Stressing Vines

To the uninitiated, it may come as a surprise that the only way to produce plump, juicy and flavourful grapes needed for winemaking must be by stressing the grapevine from where they come. That is, vines can only produce berries when it lacks nutrients and water because its very own existence is on the line….

To Frankenstein Wines

When Portuguese winemaker Dirk Niepoort made his first still wine, the Robustus 1990, his father told him that his wine was “uma merda” (shit), the worst thing he had ever tasted and proceeded to sell off all barrels except one. The Niepoort master blender and family friend, José Nogueira, also told him the wine smelt awful, it…