Trashing the stereotype

Stereotypes are defined as “an idea of a particular type of person or thing that has become fixed through being widely held”.

Well, two wine routes are challenging the stereotypes that the media and consumers have about their products. It is “widely held” or commonly believed that Franschhoek is not a great place to produce red wine and that Wellington is too hot to produce wines of any great significance.

One of the attributes of South Africa which boggles the brains of visitors is the sheer geographical diversity of the country’s wine growing areas. Within 50 to 100km of Cape Town there are markedly different soil types, slopes, climatic conditions and rainfalls.

Over the years people have fallen into the trap of thinking that Wellington is hot. Make no mistake, Wellington IS hot. Summer frequently sees the mercury heading north of 40 degrees… but there are numerous little pockets where it is distinctly cool. This place, which used to be a ward of Paarl and which has now been granted independent district status (and thus equal footing with Paarl) is looking to improve its image and the appreciation of the quality it can produce. It’ll soon start defining a range of different wards within its own district. Let’s face it, Linton Park or Mischa’s experience of the growing season will be vastly different from either Hildenbrand or Doolhof.