As I lay in bed last night, it dawned on me that it might sound odd that I’m all in a huff about a winery. Why feel so strongly for a product I no longer use?
Well, here’s the deal. Yes, as an alcoholic I no longer drink, amongst other things, wine. Still, Stormhoek isn’t “just a wine”. Above and beyond the warm memories I associate with a bottle of Stormhoek at a dinner party – the people behind the wine feel like family. Many Geek Dinners (linklove to the Garden Route Geek Dinner that got me started) were sponsored by them, many younglings have been inspired by them and – not to put too fine a point on it – we know them! For crying in a bucket – some of us even own vines at Stormhoek!!
As a last thought on this matter, for now, here’s the deal with wine:
The wine is the brand. You can taste it. Wine carries the story of it’s origin within itself. The soil, the wind, the water, the sun – the actual vines… All of these are translated into the aroma and character of the wine itself.
You can take the same wine – and slap on any old label you please – it will always be the same wine.
Conversely, if you take the “Brand” and stick it onto any old wine – it will be fake.
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