Spier top achiever at international wine competition

For the second year running, Spier was South Africa’s top achiever at the prestigious ConcoursMondial de Bruxelles – a leading international wine competition. The results were announced last night. A total of 7,386 wines and spirits from 49 countries competed in Luxembourg from May 6-8 before a hand-picked selection of some of the world’s foremost tasters.

Less than one percent of the entries were awarded a Grand Gold Medal, and Spierwas one of three South African wine farms to achieve this top honour for its Private Collection Shiraz 2008. It also achieved five Gold Medalsfor Spier Creative Block 3 2009, Spier Creative Block 5 2009, Spier Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Naledi Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and Groote KaapViognier 2010. A further five wines received Silver Medals.

A total 2,145 medals were awarded this year and preliminary results indicate that France retains its leadership position with 628 medals, followed by Spain (436 medals), Portugal (235 medals), Italy (184), Chile (136), South Africa (78) and Australia (43).

“We are delighted with our results and see this as a real accolade to the quality of our wines,” says Spier Cellar Master FransSmit. “It is so encouraging to see South African wines performing so well in general at this prestigious competition.”

Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) welcomes cabinet moratorium on fracking

The Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) welcomes Cabinet's decision today to invoke a moratorium on fracking; we were confident from the start that they would make the right decision and follow international best practice in this regard.

Cabinet clearly realized what other countries have realized the issue of fracking is too complex to be decided on by one single authority or one single department. A multi disciplinary team must look at an issue of this magnitude.

From our side, we will now make sure we cooperate with and give all the assistance we can to government as they make sure that every aspect of the environmental impact assessment is taken care of. We have a wealth of evidence and research in our possession which we will gladly share with government.

The TKAG remains firm on its position that fracking should not happen anywhere in South Africa.

Treasure the Karoo Action group has emerged as the co-ordinating body, representative of a broad range of stakeholders who are concerned with the plans of Oil and Mining companies to extract shale gas from the Karoo basin. Popular support can be followed and joined on Facebook and at www.treasurethekaroo.blogspot.com]