041WINE columnist Lelethu Zondani shares her views on South African wines and things she’s picked up in the industry over the last few years

I’VE been cosy in the wine industry for the past 6 years and slowly building my palate. I can tell the difference today between good and bad wine but more importantly, I pick up on how similar the vintages have been for the past couple of years.
Let’s unpack it.
Wine vintage refers to the year grapes were harvested. Weather and growing conditions vary between seasons, so each wine vintage offers a unique taste and quality. While many wines certainly improve with age, this rule does not apply to all bottles. Both opened and unopened wines can go bad over time. The good news is that unopened wine is often good long past the recommended drinking window — if the smell and taste are still pleasant.
With that said, I do want to put a disclaimer that this is my own opinion so please don’t sue me.
I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone how badly the economy has been affected post covid and I can’t imagine the after-effects the wine and alcohol industry are still experiencing, I don’t judge them for scamming us here and there. Business is business. I also think it’s obvious who keeps repeating the same recipe because it works, this is based on the analysis of price points and what’s more accessible. However, I have tried amazing wines over the past few years and I can give you an exact replica of what they’ve done in the past or compare it to what someone else has done.
When it comes to winemaking, a lot is involved and it’s a collaboration between God, nature, and the winemaker. Every year will be different because the weather conditions and the soil are different. So whatever is produced each year will have one or two unique things.
It is highly possible that we could be drinking the same vintages year after year from barrels that could have been sitting for a few years, I would assume pre-Covid. However, I taste a decline in quality in entry-level wines. Why is the fruit hollow and weak? Why does the acidity of the wine taste like battery acid?
They dress it up nicely so we don’t notice it. The yearly anniversaries with big cases of giveaways every few months is a strategy to get rid of it. As a consumer of wine, you have the right to complain and return corked or expired wine and that’s what they’re afraid to tell you. Many of us think “Oh it’s opened, they won’t want it back” but trust me, YOU are in charge and they are afraid of you because your opinion can cause a domino effect, and honey, not all publicity is good publicity.
I am not here to discredit the work and effort South African wine brands have made and I am in no support of wastage in this country. But come on guys..
Let me know if you feel the same way I do in the comments below 👇🏾
Cheers 🥂!
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