ORWC News

From 30 March to 2 April, Cape Wine 2004, a gargantuan occasion to drive wine exports was held at the Cape Town Convention Centre. This international wine exhibition was punted as the most impressive local wine show ever. More than
4 000 wines from close to 300 South African wineries were on offer for tasting and discussion with the global wine trade and media. Oranjerivier Wine Cellars were there of course…

In anticipation of the experience Koos and I (with Herman attending for the first day and a half), were somewhat anxious but also curious about what to expect from the international wine audience. This was especially the case because Cape Wine 2004 was the first real opportunity to put to the test the redefined styles of our wines. We were prepared, though, from banners to spittoons, to price-lists, leaflets and brochures. We were rather busy, talking and spitting from morning till eve and on more than one occasion we received compliments for being organised and informed.

We were allowed to have ten wines on display which comprised a selection of the Oranjerivier, Living World and Wozani export labels. In the end the experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and the reaction to our wines was totally pleasing and supportive.
We renewed contact with old clients, and of course also met numerous new faces and potential wine buyers. In fact, subsequent to Cape Wine 2004, Oranjerivier Wine Cellars have been visited by a UK based specialist wine company who has also placed their first wine order. For the rest we received buyers at our stand from the UK, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Australia, Poland, USA, Finland and some more.

Aspects and characteristics of our wines, which mostly impressed visitors to our stand, are the following:

    * The wines were found to be fruit expressive, round, supple and well balanced.
    * Remarkably drinkable and accessible – in this respect the red wines were a surprise to all.
    * The chemical balance of the wines was often commented upon, from the luminosity of appearance, the acid/fruit balance and the fact that the alcohol is so well integrated with every wine’s flavour personality – all just positive.
    * Throughout everybody was just astonished by the awesome size of Oranjerivier Wine Cellars, by the variety of terroir, the bio-diversity and the agricultural opulence of the region. And especially by the quantities of wine that we can deliver, with consistency of style and in continuity of numbers.

From our side we were, like always, not surprised by the total lack of knowledge that the international wine community (and also the locals I dare to say), shows about Oranjerivier Wine Cellars, its region and its wines. To me the experience of Cape Wine 2004 has been a catharsis. I left Cape Town elated, thinking that this fact about the world not having known much about us was actually a good thing. Now that our wines are being “announced” to the international wine community, we can plan, prepare and market our wines with more innovation and precision than ever before – and we can do so in a singularly dynamic fashion.
By the same token we must also understand and accept that, more than ever before, the eyes and “noses” of the international wine trade will be watching us and sniffing out our wines. The opportunities are there, but equally so there will be no room for mistakes. Oranjerivier Wine Cellars have been discovered.

Tinus van Niekerk