I’ve often heard it said that those who yearn to have power or control but who lack the emotional intelligence to be leaders are instead drawn into bullying-type behaviors. But I wonder whether that’s always true? Is it really frustration or a lack of insight that leads to bullying conduct, or is it some sort…
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Caymus 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon One winemaker has stubbornly been making only one variety since 1972, and to hell with the risk! Any good professional adviser will tell you that it’s risk management 101 to spread your risk and have a backup plan just in case. “Have another string to your bow”, or perhaps ” add…
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Riesling is on the rise as versatility adds to her attraction. Move over Fonz, after years of being courted by sauvignon blanc, there’s a new cool kid in town and her name is Riesling! It seems that what started out as just a small group of friends and family lip-syncing the chorus, has become a…
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Chardonnay is the South African wine industry’s leading light, and those from Stellenbosch are the best. Much to the chagrin of my good south African “buddy” Nev, I love little more than watching the YouTube clip of British comedian Michael McIntyre take the mickey out of the South African accent. It’s not that the accent…
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My 11-year-old son came home from school late last year with some homework that was cause for a family discussion. Where normally such family meetings are required for solving (relatively simple) mathematical problems, or the best way to complete a task or project, on this occasion it was far more serious. This was preparation for…
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Are ‘organic’ wines really worth the hype? Probably not. I’d rather take it on a case-by-case basis. Biodynamics, Organics and “least intervention” agriculture are buzzwords that are seemingly taking the world by storm. Not only do manufacturers and retailers espouse the virtues of these uber-hip products but now, organic labels even have their own aisle…
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So the New Year is once again upon us and we’re busily making promises to ourselves to eat better, exercise more and empty our “too hard” baskets. And, in our professional lives, we are urged by management consultants and accountants to make resolutions to improve margins, cut expenses and enhance profitability. But to me, something…
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Call them “quaffers”, “cooking wine”, “everyday drops” or even “two buck chuck”, there’s an undeniable place for wines at the budget end of the price point spectrum. Very often these much maligned wines are seen as one step up the pyramid from “chateau cardboard” that comes in its own bladder and a rung or two…
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From Jingle Bells to “ho ho ho” and all the way to “Happy New year”, the sound of popping corks is a prominent feature of the festive season all around the world. So much so, that according to French data, two-thirds of total annual champagne sales occur in the months from September to December! And…
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As the mercury climbs a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling usually becomes a Sunday afternoon staple, but a rise in the temperature doesn’t have to mean that the red varietals have to be banished to the back of the cellar. In fact, there are plenty of reds that are well suited to the…
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