We’ve had a busy winter travelling around the country to different wine shows. We had an excellent time at the Mercury Wine Week in Durban and are thrilled that the reception the people of Natal gave The Berrio wines.

You guys are great – thanks for all your warmth, support and enthusiasm. It was especially nice to meet Margie of The Wine Shoppe in the Midlands and spend time in front of a coal stove over coffee (yes…coffee – we do drink beverages other than wine!).

We heard what I think is the best description of a wine ever at the Hermanus Wine & Food Fair in August.

A good-looking young couple walked into the tent, turning heads as they arrived. This wine-loving pair was very obviously besotted with each other. They strolled around the tent tasting wines and gazing into each other’s eyes. They came to The Berrio stand and asked to taste our 2008 Sauvignon Blanc.

For a moment they managed to take their eyes off one another while they looked at the colour of the wine. Then, once again completely oblivious to anything but each other, they swirled the wine in their glasses, sniffed deeply, took a sip and rolled the wine around their mouths. The woman swallowed her wine, moved closer to her partner and seductively said to him “This, is better than kissing on the beach!”

Now that is a compliment!!

Family life is busy too. Francia performed in a ballet that culminated in a performance at Nico Malan in Cape Town, Zabeth is doing well with her violin and Catherine has started swimming lessons.

Franchen and I spent a week doing one of our most favourite things in the world – cruising on Harley Davidson’s up the west coast into the Karoo to the Paternoster Harley Davidson Rally. This never fails as a catalyst for inspiration!


The Weather Girl 2008 has been whisked off to the London for the London Mega Tasting on the 13th and 14th of October. This is wonderful as it is considered THE South African Wine Fair in Europe.

We’ll also be at the Johannesburg Winex from the 27th-30th of October and are looking forward to meeting all The Berrio lovers from Jozi there.

For now it’s time to nurture the land. Earth and soil is life. If you look after it – it looks after you. And I have some organic Guano fertilizer that I know this precious land of ours is going to love!