an interview with Cape Wine Master Winnie Bowman.

on women winemakersand the state of the SA wine industry

In 2007 Bowman started as a judge for the oldest wine club in South Africa, the Wine-of-the-Month Club, helping choose some of the country’s best offerings for those looking to expand their wine repertoire.

Ahead of Women’s Day on Sunday, August 9, Bowman talks about how the alcohol ban has seriously damaged an already frail wine industry and how much styles and trends have changed in recent years.
 
Tell us a bit about yourself and when you fell in love with wine?
I have always loved wine; from the thimble full Muscadel every Sunday at the lunch table through to my university years at Stellenbosch, where we visited wine farms at every opportunity. Then, of course, came international travel, and our holidays have always been linked to wine regions. I was challenged to become a Cape Wine Master and would not give up! It was a rollercoaster of fun, learning and meeting loads of new and interesting friends. At present most of my time is spent judging in local and international wine and spirit competitions, writing, teaching and long lunches exploring new and interesting wines, as well as tracking the development of old favourites.
 
Do you believe that women and men judge wine differently and those of different generations?
I would love to be able to say that women are better (only joking) but in my experience this is not the case. Neither for different generations, except experienced judges will have seen the development of the wine industry and wines over the years and have a very large and long memory bank in both styles and quality.
 
What is your wish for women?
That there should be absolutely no discrimination anywhere; be it gender, religion, politics, age or race.
 Do women winemakers bring a different touch to winemaking than men?
I want all winemakers to make wine to the best of their ability with the grapes at hand. I have never believed that any woman winemaker should be judged individually or separately to any male winemaker, especially not in a competition situation. Equal playing field always, I say!
 Why would you encourage people to become part of Wine -of-the-Month Club and which pack should they start with?
Firstly, I love opening a package! Whether I know what is inside or not! It is like a present every time. So imagine this delight every two months? The panel hardly ever fails to pick the best wines on offer every tasting day and takes the hard work (and expense) of finding the best wines for the individual packs. It is also exciting to find new and unknown wines that one would not have been aware of.
I would start with the Wine-of-the-Month Club pack because these are good, solid wines that punch way above their weight in flavour, enjoyment and often in value. What is also very good is that the club member can select within a club category what their personal preferences are, e.g. only red, only white, only dry - whatever takes their fancy and drinking enjoyment and lifestyle. The magazine,
Connoisseur, that is included in the pack, features all the wines from the different packs, as well as some of the editor’s personal picks, so club members can order individual wines featured in the other packs as well.
 
What do you think are the biggest benefits of joining this wine club?
Value, convenience (both in delivery and re-ordering), excitement for what will be in the next pack and exploring the new wines.
 

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