Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2015, by Philip van Zyl

Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2015, by Philip van Zyl. John Platter SA Wineguide (Pty) Ltd. 35th edition, Hermanus, South Africa 2015. ISBN 9780987004635 / ISBN 978-0-987-0046-3-5

How to use Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2015. (SBN 9780987004635 / ISBN 978-0-987-0046-3-5)

Since 1980 Platter’s South African Wine Guide has been the leading guide to South African wines, and with good reason. Every new edition is filled with information, hints and tips that are invaluable to wine experts and novices alike. This is the edition of 2015, of which, like many other before, Philip van Zyl is the chief editor.

Philip van Zyl  

South African Wine: Rejuvenaition and Discovery

Governor Jan van Riebeeck oversaw the Cape's first vinification in February 1659. Fast-forward 356 years, and the industry which he founded has an air of rejuvenation and discovery about it, as well as a renewed sense of purpose, with the arrival of young blood and new brooms at all levels. The shift coincides with a wider trend: the growing influence of Generation Y, whose more senior members (born In the 1980s) are reckoned to be the largest economically empowered population age segment In South Africa, touching every industry, including wine, over the next 10 years. Youthful hands are now at the helm of VinPro, the independent advisory company which since 2003 has been assisting some 3600 grape producers and wine cellars. The chief executive is a dynamic young former agricultural banking professional. His small team of experts are mostly of an age, equally qualified, similarly enthused, noticeably driven. Wines of South Africa (WOSA), the organisation tasked with marketing Brand SA overseas, has fresh leadership, too. The new chair is also owner of a boutique wine farm, and comes to the post as the former CEO of a major bank (awarded for innovation), recently appointed chair of a SA-created mobile social network, and founder of a start-ups investment and advisory company. There are high expectations that these and other new incumbents will forge ahead with initiatives integral to the success and sustainabillty of the industry. Recently, various stakeholders drafted a new roadmap for SA wine, the Wine Industry Strategic Framework. It lists six essential development areas: economic empowerment, collective marketing, social upliftment, knowledge and information, technology innovation and transfer, and human resources training. Strong focuses will be on job creation, increasing foreign exchange earnings and developing infrastructure. A structure to forge a closer relationship with government and facilitate open, sustained interaction among government, producers and labour has been mooted.

Young guns, niche wines

The number of high-end, small-volume, niche wines being produced by Millennial winemakers under their own labels is rising. Qualified, travelled, au fait with both Old and New World techniques and styles, some work for progressive wineries which allow them to vinify small quantities under their own brand. Others consult for boutique producers, giving them even more opportunity to trawl the winelands for special parcels for their own labels. This confident new generation is walking the walk, long talked about, that vineyards are where fine-wine is made. At the same time, they are educating and inspiring growers to spend time and money on obtaining the best quality fruit possible, knowing they'll be financially rewarded. [...]

This is an excerpt from Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2015, by Philip van Zyl.

Title: Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2015
Subtitle: The Guide to cellars, vineyards, winemakers, restaurants and accommodation
Editor: Philip van Zyl
Associate editors: Tim James, Wendy Toerien, Cathy van Zyl
Publisher: Jean-Pierre Rossouw
Publisher: John Platter SA Wineguide (Pty) Ltd
35th edition, Hermanus, South Africa 2015
ISBN 9780987004635 / ISBN 978-0-987-0046-3-5
Hardcover, 11 x 20 cm, 647 pages, several map inserts, colour photos and tables, text: English