On 5 May we hosted a wedding for which the bridal couple had arranged a fire juggler.

We took a break from cooking to watch him do his pre-show practice.

The freshness of Autumn seems finally to be settling upon Cloof. After early morning rain today (and a light sprinkling last week) the winter grains are giving the landscape its annual makeover. The year’s first crop of mushrooms has made its appearance.

Cloof took part in Japan's largest food and beverage show, Foodex, which was held in Tokyo recently. Visitors were interested to taste Pinotage (being South Africa's indigenous grape). Crucible and Lynchpin were highly praised, but The Very Sexy Shiraz probably won us the most friends.

As a purveyor of red wines that inevitably average out at just under 14.5% alcohol I’ve been at the receiving end of a growing number of (negative) comments about high alcohol. I wouldn’t say that I feel yet like the vinous equivalent of the super-sized Big Mac, fries and soda, but I am feeling a bit sensitive about the issue.
 

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Cloof recently became South Africa's third Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) Champion, joining Vergelegen and Graham Beck. Our neighbouring property, Burghers Post, was simultaneously named Champion in its own right.