Uganda, wine and nuns – an update requested
5 July 2006

Earlier this year, Philip Jonker of Weltevrede estate wrote a fascinating account of his pleasure at helping the winemaking skills of a group of Ugandan nuns.... Now comes a query from Elijah Mugenyi, who found the article really interesting, he says, but asks Philip: 'From your conclusion, does it mean you people were not able to help the nuns? more than that, do you still have hopes of investing in wine production in Uganda?

 

 

Philip responds as follows:
 

The closing remark in the article was just to state the realities of serious challenges the Ugandans will face to produce wine of great quality. I have no doubt that they will be able to make wine there, but it will be difficult to produce great quality compared to wine areas with much more favourable climate and terroir.

But maybe at the heart of terroir lies the fact that comparisons are odious and that we do not have to compare a wine from Robertson with Stellenbosch or France with California. The diversity terroir offers is what makes it special. Maybe the challenge is not to try and make the best possible wine in the world, but to make the best possible wine for your terroir, whether your terroir is in Robertson, Marlborough, Pomerol, Uganda, or wherever.

Regarding the current situation in Uganda, I am still in contact with the nuns via e-mail. Since they have returned to Uganda they have planted some vines which they got from France. Furthermore I am also arranging for the export of vines, laboratory equipment and winemaking products from South Africa. Their new vines are growing well, but they have great difficulty keeping the vines healthy, as diseases like downy mildew thrives in their climate of high humidity and frequent rainfall. But I am supplying advice how to counter their challenges, and I believe with their passion and dedication they will be able to surprise with their end product eventually.

Regarding investment in wine in Uganda I am not interested personally, but investing in the people of Africa will always be a passion of mine.