DAVE BIGGS’S 2020 WINE

Six Wine Resolutions for 2020 A New Year, and Dave Biggs shares his resolutions for wine drinking…

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Well, we made it through 2019. It was a traumatic year, not without its problems, but with regular tributes to those two reliable old deities, Bacchus and Dionysus we survived. At the start of a new year it’s traditional to make a list of resolutions we don’t really expect to keep for more than a week. I always resolve not to let my bank balance slip into overdra , for example, but by January 24th I’ve run out of cat food and can hardly expect my cats to su er for my  nancial untidiness, so there goes the  rst resolution.

Wine resolutions are a di erent matter. We do need to start the New Year with a list of rules that will ensure a year of happy, healthy and safe drinking. If our drinking is not happy or safe, maybe we shouldn’t be doing it at all (Just joking! Ridiculous thought!) So here’s my personal list of wine resolutions for 2020:

Resolution 1: Drink More Water.  is may sound like a silly start to a list of wine resolutions, but it’s a serious one. Rather than slurp my way mindlessly through a bottle of good Pinotage or Cab Franc, I will  ll my glass with water whenever I have drained the wine in it.  ere are two reasons for this. It rinses the glass and cleans my palate, so I enjoy the next glass more. It also slows the pace of my drinking, which is probably a good idea.

Resolution 2: Don’t Drink and Drive. I will not drink anything alcoholic if I will be in charge of a vehicle a erwards. We all consider ourselves experienced drivers (and drinkers) and know we can handle a glass or two safely, but repeated tests have shown that even a single glass of wine can a ect your reaction time enough to cause an accident. A night in a police cell is not fun and the regret of having caused a fatal accident will be with you forever. Rather arrange for a good friend to be your sober driver. You can return the compliment later. And, your friend will have the pleasure of telling everyone what a complete poephol you made of yourself at the party while he watched in sober superiority. Consider using the Uber taxi network.  ey can save you embarrassment, injury and jail-time.

Resolution 3: Explore New Wines and Regions. Take time when you’re buying your weekend supply to scan the shelves for brands you haven’t heard of or imports from countries whose wines you don’t know. Treat yourself to one wine surprise every month (at least). If you’re

Champange bubbles

resolutions

Resolution 5: Go For Pink. Gone are the days when the few available South African rosé wines were sticky sweet and marketed as “a little something pink for the ladies”. Today’s elegantly dry rosés are perfectly suited for South Africa’s warm summer days and outdoor lifestyle. Get to know some good ones.

a devoted Chardonnay fan take a side road into Viognier territory for a change. You might be pleasantly surprised. Naturally, the Wine-of-the-Month Club can help you discover new wines too, just give them a call or browse their website.

Resolution 6: Enjoy more. No, I don’t mean more wine. I mean more enjoyment. Wine is one of the human race’s great achievements. It has played a major role in religious ceremonies, celebrations and commemorations for thousands of years. It deserves our respect.

I hope our wines create new friendships and cement old ones. May 2020 be a year of tribute to all the people who create good wines; and to all those who enjoy them.

Resolution 4: Aim Carefully. When opening a bottle of bubbly, be careful to point the cork away from people or valuable items.  e pressure inside a Champagne bottle is high enough to launch a formidably ferocious missile.  e wire cage on the cork adds to the danger. Also make sure your sparkling wine is properly chilled before opening it. Warmth intensi es the explosion.

2020