We are delighted to report that the 2002 Cloof Pinotage was last week awarded a gold medal in the Swiss International Air Lines Wine Awards. The tasting panel, chaired by the UK’s Robert Joseph, and including Cape Wine Masters Allan Mullins, Irina van Holdt and Cornel Spies, awarded only six gold medals.

16 March 2004

The original Cellar Hands’ Blend came about largely by accident – press wine from the 2002 vintage that was tossed together by the Cloof cellar team and then aged in French Oak barrels. Not only have we loved the extreme concentration of this wine, but international response has been such that we are busy working on the blend that will make up the 2004 version of this wine.

10 March 2004

We’re often asked whether Cloof has the same kind of vintage variations that European vignerons experience. With harvest almost complete, the 2004 vintage is beginning to take shape.

The 2003 Cloof Dusty Road Pinotage is launching on 6 March 2004 in all 180 Vinmonopolet stores in Norway. Due to extremely strict control of any marketing activities relating to alcohol, journalists’ comments are critical. Hence Cloof's peripatetic ‘pusher’ was on hand during a hectic road show of three Norwegian cities last week (including Bergen, pictured alongside), during which said wine was shown to journalists and monopoly employees.

19 February 2004
Anti-alcohol campaigners in the UK are up in arms about a new product, called AWOL (alcohol without liquid). It consists of alcohol vapour that has the same effect as drinking it, but without the calories. Apparently it also gives a good ‘hit’.