A GIANT MISTAKE, Neil Pendock, movies and more....

I started the week off on a high note. A Sunday lunch with “The Dangerous One”, Allan Mullins (Cape wine master and wine selector for Woolworths), Jabulani (Woolies' wine category manager), Neil Pendock (one of the best wine writers in South Africa) and Siskha Brand (right hand to “The Dangerous One”). I haven’t told you but Woolworths asked me to be involved in the winemaking process and team producing a wine called “GIANT MISTAKE 2008”. The wine is the official wine for the South African rock band, “The Parlotones” (www.theparlotoneswine.com). What an awesome experience – an absolute roller coaster ride! We started off by meeting the band members and making trail blends. Now, 5 months down the line, we’ve made a wine with a rock band, produced the official movie for the wine (view it on YouTube), produced a 30 second advertisement, finalized packaging and had the official launch! The wine making team (otherwise referred to as the dream team) consist of: Allan Mullins (Cape Wine Master), Hugo Truter (Winemaker at Wamakers valley), Pieter-Neil (Assistant winemaker at Wamakers), myself and then, of course, last but certainly not least, the band; Kahn, Paul, Neil and Glen. Our Sunday lunch started off at Constantia Uitsig at 12h00 and I only arrived back at the Cape Grace at 7pm. We tasted GIANT MISTAKE and had some more fabulous wines such as Ataraxia Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Bouchard Finlayson. Read here what Neil Pendock had to say in the Sunday times.

On Monday I took 4 new BLANKbottle wines in for final lab analysis and we prepared for the official launch of GIANT MISTAKE 2008 at the Cape Grace hotel, V&A waterfront.

Wednesday was the official launch day for The Parlotones wine, GIANT MISTAKE. What a fantastic evening! We arrived at the Cape Grace and received a glass of Woolworths, imported French champagne.After socialising a bit and attending to interviews, they screened the official movie for the wine. You can view it on their website www.theparlotoneswine.com or on youtube. Allan Mullins (The Boss) then made his appearance by giving an incredibly inspirational speech and ended it off by singing “ That's Amore (When the moon hits' your eye...)” While Allan was speaking, we each received a glass of GIANT Mistake. What a treat! Thereafter was the highlight of the evening: The PARLOTONES, LIVE!!!!! See photos here

Earlier that week I had a revelation that if one stops running and stare at the crowd, you will stumble and fall. I therefore decided to keep my head down and keep on running – literally! I decided to arrange a bottling session for the day after the launch. So instead of attending the after party, I got up at the break of dawn the next day and Wilhelm, Tony, Willem, Frans and myself bottled 2 new wines by hand. And that’s a first for me! (bottling by hand, not going to bed early...) We bottled 1900 bottles in the one day. What a thrill! Unfiltered and unfined. I will be telling you more when the wine is released.

Friday morning I got up even earlier (at 4:30) and Xaver (my brother who made the movies), Wilhelm (my other brother) and myself headed off to the Swartland. The Hitman is searching for the Rockstars of the wine industry. Yes, we are making films again... We spent the whole day with Adi Badenhorst from Badenhorst family vineyards, ex Rustenberg winemaker.