Tasting party at Hidden Valley

After my first ever helicopter ride – I'd had a few drinks to steady the nerves – we joined the party. It seemed to impress the wine producers that we invited them to a little party we arranged high up above Stellenbosch at Hidden Valley (next to Ernie Els' vineyard).

They all brought their wines and we tasted through. Ken Forrester, Oliver 'The Grinder' Kirsten, Zakkie (Riebeek), Wilhelm Pienaar from Nederburg, Samantha and dancing Ernie from Mont Destin, Conrad and Caroline from First Sighting and others. Everyone commenting on each others wines. Very friendly competitive spirit. No fights. A buffet. By one of the best chefs in the Cape; Bertus Basson, and some lovely singing (Amazink). Got all the gossip. Learnt of good things. Nice crowd. They left saying they were going to go and cut down "thet blurdy Austrillian Blue Gum tree" which was dominating the view from the terrace. Don't think they were serious. But to wind up South African winemakers just praise Aussie wines.

This morning up early on Helderberg Mountain with the formidable Alfrieda (after whom Spier have named their new Fair Trade wines) and her troops. Vineyards are being planted higher and higher but this is I think the highest. Gives more fruit character on the old granite. Terrific views of Table Mountain right down to Cape Point

After photos and discussions we got to meet the cheetahs they are trying to save at Spier. Then set off through the spectacular mountains and across the desert for a couple hours to Robertson.

To South Africa

Constantia Vineyards


Got the last three seats on plane to Cape Town. Good old BA.

Arrive to blue skies. 20 min drive to meet Eve at Spier estate. Eve Jell has showed up for every London Vintage show for as long as I can remember. Every year she makes me promise to visit. And I promise. Then I break my promise. Spend too much time with the Aussies, I do. Anyway, I'm here.

It’s really grown. The Estate is almost back to its original impressive size; about 1,000 hectares. It’s the perfect place to stay for a wine holiday and has a small village of cool, spacious villas to stay in. Half an hour south is Cape Town. All the major wine estates are in easy reach.

Meeting a dozen producers today. Busy.

Hectic

Continues busy. Or hectic. Which is lovely. And thanks, customers, thanks.

I have been on the road doing my old tasting act. The events at Locksbottom and Virginia Water shops were especially memorable. I met Helen who remembers coming to the old Arch in Windsor – she must have been under-age! – and says I seem to be doing the same routine I was, forty years ago. Yep, caught me out, there, Helen. But it works, so I'll not fix it.

Marein beat me again (we each propose and present five wines and customers are the jury). But he's dead jealous I'm off to his beloved South Africa on Sunday.

VW looks lovely after its refurb so do go see (it’s right beside the Main Entrance to Wentworth – where my Dad so loved to play … his cronies gave me my first ever orders!) Talking of refurbs …

In case anyone is planning a trip south to Bordeaux or just happens to live there, here's a message from our 'Chai au Quai' in dear old Castillon-la-Bataille:

"Please come and fill your stockings, boots, fridges and cellars with Le Chai wines in time for the season’s festivities.

The beautiful Chai au Quai will open its doors and its wine boxes from 9am to 6pm Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December.

For those of you who have not yet visited us since the refurbishment was completed a year ago, PLEASE DO. It is a truly magnificent building on the banks of the Dordogne in Castillon-la-Bataille. We are offering a 10% discount on our vast range of over 80 different wines from the Chai-born range as well as a selection of Laithwaites UK Customer Favourites from around the world.

And if that wasn’t enough to tempt you, we will be introducing the moreish, elegant, subtle, bespoke and devastatingly delicious Chai-colat chocolates made with the Chai’s Maury AOC by master Bordeaux Chocolatier M. Laroze.

I do hope to see you and do please tell your friends and family.

Bonnes Fêtes

Clare, Mark, Libby, Fraser, Brigitte and all at Le Chai."

There's masses more to tell. When I remember. And when there's a moment. Why do phones always ring all at once? It is just so hectic.

BUSY

Mid November is the busiest it ever gets here. It’s also the time I'm at my twitchiest. "Usually we strap Tony down around now", says Simon our Global CEO to Glenn our new UK CEO.

