Praus 2021

For a time during lockdown we were the only country in the world that were not allowed to export wine. I just assumed the international wine market would now turn their backs on us - out of sight, out of mind type of scenario.

But the exact opposite happened. A very loyal client in the UK became aware of the difficult situation we were in here in SA and offered their support. You can read the story below, but the long and short of it is that I did 2 wines exclusively for them - Praus and Brazen. On top of the normal 750ml bottles, they also asked me to do a few 3 litre bottles - you call them Jeroboams. They are massive! PRAUS - Strength under control

- 80% Botrivier Shiraz, 5% Stellenbosch Pinotage and 15% Breedekloof Pinotage

The Story:

My client in the UK runs a mail order wine company. Their relationship with the end consumer turned out to be their biggest asset when restaurants closed over there, and sales and home deliveries rocketed. They needed wine and asked us to do something exclusively for them.

The brief: “let's communicate the general feeling of South African farmers in these troubling times…” I think they had something positive in mind - something about everyone standing together in the face of adversity.

But after thinking about it, and chatting to friends in the wine industry, I realised that the general feeling was simply one of frustration. We are having to compete in the wine world - with our hands tied behind our backs.