The news that controversial UK wine commentator, Tim Atkin, is to judge the Franschhoek Wine Writers Competition, hit the SA wine spittoon last week with an eyebrow raising 8.8 on the open-ended Richter scale and triggered several tsunamis. For Atkin (or “Adkin”, as Franschhoek PRs joshingly – and perhaps more accurately – call him) does not have a very high opinion of SA wine writers. Writing in Wine & Spirit Magazine he called “SA domestic wine writers… parochial, barely qualified fans with typewriters” and noted “In the absence of a more robust domestic media, SA needs informed criticism from overseas.” Presumably from people like Mr. Adkin himself, who has time on his hands after being trimmed from The Observer newspaper.

Tim Adkin enjoys a good larf at the expense of parochial SA winewriters

Quite how many of these parochial fans will now enter the competition, depends on the degree of self-loathing in the spittoon but by setting himself up as an alternative service (including using his position as co-chair of the lucrative but controversial International Wine Challenge), his position as judge is at best unethical and certainly hypocritical. Quite how the great SA wine drinking public will react to pronouncements from such a blatantly prejudiced judge with a not-so-hidden ulterior agenda, is the big unknown. But Franschhoek PRs must be hoping they don’t end up carrying the can for such a transparent carpetbagger. What next, The Tim Adkin Wine Writing Academy issuing certificates of competency to benighted colonials?

Related posts:

1. Pinot @ Prowein Paul Cluver, CEO of the eponymous wine producer, gave a...
2. Matching Sauvignon Blanc to pigs ears and blood pudding Down to some serious stuff at the Concours Mondial du...
3. A short life, but a merry one Bookended by the controversial claim by Su Birch, WOSA CEO,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.