It is not a one day game!

As the test series between South Africa and Pakistan started in Pakistan for the first time in 13 years, it made me think about the current situation I find myself in the South African Wine Industry.

Bizoe Estalet Syrah barrels

Winemaking is all about timing. Waiting for the right moment to harvest a specific vineyard is like waiting for that one ball you can hit for a boundary. I am excited for the 2021 harvest to start, but I am daily walking through the vineyards and itching them on that we can start. Samples get send to the lab and confirms your gut feel that its just not right to pick now. The vineyards on the other side is the bowler that is throwing curve balls to you, and will decide when it’s time to pick. It can be seen as a game between bat and ball and vineyard vs winemaker. It all will happen at the right time.

Another game we are playing at the moment is waiting for the South African Government to give us the go ahead to sell our wines again to our local market. One off the many things we have learnt in the Covid-19 pandemic is to make sure you don’t have all your eggs in one basket. South African wineries always boost how they are exporting their wine, what we have learned and seeing in our bottom lines how important is our own market in South Africa. It’s time to take our hats off to our local supporters who plays a massive role in our industry.

I would sincerely like to thank our local supporters who often buy Bizoe Wines through our website, from the local wine store and ordering Bizoe at a restaurant. Covid-19 has taught us to celebrate you.

New Year, New Liquor Ban, New Harvest

2021 starts off with a ban, not a bang.

Personally, I would not think we are better prepared for 2021 as we don’t know what to expect and how to plan for the year ahead, but not all negative, as I’m very exciting to get back in the cellar this week again and prepare for the 2021 harvest that is around the corner. All the machinery is serviced and ready to start. The patient game, for the first grapes to arrive is always interesting time. Itching to start and taste the first juice of the year, watching grapes ripening can be daunting, because you just can’t wait to get the harvest started.

Walking through the vineyards give us new hope seeing the new life. It gives us perspective to know things will turn around like a vine each year and keep on producing this incredible fruits from what we can make beautiful wines. It keeps us positive although the situation South Africa is currently in.

Just last week we have bottled the Bizoe Morningstar Semillon 2020 that will be available soon. Just the experience to taste from 2018, 19 and 2020 next to one another is an exciting prospect. Semillon will most likely also be some of the first grapes to arrive in the cellar this year.

There’s a word for combining wine & dinner. It’s winner, Join us on social media, to see what we braai for the day, in our daily ‘braai-challenged’ till the ban is lifted, also send us your braai pictures.

We wish you all a Happy New Year that will bring you joy, love, peace and happiness. Cheers to a new year and new beginnings and the new harvest!

A Semillon Affair  – Rikus Love of Semillon

Andrew Spinaze, Rikus Neethling and Bruce Tyrrell

What’s Rikus obsession with Semillon? In 2017 I have visited the Hunter Valley Wine Region approx 1,5 hours drive from Sydney, Australia.During my time in the Hunter Valley I met and tasted some Semillon wines with some of the best Hunter Valley winemakers

In one of the tastings with Andrew Spinaze and Bruce Tyrrell from Tyrrell’s Wines, Bruce mentioned that some of the first Semillon plantings in the late 1800’s is actually from the Western Cape of South Africa. This made me think, if the Aussie’s are making name with our plant material I will come back to SA and produce a similar style Semillon.

Back in South Africa, I went on the hunt for Semillon grapes. After a few phone calls to a well know viticulturist in South Africa I was advised to speak to Albé Truter of Morningstar Farm in Darling. Albé and my paths crossed for the first time in 2006 when we both worked together in the Southern France region of Picpoul de Pinet. What a pleasure to be connected again with one of my friends and an even better feeling working together on a project that both of us love.

On Morningstar there is similarities in the soil compared to the Hunter Valley soil structures. More interesting on the Morningstar Semillon block there is 3 different Semillon clones interplanted. GD1 that is the typical clones that planted in Hunter Valley, GD 315 originated in France and GD14 US Davis  clone. This is an important aspect that gives our Bizoe Morningstar Semillon a unique character. 

Our philosophy is to pick on the pH and the acidity level of the grapes. The Bizoe Morningstar Semillon 2018 has ended up with and alcohol of 10.5% and the 2019 with 12.5%. Both vintages were picked on the same Ph and Acidity levels. Amazing to taste the 2 vintages next to one another is see the difference between the wines from the same vineyard.

Our love of Semillon will continue in our next blog.