From the coalface
Reports and musings on life and work in Cape vineyards and cellars

Click here for background on the regular contributors:
• Martin Moore, winemaker at Durbanville Hills

• Chris Mullineux, winemaker/viticulturist in the Swartland
• Chris Williams, winemaker at Meerlust

Recent articles
 

• Getting warmer, going greener Martin Moore worries about global warming, and reports on better water management

• The weather (as usual) and 'stomach-heaving' disappointments Martin Moore's latest instalment from Durbanville

• Patience, problems and success in 2008 Another harvest report for the junkies – this one from the Cape Winemakers Guild

• A sigh of relief, but the nerves still jangle The most difficult vintage in the winery’s history is past, says Martin Moore gratefully

• The fishiest harvest tale of all Adam Mason tells of trout from the sky, and a new blueprint for Kein Constantia’s
Vin de Constance

• Harvest in the Polkadraai hills Sometimes-welcome birds in the Bein's vineyards, pickers wanting stronger sunscreen,
and great merlot fruit

• Pre-emptive strikes Francois Haasbroek is always sceptical about vintage assessments – and perhaps more so than ever this year

• 2008 not a season for sissies Martin Moore scratches his head, but picks whatever is ready to pick, whatever the surprises

• The joys of harvest ... but look out for falling tanks, warns Francois Haasbroek

• Disasters in the past, and mere problems in the present Martin Moore's maiden vintage was notably problematic

• Late, but eagerly anticipated Chris Williams gives a harvest update from Stellenbosch

• Disasters in the past, and mere problems in the present The Durbanville harvest is late, there's rot about –
but Martin Moore's maiden vintage at this cellar was much more problematic

• Late, but eagerly anticipated Chris Williams gives a harvest update from Stellenbosch

• To Dublin and Dar-es-Salaam – and dealing with effluent back home The year gets underway for Martin Moore

• Challenges of vintage 2008 There are power outages, there’s high vigour – but Chris Williams thinks there are real
opportunities for fine and elegant wines this year

• October thoughts Martin Moore likes his vines suckered, his brand protected and – sometimes – his pinotage chilled

• Hard work in America Chris Williams pounds the pavements of the world. selling his wine (and discovering Big Ass Zin)

• Promises of a good year Martin Moore looks with satisfaction at his budding vines, and at (most of) the returning birds

• Brett, clean cellars and terroir James Farqueharson, red winemaker at Boschendal, tosses some more thoughts into the Great Brettanomyces Debate

• Empty bottles full of memories Chris Mullineux is moving house, undergoing stress, and wondering what to do with precious empties

• Time to go east instead of north?Trizanne Pansegrouw, Anwilka winemaker, goes to an important
conference in Australia – and wonders why so few South Africans were there

• Winter, wine, corks and food Martin Moore's thoughts in a Durbanville midwinter

• Getting your passport dirty Go and talk to the Americans, is Chris Mullineux's advice to producers

• Cricket in England, croquettes in Brussels Chris Williams travels the world, and is pleased at frosty weather in Stellenbosch

Click here to go to the archive of articles appearing before July 2007