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Groot Constantia’s place in history received another significant endorsement when we recently got a call from the Governor’s office from the State of Delaware on the east coast of America.

In 2004 a bottle fragment with the wording "Constantia Wyn" was found on a beach at Lewes, Delaware, USA. According to US Historians, the glass fragment came from the "Severn", a sailing ship that stranded in the Delaware Bay in 1774.

This year’s collection of wines to be sold in aid of charity on the Nederburg Auction range from an 84-year-old Burgundy to a current vintage Cabernet Sauvignon still in the barrel.

While the Cape was being lashed by early winter storms, the Groot Constantia team was sweating in Durban at the annual tourism Indaba. Sweating, that is, to field the interest shown in the wine industry by some of the over 12,600 Indaba visitors, especially tour operators.

This year's selection of some 140 Nederburg Auction wines, smaller than in the past, is a clear reflection of the growing maturity evident in the wine industry, says renowned oenologist Duimpie Bayly, who was also one of the main judges responsible for choosing the wines that will come under the hammer of Stephan Welz in September.

A recent Pinotage category tasting by WINE magazine revealed some impressive results, with the 4½ Star Kanonkop 2004 heading the list of gems to have emerged and the Hidden Valley 2004, Groot Constantia 2005, Southern Right 2005 and Simonsig Redhill 2005 among the 4 Star winners.

The holiday season may be in the bright Cape air, but in the wine industry this is the time when the hard work really begins. Cape Town is expecting over two million visitors for the season, and with a large section of these having placed the winelands on their programmes, cellar guides and tasting room managers are going to be pushed to the limit. But we love it!

The Classic Wine Trophy celebrates its ninth successful year and second year with sponsor Santé Winelands Hotel and Wellness Centre. This yearly event has now become a popular institution on the South African wine competition calendar.

Francois Agenbag of Wolseley, Breedekloof, has clinched the sixth Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year title. The 2006 competition attracted 62 Dry Red Wine entries from producers aged 30 or younger.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine recently announced 50 nominees for its annual Wine Star industry awards for 2006. Groot Constantia is nominated in the category Best New World Winery and is South Africa's only nominee this year.