Wine Industry South Africa

Beneath the cool, misty hills of Cape province, winemaker Beyers Truter carefully pulled the cork from a large new oak barrel in his cellar the other day and siphoned off half a glass of his progeny. He swirled the red liquid to release the bouquet, took a deep sniff and poured it into his mouth. But, rather than soberly spitting it out, as professionals like Truter usually do, he swallowed it. After all, he said with a smile, why waste a lovely wine?

A Congolese wine lover who has penetrated this country's exclusive wine industry wants to cultivate African palates while marketing what he hopes will be an outstanding product. Telecommunications tycoon Miko Rwayitare bought the small Mont Rochelle vineyard in the premier Western Cape viniculture region of Franschhoek last year. His main objective is to create a variety that will revolutionize the quality of South African wine and the way it is perceived both at home and abroad.

A Congolese wine lover who has penetrated this country's exclusive wine industry wants to cultivate African palates while marketing what he hopes will be an outstanding product. Telecommunications tycoon Miko Rwayitare bought the small Mont Rochelle vineyard in the premier Western Cape viniculture region of Franschhoek last year. His main objective is to create a variety that will revolutionize the quality of South African wine and the way it is perceived both at home and abroad.

Beneath the cool, misty hills of Cape province, winemaker Beyers Truter carefully pulled the cork from a large new oak barrel in his cellar the other day and siphoned off half a glass of his progeny. He swirled the red liquid to release the bouquet, took a deep sniff and poured it into his mouth. But, rather than soberly spitting it out, as professionals like Truter usually do, he swallowed it. After all, he said with a smile, why waste a lovely wine?