I am concerned to find that, Annareth Bolton CEO of Stellenbosch Wine Routes, is a reputable affiliate with a site that hosts a forum where Stellenbosch Wine Route members are improperly criticized for bad service, experiences, including slants on the greater Stellenbosch tourism industry. Your affiliation causes the visiting public to assume your feelings are similar to those shared by the so-called “Wine Flies” on the site www.spitorswallow.co.za.

…

Mr Coetzee also post something similar on gumtree. I need to point out that the only affiliation Spit or Swallow had with Stellenbosch Wine Festival was a link Annareth added on their website http://wineroute.co.za/welcome.aspx, which was subsequently removed.

We also need to clarify, Mr Coetzee, that most of the reviews on http://spitorswallow.co.za are actually positive and complimentary towards the wineries. Just because your farms got “criticized for bad service, experiences, including slants” do not assume its the same for the whole of the Stellenbosch area. Maybe if you pull your head out your ass and focusing on treating the South Africa public with a bit more respect, they will stop slinging shit at you.

The rest of the email criticized the new format of the festival and at the end he criticized how bad the pervious format was. Sometimes it’s just astonishing how disconnected people can be from reality.

Anyhow, if you were at the festival, feel free to tell us how it was for you. Read our experience here: 2010 Stellenbosch Wine Festival – The best to date

The curious thing about this delivery was not the content, but the packaging. It came in a linen type bag, see here:

Normally with these kind of drop-offs the packaging is either a once-of-box ready for the recycle plant, or some multi purpose beach bag with the product’s branding all over it. In this case we were totally stumped. What do you use this for and evermore intriguing, where and when can one use it again?

After busting our brains for a couple of minutes we came to the conclusion it’s a Amarula Ball Sack.
Like any good ball sack it holds some liquids and yes, some balls.

And just like a ball sack, when the juice comes out the sack becomes useless.

So without boring you any further, what do you think we can re-use it for?

Going to Groot Constantia as a normal wine consumer is as good as booking yourself into Pollsmoor Prison for a gang rape session. This place’s only mission is to fuck you over. I will never in my life go their again, or at least not until my rectum stops bleeding. It’s a vulgar place where the useless wine staff’s total lack of interest contaminant the wine until it taste like vinegar. With each sip I just wanted to fuck-off and escape from this Groot nightmare. That fact that we had to pay for this experience made me feel like a complete idiot. For R28 you get wine, full stop. What type of wine? Who knows, no one there cares to tell us.  They were to busy doing fuck-all. I’ve experience better service from a sampling stand in the Pick n Pay.

When we left I almost had a tear in my eye. If this is our wine icon which showcase our wine industry and present our friendly South African service to thousand of tourists a year, I’m crying with embarrassment. As we drove to our next stop it occurred to me that this experience now influenced my whole perspective of the Constantia route. I wanted to warn all the other wineries in the Constantia area about this gangster that rape tourist and locals alike, while hiding in sheep’s clothes made from years of history and heritage. If the Constantia wine route is not careful this Groot shit will drag the whole area down into it’s wicket ways.  I do not know if the people at Groot Constantia are under the impression that the general public are fucking idiots and that we do not know when someone rips us off, but I’ve got news from them, we do. I will never go back to this useless institution, never drink their wine (even if every bottle they every make from now onwards get 5 stars from Platter and its cronies) and will make a point to warn ever tourist and South African never to go here again.

But on a lighter point the next farm we visited, after this fiasco, quickly cemented my respect and love for the Constantia route. There are truly amazing gems here, if you can look pass the pile of shit that is Groot Constantia.

After being voted South Africa’s most successful producer of the year at the 2009 International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, Fifa have signed an agreement, entitling the winery to produce a range of South African Wine for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

A special edition collection of 3 South African wines has been produced for next year tournament, which will be sold locally and internationally. The range consist out of Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Rose and a Sauvignon Blanc. Nederburg must be regular readers of Spit or Swallow to know that I’m more into my reds.

A added feature to the 3 wines are the special facility on the back label that will enable consumers to instantly access information on Nederburg by clicking on a unique QR code with their cellphone cameras. The information will appear on their phone screens. I’m still trying to figure it out though….so far I just have millions of photo`s of the bottle on my phone.

The Sauvignon Blanc and Rose are expected to retail at around R55 and the Cabernet Sauvignon at R70.

Also have a look at their recently launched website featuring a 360 panoramic view of the farm.

