales’ Constantia operation, located in the heart of an appellation totally ignored by the dwergies. The offer was widely ignored by the public. The ridiculous Hermit on the Pill even tried to pressure SBIG to buy his tired old wine. One Durbanville member threatened to buy it and discount it down to R10 a bottle through GetWine which would aid his brand no end.

SA Sauvignon Blanc is way too important to be left to the venal politicians managing SBIG and the marketing largesse of First National Blanc. Time for a Sauvignon Independent to rebel against these corporatistas and their self-serving agendas.