The Winning Habit

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

A few years ago, a Springbok rugby coach spoke about the team having lost the ‘winning habit’.

At the time the words resonated because there was ostensibly nothing wrong with the team: it was as talented and skilful as ever, the players were fit and injury free, their opponents were no more powerful than previously – so what was responsible for the losing streak? Self belief, getting into a ‘winning habit’ – the conviction that, no matter what the situation, they could win.

Something that impressed me mightily about South Africa’s sporting successes of the past 18 months – notably in rugby and cricket – was team composure. I was in Upington for the Orange River Winery’s annual winemaker of the year competition at the time of the Rugby World Cup final. While a hall full of passionate supporters were almost rigid with tension, there was such self-belief and composure displayed by the men on the field. Springbok captain John Smit spoke about it afterward: they had a core conviction that they would not lose. They’d beaten the best and would do so again.

Likewise, last year’s cricket tour to Australia was historic for so many reasons – the first time in 16 years that the Aussies had lost a series at home, the first time since readmission that South Africa had beaten the Aussies in their own back yard, Graeme Smith coming of age and earning respect for his battling spirit and cool, confident captaincy, JP Duminy creating his own legend…

So why are we so modest when it comes to wine? Just look at what South African winemakers have done in the past year.
Probably the most significant achievement was the recognition by the highly regarded International Wine & Spirits Competition that Kanonkop’s Abrie Beeslaar was Winemaker of the Year. Not only that, but Kanonkop won the trophy for the best South African producer of the year and made history by walking off with the award for the best blended red wine in the world for an unprecedented third time!

I’m sure that many a jaw dropped at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London last year when it was announced that South Africa was one of the biggest winners of the night, taking home no fewer than six of the international wine trophies. There are only 26 awarded in total…
Specifically, the trophies were for best red Bordeaux-style blend under £10 (Amani), best red Rhône over £10 (Cederberg), best Sauvignon Blanc under £10 (Lomond), best Chardonnay under £10 (Paul Cluver), best Chardonnay over £10 (Rustenberg) and best white blend over £10 (Tokara).

At the other international biggie, the Concours Mondial, South Africa was the most successful country overall. It may not have had the highest number of entries with 199 of the 9000+ wines submitted, but 73 wines achieved a score of 80% or more – corresponding to a success rate of 37%. This is more than any other country – including Australia, Spain, France and Italy. Not only that, but Spier’s Private Collection Shiraz 2005 was adjudged the best red wine of the competition, something Spice Route’s Flagship Syrah 2000 achieved in 2003. To mark the growing regard for South Africa, the Concours Mondial organisers travelled to Stellenbosch in May last year to personally award the certificates and medals.

There’s no need for us to be arrogant but, like our sports heroes, let’s show more self belief and conviction in South Africa’s ability to produce some of the best wines in the world.