|  South Africa celebrated its 13th National Day at Hotel Taj Palace to the beat of vivacious African music and vibrant South African Zorgvliet wines with H.E. Francois Moloi, the warm and boisterous High Commissioner holding fort with his wife Misiwe, dressed in a beautiful red Indian saree, looking radiant and charming.
The continuing flow of Viognier and Shiraz made the evening even more enjoyable and informal. Zorgvliet (pronounced zor-ffeet) Wines from Stellenbosch, whose MD Mac Van Der Merwe and his team were present to talk of their premium wines that were being served exclusively.
Speaking at the wine tasting evening at his residence on the previous day, His Excellency had talked about the similarity and long time culture bondage between India and South Africa . He said in a lighter vein, 'Indians don't know that they were South Africans in their previous life and the South Africans don't know they will be Indians in their next life.'
Addressing the FOSAs (Friends of South Africa as H.E. referred of the audience), Subhash Arora, President of Indian Wine Academy said that the most important characteristics in wine was not colour, nose, flavour, acid, tannins, sugar or after taste but Balance. Today the Indian portfolio of imported wines lacks balance as it does not have enough wines like South African.
 Coupled with the fact that South Africa produces not only good value for money wines but also premium wines at reasonable prices, it offers a good opportunity to the Indian importers to balance their portfolios. He added that the beautiful vineyards with most having beautiful mountains in the background offered an excellent wine tourism opportunity for connoisseurs and travellers alike.
Sipping the Shiraz with showed its terroir through its earthy and mineral spicy character, I wondered if the Indian embassies abroad are allowed to serve wine at our national day celebrations abroad.
The ambassador's talk had also made me think of Lynne Sherriff, a South African Master of Wine, now working in the UK as a wine consultant, whom I met in Valencia at the VinoElite wine show, a few days ago. She had told me it was always a pleasure to meet the Indian community in Durban and other parts of Natal in S. Africa . Not only are they passionate wine drinkers, they are extremely knowledgeable and equally vocal in discussing their wines. We are hopefully, 5-10 light years away from this scenario, and not more.
Perhaps, now is the time for we Indians to know that we were South Africans in our previous life and pick up a glass of Viognier, Rosé, Merlot, a Cab or Shiraz from Zorgvliet (I would skip their Pinot Noir though).
South Africa has had a long, chequered wine making history with the first known grape crush in 1655. Their dessert whites from Constantia were the darlings of Europe when no one had even heard of Lafites and Rothschilds. But they were as much victims of Phylloxera in the 1860s as Europe . Apartheid did not help any and the wine industry stayed stifled through the twentieth century, though it continued its existence through KWV and many co-operatives. The French influence and their belief in terroir also kept them breathing.
The Freedom in 1994 put South Africa on a fast track with wine makers and wine making families of generations of experience and pride, plunging head on to bring out revolutionary improvements in their wines. Some of the best value- for- money wines are available now and when the Free South Africa is still in its teens, it should find its feet firmly on the ground in the Indian market.
South African interest in India is on the increase. Recently the ace South African Golfer, Ernie Els stopped over in Delhi while on his way back to London from China for his maiden visit. His objective was to promote his wines. "Wine-making is my passion". said Ernie, who found Delhi a little too hot for comfort. But he's in love with the city nevertheless. "I've taken a trip around Delhi and I liked it a lot.
 He started his wine business in 1999 with his friend Jean Engelbrecht who already owns a winery in Stellenbosch. The Ernie Els Winery was inaugurated in December 2004. His passion for red wines made them choose the Bordeaux blends of 5 varietals.
At their 13 th National Day one could only wish the South Africans luck, while eating the 6-national colour cake in beating Australia in the Indian wine market and avenge their defeat by the Aussies in cricket, though an equally formidable task. Pity , India never got a chance to do it for them, either! |