In celebration of this award, Rust en Vrede hosted a lunch where South Africa’s local category winners were announced. Deputy Mayor Johnson presented the awards and the delicious food and divine wines made it a memorable afternoon of pure indulgence.

Below is the list of  South Africa’s local category winners:

Architecture, Parks & Gardens:

Grande Provence in Franscchoek

Innovative Wine Experiences

Robertson

Wine Tourism Services

Waterford Estate

Sustainable wine tourism practices:

Cloof in Darling

Accommodation:

Devon Valley in Stellenbosch

Art & Culture:

Vergelegen in Somerset West

Winery Restaurant:

Rust en Vrede

Overall Winner:

Rust en Vrede

Congratulations to all the winners!

To view the International Best Of Wine Tourism Award winners visit http://wyn.cc/9jeip

Double Gold

Aan de Doorns Rooi Muskadel 2008
Alexanderfontein Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Anura Pinotage Reserve 2008
Anura Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2009
Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V
Boplaas Cape Vintage 2006
Buitenverwachting Rough Diamond 2006
Cape Point Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Cape Point Semillon 2007
De Wetshof NLH 1991
Desiderius 2001
Diemersfontein Carpé Diem Pinotage 2007
Doolhof The Minotaur 2007
Engelbrecht Els Proprietor’s Blend 2007
Ernie Els Ltd Release 2005
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Merlot 2006
Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Groote Post Chenin Blanc 2009
Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Guardian Peak Merlot 2008
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Longridge Merlot 2007
Merwida White Muscadel 2009
Monis Red Muscadel 2001
Môreson Premium Chardonnay 2008
Nederburg Private Bin R181 Merlot 2007
Nederburg Semillon NLH Private Bin 2007
Noble Hill Merlot 2005
Nuy Wit Muskadel 1986
Saronsberg Shiraz 2007
Spier Private Collection Chardonnay 2007
Spier Private Collection Pinotage 2007
Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2007
Table Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Thokozani Shiraz/Mourvèdre/Viognier 2008
Windmeul Cape Blend 2008
Windmeul Pinotage Reserve 2008
Woolworths Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Spier) 2007
Woolworths True to Terroir The Hutton Cabernet Sauvignon (Spier) 2007

Gold

Aan de Doorns Muscat d’Alexandrie 2008
Alexanderfontein Merlot 2007
Altydgedacht Pinotage 2008
Avondrood Blush Pinotage Rosé 2009
Babylon’s Peak Chenin Blanc 2009
Badsberg Red Muscadel 2008
Beau Joubert Merlot 2006
Bellpost Merlot 2006
Beyerskloof Synergy 2006
Bilton Matt Black 2007
Boland Five Climates Chenin Blanc 2009
Bon Courage André’s Fame Colombard (O/D) 2009
Bon Courage Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Bon Courage Hillside White 2009
Bon Courage Inkará Ltd Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Bon Courage Like Father Like Son White Chenin Blanc/Colombar (O/D) 2009
Bon Courage White Muscadel 2009
Bonnievale CCC White 2009
Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1997
Boplaas Cape Tawny Vintners Reserve N/V
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2004
Bosman Family Vineyards Adama 2007
Botha Hanepoot 2006
Calitzdorp Wit Muskadel 2007
Conradie Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Creation Merlot 2008
De Grendel Merlot 2007
De Grendel Shiraz 2008
De Heuvel Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
De Heuvel Pinotage 2007
De Krans White Muscadel Jerepigo 2009
De Wetshof Chardonnay D’Honneur 2003
DMZ Chardonnay 2008
Dombeya Merlot 2007
Du Toitskloof Hanepoot Jerepigo 2008
Du Toitskloof Nebbiolo 2008
Eagle’s Nest Shiraz 2007
Eikendal Chardonnay 2008
Eikendal Classique 2005
Ernie Els Cirrus Syrah 2007
False Bay Chenin Blanc 2009
Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz 2007
Fleur du Cap NLH 2007
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Merlot 2007
Four Paws Pablo 2007
Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay 2008
Glenwood Chardonnay Vigneron’s Selection 2008
Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Grande Provence Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Hartenberg Merlot 2007
Idiom Cabernet Sauvignon/Pinotage/Merlot 2006
JC le Roux Pinot Noir Rosé 2007
Jordan Chardonnay 2008
Journey’s End Merlot 2006
Kanu KCB Chenin Blanc (O/D) 2006
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc (O/D) 2008
Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blanc 2006
Laibach Ladybird Organic 2007
Langverwacht Chardonnay 2009
Langverwacht Colombard 2009
Le Bonheur Prima Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Lesebo Pinotage 2007
Meerendal Merlot 2006
Monis Red Muscadel 2004
Muratie Merlot 2006
Nederburg Eminence Private Bin 2008
Nederburg Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Nederburg Private Bin D252 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2008
Nederburg Private Bin R121 Shiraz 2007
Nederburg Winemasters Reserve NLH 2008
Neethlingshof Sauvignon Blanc Special Release 2009
Neil Ellis Groenekloof Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Neil Ellis Shiraz 2007
Niel Joubert Christine-Marié Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Nuy Wit Muskadel 2005
Olive Brook Quintette Prestige Selection 2007
Ondine Chenin Blanc 2008
Ondine Merlot 2007
Oranjerivier Red Jerepigo 2007
Oranjerivier White Muscadel 2008
Ormonde Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Perdeberg Pinotage Reserve 2008
Raka Biography Shiraz 2007
Raka Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Rijk’s Fascination (O/D) 2007
Rooiberg Red Muscadel 2008
Saronsberg Nick & Forti’s Viognier 2008
Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz 2007
Simonsig Cuvee Royale Blanc de Blancs 2004
Simonsig Pinotage Redhill 2007
Simonsig Tiara 1998
Slanghoek Rooi Muskadel 2009
Spier Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Spier Private Collection Chardonnay 2008
Spier Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Strandveld Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Sumaridge Chardonnay 2008
Tokara Zondernaam Chenin Blanc 2008
Wamakersvallei Bains Way Pinotage 2008
Wellington Cellar Chardonnay 2007
Wildekrans Pinotage 2007
Windmeul Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008
Woolworths Ltd Release Chenin Blanc (Simonsig) 2008
Woolworths True to Terroir Koffie Klip Merlot (Spier) 2007
Woolworths True to Terroir The Abacus Chardonnay (Spier) 2008
Zonnebloem Sauvignon Blanc Ltd Edition 2009
Zorgvliet Silver Myn Malbec 2007

