This episode is a conversation with South African viticulturist, Rosa Kruger. Tannie Rosa, as I call her, is a force to be reckoned with. An ex-lawyer and proud Afrikaner, Rosa has travelled extensively throughout the grape-growing world and is now one of the most important voices on viticulture in South Africa. She is a consultant and has worked with some of the most iconic names of modern South African wine: Eben Sadie, the Mullineuxs, the Alheits, Rupert & Rothschild and Boukenhoutskloof to name just a few.
She started the Old Vine Project, an NPO which aims to promote and preserve the old vineyards of South Africa.
She is probably the most deeply passionate person I have met when it comes to South African vineyards, and those who work them.
I wanted to talk to her about the state of viticulture in South Africa, a little about the history and how it has changed in the last 10 years with the rise and rise of local wine quality, and her vision for the future of the South African vineyard.
Tannie Rosa is one of my favourite people, she is strong willed, does not take any shit, deeply thoughtful and beautifully intelligent. We don’t always agree, and I challenged her on some points. But as always when I talk to my Tannie I leave the conversation with more insight and energy than when I started it. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Rosa Kruger….
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