I love Elgin. But I don’t think she loves me as much. Deciding the night before that I’ll be venturing out that way, and only getting to call the farms on the morning to book an appoint for a few hours later, I’m often met with surprise and disappointment! I do understand though: with scanty traffic going up that way and limited number of staff, impromptu tastings become quite a mission. So you need not worry those that have turned me away, I’ll be back and shall try you yet again, with probably as little prior notice . For those that do manage to make a plan and indulge me, I’m eternally grateful; I know at times it isn’t easy, thanks for accommodating my haphazard nature.

Last time I headed out there, I called William Everson, as per my tradition, earlier that day just as he was about to board a plane out of Cape Town. Unreasonably apologetic, he further lamented he could only make, said plan, about 3 hours later. That sounded great to me: I could indulge in some delicious Winter’s Drift Chardonnay followed by the seductive Mountain Reserve white blend from Oak Valley before getting to try something utterly new to me. Further still we stayed for lunch at the Pool Room where I had a rather tantalizing pork belly! What a day…