Ronnie Morris dies 14 April 2008

His wine-business journalism will be missed

A smart court reporter, supporter of the underdog with a strong sense of social justice, nifty dresser, and, in recent years, the Cape editor of Business Report, Ronnie Morris was also a ‘country-club’ member of the local wine-writer fraternity. He will be sadly missed after his untimely, quiet death last week.

Morris added the business of wine to his extended reporting portfolio because of one simple reason: he liked it. And passion had always propelled what he did so thoroughly. Reporting on the business of wine and the industry, Morris, at times, offered keen insight on issues which may not have surfaced in print. He was a true journalist and while he never proclaimed to be a wine connoisseur, he loved it, wrote about it with level-headed enthusiasm.

His death is also a loss for South African wine-writing. Ronnie had a grasp for, and interest in the business side of the wine scene (including, notably, BEE stories) and so could bring a much-needed perspective that is usually lacking. His contacts and his willingness and ability to follow up such matters, meant that here at Grape we frequently added links to his Business Report stories. We will all be less well-informed now that we will be able to do so no longer.  

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