South African Vineyard Riots/Strike.

I guess this means I won't be buying any So. African wine anytime soon .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20328701

Terrible news, but not a new issue there. It does a lot of damage to the idea of a ‘Wine Culture’ in South Africa, which is something that I think they are striving hard to promote. The romance of viticulture and social volatility and oppression (far more important than how a bottle of Pinotage or Chenin Blanc tastes) are not reconcilable. There are certainly some producers who treat their workers well, but I fear that those will be cast into the same boat with the others by headlines like this. Then again, maybe nobody really cares unless the wine tastes good and is cheap enough.

Bill

Tim James in the Cape has a thoughful piece http://www.grape.co.za/users/tim_james/ ... ughts.html


For recent vintages of SA wines look for the WIETA Ethical seal - see http://www.pinotage.org/2012/09/pinotag ... -seal.html

We (Americans) can't be TOO smug given Napa's dependence on often itinerant labor. Although the wages and conditions are of course different.

We (Americans) can't be TOO smug given Napa's dependence on often itinerant labor. Although the wages and conditions are of course different.

OK, then I won't be buying any 'mercan wine anytime soon either.

We should all just live as hermits to avoid any possible exploitation of our fellow man!

So now we'll have "Conflict Wines"?