Despatch from the Cape

Nearly 1000 wines tasted in three and a half days and South Africa's second Fairbairn Capital Trophy Wine Show is over. We judges, local luminaries plus myself and James Halliday of Australia, expect to receive some flak for the fact that the total number of medals awarded was even lower than last year.

Viz:

  2003   2002
Gold medals 19   26
Silver medals 65   97
Bronze medals 313   324
       
Total no of entries 916   787

'I'd like to think this is the toughest wine competition anywhere,' said über-organiser South African...