Could California's experience become the Cape's?

The Cape’s wine routes do get their fair share of day-time jollers going from winery to winery as a rolling, sipping – and not-spitting – party, but it’s nothing compared to a problem that is increasingly plaguing Californian vintners.

The Los Angeles Times reports that stretch limos and buses are bringing more and more people into the winelands who come simply to get plastered. While the vehicles ensure that no drunken driving takes place on the winding roads, the practice seems to offer passengers a free-for-all – 'wineries in California and across the nation blame them for bringing boisterous, inebriated crowds to venues that would sooner draw quiet sippers and lavish spenders.'

Now some of the producers have set up rules for such visitors. In the Temecula Valley, 21 winery owners have imposed stiff regulations that require transportation companies to police the hordes of customers they bring.

’Before the rules took effect in November, the scene was becoming increasingly raucous, officials said. Bachelorette parties and birthday celebrations would devolve into loud, obnoxious group binges.’
People would show up in costumes, Tomi Arbogast, director of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association told the newspaper.

Of course it couldn’t happen in Stellenbosch or Robertson, but perhaps the local wine route organisations should to keep a watchful eye...

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