Wine made on a Mountain - Bartinney Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Bartinney

Having received an invitation to visit this farm for the launch of their Cabernet Sauvignon, it had a totally unexpected feel - ‘home’.  The best way to describe the welcome I received from Rose, Theresa and Michael and could have spent the rest of my days there. 

The wine shows luscious red cherry and blackcurrant with chocolate and oak spices. It will benefit with decanting at the moment, and will undoubtedly mature to its full potential in a few years.

The pairing on the day for this wine: - Slow cooked springbok shank, de-boned, wrapped in cabbage leaves with port & prune jus, pomme pure, green beans and roasted red onion.

Bartinney is situated on the hellish high slopes of Helshoogte Pass and overlooks the picturesque Banghoek Valley in Stellenbosch. Passionately involved husband and wife team, Michael and Rose Jordaan, repurchased the 40 ha family farm in 2006 with a vision to create excellent wines and reawaken the charm of the beautiful property. The newly renovated boutique cellar now produces Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from low yielding vineyards positioned on cooler elevated slopes. Cabernet Sauvignon is planted in deep red soils on the slightly lower foothills and the 2009 vintage is has been released. 

Bartinney is situated on a mountain overlooking the beautiful Banghoek Valley in Stellenbosch. The 3 main cultivars planted here are Sauvignon Blanc (3.23ha), Chardonnay (2.96ha) and Cabernet Sauvignon (12.5ha). The white cultivars are planted on the higher north and northeast facing slopes while the red grows on the slightly lower foothills on a variety of aspects. High altitude viticulture with elevations up to 550m above sea level combined with extreme slopes (up to 45%) requires us to tend to our vines by hand. Soils consist mostly of high potential deep red, well-drained soils on the mid slopes. Red, stony soils are found on the higher slopes.

Therese de Beer started working there when the winery was in the process of being constructed. In 4 short years she managed to win numerous local and international awards for her wine, ultimately contributing to the success of the business. She joined Bartinney in January 2009 excitedly accepting a new challenge of making wine on a mountain!

When the Jordaan family declared Bartinney their new permanent home in April 2008, energetic Rose Jordaan made tree planting her mission. More than 5000 trees and fynbos, indigenous to the area, have been re-established on thirteen hectares of rehabilitated land from what was previously a pine and gum plantation. A hectare of blushing brides have been planted on a prepared east-facing incline. Plans for a nursery to help restore and protect neglected slopes on the farm are on the cards. We also received our Champion status in the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) in September 2010.

Posted: winestyle.biz

Wine Listing Fees - Survey Results

In a recently conducted survey on our website at Winestyle.biz, we asked the wine and restaurant industries to complete and answer truthfully a few questions about wine listing fees. The results of this survey are below and divided into various categories.

Wineries have their say: -

Of all the responses received a staggering 74% of them pay listing fees to various establishments with the majority of the fees going to restaurants and the rest divided between liquor outlets for inserts in catalogues and display space. One comment received which we thought deserves a big cheer, is that the listing fee is paid to the sales representative.

Wineries are mostly charged per wine listed and are paid to the various establishments predominantly in the form of cash, stock and advertising on a yearly basis and negotiations are discussed with the member of staff in charge of designing the wine list. It is a concern that only 16% of negotiations are with the General Manager and even less at 7% is with the Owner of the business.

Generally speaking, they are striving to ensure that service staffs employed by these establishments have the product knowledge of the wine by offering training sessions (a free service) and incentives (cost to winery).

The big question asked and answered: - 73% of the wineries have NOT seen a marked increase in sales since paying for a listing fee.

Restaurants have their say: -

We were not surprised that the restaurant industry were not forthcoming in completing the survey (reasons could include: - fearful, nervous, apprehensive....perhaps!)

43% of the restaurants responded that they receive listing fees, which are charged for per wine listed. Payment is equal in the form of cash and stock at the inception of the list. None of the restaurateurs discussed the fees with the owner of the winery and negotiations are with the representative of the farm.

The representative performs the majority of the product knowledge training and a staff member with training skills conducts 29% of training in-house. On the up side, 71% of restaurateurs create incentives for staff to sell and up-sell all wines listed.

The Costs Involved: -

Apart from the survey, we did receive information from a winery via our contact page (who will remain anonymous) on some of the costs. For the year 2010 listing fees at restaurants amounted to R52, 000, catalogue inserts at retail outlets like Makro and Ultra Liquor etc R110, 000 (which does not include end row displays and in-store promotions). Some restaurant chains charge R1, 300 per wine, but then you are listed at all the stores in the chain. Up to 7% discount to the distributor who has the wine on their portfolio, which does not guarantee listings. Think about it, re-read and you do the Mathematics!

Our Opinion (everyone is entitled):-

The most discouraging part of the restaurant survey was that they were NOT prepared to outsource the design of the wine list OR outsource a training company at their expense to perform basic wine training! It is usually left up to the floor manager (who has a lot of other duties), distributor (with usually 60% of their portfolio represented) to compile and train the list. Yet, they receive fees and have mark ups of up to 300% on the wine list.

To those who do not pay or receive listing fees, design and compile your own lists based on the merit of the wine, see training as an investment, we commend you! May you create many memorable dining experiences for your patrons! Comments from all parties via the online survey are posted below with names omitted.

With loads of cash, stock and discounts being given and received, does the small business owner, consumer or guest care? Yes, we think so .........

NIKKI DUMAS