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wine
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The Price Of Wine: Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
16 Nov 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 5 Comments
I think we pay too little for our wine. These thoughts have clouded my brain like a Joburg smog – discussions about money always leave a dirty taste – since I heard a few different pronouncements about wine and money. The first was at the Swartland Revolution – the constitutionally testing wine event I attended this weekend, whose schedule ran daily from august conversations about fine wine to hangovers that would bring a tear to your eye and a lump to your throat.
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Five Star Platter Wines Announced – Cue Raised Eyebrows
12 Oct 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 1 Comment
Yesterday the wines that scored 5 stars in Platter – South Africa’s foremost wine reference guide – were released. At this year’s launch, 18 tasters worked their way through the 7 000 submitted wines. Every now and then they came across one that astounded and delighted, a wine that made them smile and smirk, and hopefully, finish the bottle. Here’s my take on the affair.
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Where Did We Go Wrong?
28 Sep 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 7 Comments
“The wines of Constantia became famous in Europe at the same time (mid 1700 s) as the red wines of Chateau Lafite. Makes you think.” Su Birch, the head of Wines of South Africa, tweeted this week. Lafite is a famous French first growth – the 2009’s are selling for around 14 000 bucks a bottle. Yes Su, it does make me think. It makes me think, “Where the fuck did we go wrong?”
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Wine As Art? Damn Straight
21 Sep 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 1 Comment
Recently I was knocking back Meerlust’s new releases at a lunch. Drinking these rather scrumptious wines, we began to discuss some incredibly important issues. The things one discusses at a wine lunch – among other winos – are, of course of world importance. They solve world hunger, the middle-east issues, America’s debt, Malema, Greece, and hint toward what 42 actually means. To be honest, if it wasn’t for conversations such as these, the world would be in a worse place than it is. So on this blustery day in Stellenbosch, the question that arose was, “Can wine be art?” As I said, vital stuff.
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My Drug Of Choice
07 Sep 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 1 Comment
Drugs are great. Don’t listen to those naysayers who offer hugs instead. Silly. Whoever heard of a hug that produced art, ideas, conversation and discovery? Some may have led to sex, sure, but then I reckon ecstasy wins on that count. Of course, drugs kill people and ruin lives. So do guns, politicians, earthquakes, religion, airline food, ignorance, baseball-bats, well timed punches, badly timed racing drivers, and a host of animals. But none of these things gives us the sheer pleasure while hastening our demise that drugs do. Wine is my drug of choice.
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On Elegance
31 Aug 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 7 Comments
Every now and again I’ll post a column on a certain word that wine people – myself included – use to describe wines that can be slightly troubling. I am going to try and make it a little bit clearer as to how the word is being used in reference to wine. Because as much fun as it is pairing wine with death, one must try to be of some use. Slight disclaimer: This is a column that imagines its readers enjoy thinking about wine a little. If you are happy with the “Ja, not battery acid I’ll drink it. Fuck that it’ll kill you” approach to drinking wine, this may annoy you.
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Wine: The Liquid To Live And Die By
25 Aug 2011 by Jasmine Stone / No Comments
There is so much drama in the SA wine industry at the moment, what with caffeine conundrums, and now a damning (albeit one-sided) report from Human Rights Watch that Western Cape fruit farmers are treating their workers like it’s the 1860s. I thought I would steer completely clear of such depressing matters and uplift the wine drinking nation with some sound advice as to what wine to open when faced with certain situations in your life.
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How To Drink Wine And Not Look Like A Muppet
03 Aug 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 7 Comments
Forget history lessons, interesting facts, supermarket choices, hints of vanilla, toasted oak or residual sugar;. Let’s be honest, for most people the only reason they want to learn anything about wine – past the operation of a corkscrew – is so they don’t look like a tit.
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A Plague On The Mocha Choca Wine Brigade
13 Jul 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 25 Comments
At dinner the other night I was paging through a rather limpid looking wine list. Safe wines, boring wines; not one of which inspired in me even a trace of “Wahoo!” I saw one from a producer I have enjoyed before – a Shiraz that I thought may offer something of interest. Boy, was I wrong. It was as interesting as watching paint dry on a black and white television, showing curling. The reason for it’s complete drabness was that it had fallen into the trap that many South African reds are succumbing to. The wine maker was forcing the wine to strongly exhibit flavours and aromas of coffee and chocolate.
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Of Age And Aging: Is Older Wine Better Wine?
06 Jul 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 2 Comments
One of the things that makes wine stand out in the world of beverages is its ability to age and develop. It is a miraculous thing, tasting something older than you are (frustratingly, this gets more difficulty and expensive as you shuffle along the mortal coil). To taste a living thing formed by the elements […]
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Surviving The Terror Of The Supermarket Wine Shelf
29 Jun 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 17 Comments
In last week’s column I asked what kind of wine content you would like to see me write about. The comment that popped up more than most was about supermarkets, that is, how to deal with a wall of wines, all staring at you from the shelf. Which to buy? How do I know I won’t end up with battery acid? Oh god, the decisions. Too. Many. Wines. Fuck it, I’ll just get that coffee-flavoured Pinotage. Well, you are not alone.
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Let Me Introduce You To The Nectar Of The Gods
22 Jun 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 13 Comments
Introducing the first of Harry Reginald Haddon’s weekly columns, discussing wine, and the life that flows from it. Enjoy – it is the sort of read that ages well. – As this is the first wine column I am writing here, I thought I would ask the question: why wine? Why dedicate these 600 or […]
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Distillery Takes Relationship Between Wine And Housewives To The Next Level
14 Jun 2011 by Jasmine Stone / No Comments
I’m not entirely sure if this is a good idea or a bad idea, but a range of wine packaged in perfume-bottle shaped containers has just been launched in Italy and Germany. The drink is specifically targeted at women and makes life for the non-connoisseur, but still fashionable person considerably easier, as there are only three flavours to choose from.
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South Africa Did Okay In The WHO’s Booze Championships
15 Feb 2011 by Jasmine Stone / No Comments
It’s that time of year again kids – that’s right, the WHO has released their saucy ‘Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2011’ – which means we get to find out if SA’s still a rock-out party country, or if we’ve gotten all lame and started taking our liver problems seriously.
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My New Favourite Way To Get Hired
14 Jan 2011 by Jasmine Stone / 4 Comments
Applying for jobs sucks. It’s awkward and painful and time-consuming. But some people know how to do it right – how to avoid getting caught in the rat-trap of sweaty-palmed interviews and communicate a certain level of coolness at the same time. Presented below is one such person’s job application. Please – read it, and learn to be a better person.
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The World’s Oldest Champagne And Beer Still Taste Pretty Okay
22 Nov 2010 by Jasmine Stone / No Comments
Some weeks ago, Finnish divers discovered several crates of two-centuries-old champagne and beer from a sunken ship in the Baltic Sea for nearly two centuries. They then drank some of it because, hey, why not. And, because sharing is nice, Finnish authorities sponsored a public opening and tasting of the champagne last Friday.
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THE SUMMER OF DE GRENDEL
01 Oct 2008 by Seth Rotherham / No Comments
De Grendel Wine farm. An exceptional range of wines, grown and harvested on the De Grendel Wine Farm in Tygerberg, with beautiful views of Cape Town’s Table Mountain.
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