Evening at Stormhoek looking up toward Bains Kloof with “sleeping” Cabernet vines in the foreground.

Things are a little quieter round here. Graham, has taken the week off to try and recoup before the coming Storm[hoek] that is spring.

The last 2 months in the trade have been very quiet and pressure of increasing interest rates in South Africa has taken it’s toll on the restaurant industry. I believe that about 100 Cape Town restaurants have closed their doors in line with shrinking disposable income.

The good thing is with Spring come the tourists and there is also an indication that interest rates will stabilise as the price of crude comes down.

Another good thing is the cold snap we have had in Cape Town that has given the vines a last “lie in” before having to expend all that accumulated energy. As long as the wierd weather does not persist, it will be a good year.