Solms-Delta has, since 2005, been regarded by many as a model for transformation in the increasingly contentious and bitter matter of land ownership in South Africa. Their wines have been well regarded on JancisRobinson.com. So I was shocked to read a Daily Maverick article entitled The Solms-Delta way, or, How Not to do Land Reform. It described a wine estate sinking “towards liquidation after more than R65 million of government funding and hollow trusts”. It contained some pretty spectacular accusations that left me quite troubled. I scheduled a call to Mark Solms.