For forty years I have worried every year that Christmas won't happen. Christmas is just so important to us. If it didn't come it would be a disaster.

So as usual I've been crossing fingers, holding breath and pestering everyone for news. But I just heard what I so wanted to hear and now I'm almost back to normal, and can write again.

From Mark Capon:
"Just a wee update on this – yesterday was an absolutely AMAZING day for the Reading team. Outside of Bordeaux EP this was our biggest day ever – with sales of just over £141k.”

Christmas has certainly arrived, it would seem. Our previous best day was £115.6k – so we’ve shown a massive 22% lift in sales.

Certainly worth a sprig of holly, I thought … Mark, I will go cut down all my holly bushes and deck your halls! Thank you and your lovely lot SO much.

But mostly … CUSTOMERS I adore you!

This comes on top of email from buyer Becca Reeves:
"Fantastic news! Spier have been awarded South African Wine Producer of the Year by the IWSC! This is wonderful news for them and so well deserved and I’m thrilled that Tony, Tom and I will be visiting them when we go to South Africa in a couple of weeks’ time. We will come back with some lovely photography, so we can really make a feature of one of our top producers."

Followed up by one from buyer Helen McAvoy:
"Further to Becca’s note, I have looked in more detail at the IWSC winners from last night and found out that we have more to celebrate!

Trapiche were awarded the Argentinean Wine Producer of the Year award
Cono Sur were given the Chilean Wine Producer of the Year award
Lustau were given the Spanish Wine Producer of the Year award
Ridgeview were given the UK Wine Producer of the Year award"

Not a bad week, not bad at all!

We just had a Board Meeting. We had updates on all our campaigns. UK and abroad. Battles … we certainly have. Plenty. But we do seem to be winning a tough old war. More in next diary.

And Christmas begins ...

Watching Barbara making Christmas Cake – giving it a stir and making my wish. Postman delivering the latest Laithwaites Wine missive. Hearing from Laithwaites MD Glenn in the Gloucester DC (Distribution Centre).

He says: "first day of Christmas (November catalogue) and I’m in Gloucester serving bucks fizz and mulled wine to the call centre team; the marketing team are on the phones taking orders; everyone is dressed up in some amazing outfits (occasionally I don’t know where to look!); the phones are buzzing; the orders are flowing in; the new Christmas cases are flowing off the packing lines; ........brilliant."

Getting excited tweets from sons. Tom: "if this day were to be my last I don't think I would mind." And Henry: "no tweet can explain how happy I am now." They’re in Rioja on a trip with 'TonTon' (Jean-Marc) who feels their wine experience needs broadening. Cannot help reminding them how SOOO boring they found wine trips when they were young!

And they've been at that notorious 'Poire' distillery in the Pyrenees. Affects the mind, that stuff.

Anne is just off to north-east Italy, having just returned from Argentina whilst collecting some amazingly rich new Portuguese reds on the way home.

The other buyers are similarly out and about – now's the post-harvest moment to get there first and grab the best.

Len 'the Professor' Sexton emails about the WSET wine exam results: "last year we had two entrants in the Top 30 (Cat Lomax taking away the top Scholarship).This year we also had two members of staff selected - Tim Bayley (one of the Bounders) and Arnaud Rubin (from the Swiss German Customer Service team). Both won a scholarship. No mean feat!"

And all credit to you, Len.

I like this time of year. Of course, normally I'd be running around everywhere like a mad thing myself. But actually, sitting in front of the fire tapping away on the machine isn't bad at all. It’s grey out there.

The geese are making a racket. They may as well have their fun … not long now!

Wine, Art and the Christmas Rush

Went to the Affordable Art Fairs in Battersea Park and on Hampstead Heath. We had put up a Laithwaites wine bar in the centre … and had ensured it looked suitably arty. I saw Vic Reeves and Ricky Gervais drinking our wine.

Was very inspired by the show. Didn't actually buy anything. Instead, got inspired to go out and buy some paint and canvas. Results so far … no-one should hold breath. I'll stick with the wine writing job. But I think we'll try more wine/art events.

Apart that, it has been just meetings and writing. Everything here is ramping up for the Christmas thing. The office car park is double-parked throughout. The Bounders room is getting noisy. It’s that time of year.