The Good Value Guru is sad. After three decades of bi-annual visits to the Helderberg Co-op, the establishment is leaving the sheltered cove of the Company of Wine People, itself formed by a merger of Stellenbosch Co-ops, to become part of Boekenhoutskloof, the Franschhoek grape Godzilla that is chomping up winemaking resources faster than Julius Malema downs Nando’s chicken. Out go the winemaker, tasting room manager (after 17 years service), nine cellar hands and even the cleaning lady.

Dark clouds gather over the Helderberg