For the rest of the results you can click here

To date we’re following 38 farms of which 25 are following us back. The other 13 are still under the impression that we’re porn royalty. #Compliment.

To celebrate this twittering occasion we’ve incorporated all the farms twitter handles in Spit or Swallow’s review form. With this integration your reviews will now be publish to twitter with a @ reply to the specific wine farms. This way they will get notify immediately when someone chirps about them.

Let’s have a look at the wine farms on Twitter:
( from early starters to latest joiners )

1. Vilafonte
   Twitter Handle: @mikeratcliffe
   Joined: 27 January 2008
   Tweets: 223
2. Backsberg
   Twitter Handle: @simonback
   Joined: 28 March 2008
   Tweets: 653
3. Noble Hill
   Twitter Handle: @noblehill
   Joined: 24 September 2008
   Tweets: 197
4. Fairview
   Twitter Handle ChrisBryantSA
   Joined 11 October 2008
   Tweets 44
5. Kleine Zalze
   Twitter Handle: @RossSleet
   Joined: 3 January 2009
   Tweets : 16
6. Dombeya
   Twitter Handle: @DombeyaWine
   Joined: 29 January 2009
   Tweets: 955
7. La Motte
   Twitter Handle: @HeinWine
   Joined: 4 March 2009
   Tweets: 166
8. Haut Espoir
   Twitter Handle: @Rambowine & @hautespoir
   Joined: 1 May 2009 & 16 March 2009
   Tweets: 385 & 7
9. Vrede en Lust
   Twitter Handle: @djbuys
   Joined: 19 March 2009
   Tweets: 91
10. Wildekrans
    Twitter Handle: @wildekrans
    Joined: 25 March 2009
    Tweets: 15
11. Ken Forrester
    Twitter Handle: @KFwines
    Joined: 4/9/2009
    Tweets: 38
12. Windfall
    Twitter Handle: @WindfallWine
    Joined: 21 April 2009
    Tweets: 103
13. Highlands Road Wine Estate
    Twitter Handle: @justinhoy
    Joined: 23 April 2009
    Tweets: 115
14. Moreson
    Twitter Handle: @moreson
    Joined: 4/23/2009
    Tweets: 15
15. Haute Cabriere
    Twitter Handle: @HauteCabriere
    Joined 23 April 2009
    Tweets 105
16. Quoin Rock
    Twitter Handle: @JeanneQuoinRock
    Joined: 30 April 2009
    Tweets: 32
17. Akkerdal
    Twitter Handle: @AKKERDAL
    Joined: 30 April 2009
    Tweets: 2
18. The Company of the Wine People
    Twitter Handle: @winepeople
    Joined: 12 May 2009
    Tweets: 129
19. Hidden Valley
    Twitter Handle: @hidden_valley
    Joined: 19 May 2009
    Tweets 0
20. Mischa Wines
    Twitter Handle: @mischawines
    Joined: 22 May 2009
    Tweets: 151
21. Rickety Bridge
    Twitter Handle: @jackierabe
    Joined: 22 May 2009
    Tweets: 10
    
