Even the consumers that could afford higher-priced wines are looking for value for money. It is not just a question of what people can afford, but which wine they will choose for that price.īecause of the war and Ukraine, and the resultant knock-on effect, a perfect storm was created that caused a rise in energy costs and production costs, leading to inflation and leaving most people in the real world out of pocket at the end of the month. With world events shifting, and people being squeezed for cash, consumers are trying to get a bang for their buck on all fronts.
There was good camaraderie amongst the tasters who were united in their cause, and although the tasting was serious business, there was an atmosphere of excitement in the air. The majority of the assembled judges were retail specialists and were tasked with finding vinous value at R180 and below per bottle in a double-blind tasting. The ninth annual Gold Wine Awards took place in mid-September 2022 at Neethlingshof Wine Estate near Stellenbosch.
