News from London is that the 2004 vintage of our Crucible Shiraz was awarded the Regional Trophy in the 2006 Decanter Wine Awards. To be selected the Best Rhône Varietal red wine from South Africa – by this panel – is high praise indeed. Decanter is not only the UK's leading wine magazine; it is also one of the finest wine publications in the world.

In theory, Oscar’s role at Cloof encompasses the various marketing and sales requirements of the commercial side of the business. While he does appear to be active in these areas, he drifts into the kitchen so often that one has to wonder which role has precedence.

Blending is one of the most important activities that takes place in a cellar. An obvious example is the mixing of different grape varieties, but even within a single grape variety, each tank of wine is different. And that’s not even taking into account the parts that are aged in barrel (where yet further differences occur as a result of the same wine responding differently to barrels from different coopers).

28 February 2006
There are two blocks of Chenin Blanc at Cloof, the oldest of which is Block 6, planted in 1966. The fruit from this vineyard produces a richer wine than what we get from Block 1, where the acidity is racier.

Making rosé is a little like getting dressed in the dark. Until the wine is fined, filtered and ready for bottling, one is never entirely certain of the degree of pink that has been achieved. There is even a story told of a winemaker who famously discovered a white wine in his tanks after the final filtration of wine that had been visibly pink until that point!