22. Lynx
    Twitter Handle: @Lynx_Wines
    Joined: 23 May 2009
    Tweets: 21
23. Newton Johnson
    Twitter Handle: @NNewton Johnson
    Joined: 23 May 2009
    Tweets: 20
24. Hermanuspietersfontein
    Twitter Handle: @hpf1855
    Joined: 29 May 2009
    Tweets: 28
25. Villiera
    Twitter Handle: @villiera
    Joined: 3 June 2009
    Tweets: 27
26. Solms Delta
    Twitter Handle: @solms_delta
    Joined: 10 June 2009
    Tweets: 0
27. King Family Vineyard
    Twitter Handle: @KingFamVineyard
    Joined: 15 June 2009
    Tweets: 6
28. Kleinhoekkloof Wines
    Twitter Handle: @Kleinhoekkloof
    Joined: 19 June 2009
    Tweets: 20
29. Graham Beck
    Twitter Handle: @BubblesFerreira & @GrahamBeckWines
    Joined: 30 June 2009 & 27 June 2009
    Tweets: 123 & 3
30. Bushmanspad
    Twitter Handle: @Bushmanspad
    Joined: 12 July 2009
    Tweets: 20
31. Jordan
    Twitter Handle: @capewine & @JordanGary
    Joined: 28 July 2009 & 20 July 2009
    Tweets: 2 & 19
32. JC le Roux
    Twitter Handle: @LeGoodLife
    Joined: 24 July 2009
    Tweets: 30
33. Wolvendrift
    Twitter Handle: @wolvendrift
    Joined: 30 July 2009
    Tweets: 9
34. Mooi Bly
    Twitter Handle: @MooiBly
    Joined: 3 August 2009
    Tweets: 5
35. Durbanville Hills
    Twitter Handle: @Martin_Moore
    Joined: 4 August 2009
    Tweets: 67
36. Yonderhill
    Twitter Handle: @YonderHillWine
    Joined: 27 August 2009
    Tweets: 32
37. Delheim
    Twitter Handle: @delheim
    Joined: 1 September 2009
    Tweets: 33
38. Kanu
    Twitter Handle: @kanuwines
    Joined: 7 October 2009
    Tweets: 1
39. Simonsig Estate
    Twitter Handle: @Simonsig_Estate
    Joined: 1 October 2009
    Tweets: 18
40. Eagle Nest Wines
    Twitter Handle: @eaglesnestwines
    Joined: 23 June 2009
    Tweets: 23

Top 5 loud mouths

Only 9 farms have tweeted more that 100 times since they’ve joined and some haven’t tweeted at all. DombeyaWine is leading the pack at this stage, with simonback right on their doorstep. Rambowine takes the 3rd spot in true Rambo style, with mikeratcliffe in the 4th position. NobleHill is in the 5th spot and let’s not forget about Winex_Visitor, their brainchild, which will be tweeting away at the Joburg WineX, end October.

Top 3 popular tweeps

Vrede en Lust @djbuys followers 1,843

Dombeya @DombeyaWine followers 1,557

Mischa @mischawines followers 725

Last night one of our hosting neighbours’ site were hacked and used as a phishing site. The ISPs obviously had enough and block the servers IP address, sending us all back to the nineties with “page can’t be found” messages.  Let it be known that this was not an easy Monday! Sympathy also goes out to the hosting company as they probably receive a backlash from clients the whole day.

Luckily 406 runs all our email through google apps (free version) and could still work on correspondence etc. This does create an interesting conclusion. Is cheap buy always more costly. In this case I guess not.

We paid a premium for the hosting of Spit or Swallow, compare to the international hosting market. I however thought about the offshore option ever time I hit the refresh button this morning.