AUTHENTICITY in wine can be overrated. A bottle that perfectly expresses a lousy site is destined to give very little pleasure, no matter how good the wine-making.

by Johnathan Grieve | Saturday, 6 Aug 2011 | Blog, Extraordinary Experiences, Uncategorised

Article written by Michael Fridjhon
© Business Day Friday 29 July 2011

AUTHENTICITY in wine can be overrated. A bottle that perfectly expresses a lousy site is destined to give very little pleasure, no matter how good the wine-making. Those who believe in the primacy of place are faced with two alternatives. They must either make the most authentic statement from the land they own, taking their chances on whether it’s the right place to have planted a particular variety, or they must seek out vineyards with the special qualities they most wish to capture.

Johnathan Grieve

As family man… Avondale is a family farm where we appreciate that the health and balance of our living system is inextricably linked to well-being of our families. As a father of two and a husband, as son and brother, my inspiration to achieve a robust, balanced vineyard ecosystem is to ensure that Avondale will support the lives of our future generations.

As artist… A passion for jazz and a love for all forms of art, especially woodwork and sculpture led me into four years of fine art studies – an eclectic education for a budding a farmer, for sure! However, I have found that in so many ways, the patterns, interconnections and openness of the artistic worldview have influenced my understanding of how living systems work.

As farmer… My interest in farming started early when I was a boy growing up on a small-holding outside of Durbanville. I planted and tended my own vegetables which I sold to family and friends. I hardly imagined at that time though that I would one day become a farmer. However, the theme of a healthy balanced life was embedded in our family’s outlook.

AUTHENTICITY in wine can be overrated. A bottle that perfectly expresses a lousy site is destined to give very little pleasure, no matter how good the wine-making.

Johnathan Grieve

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AUTHENTICITY in wine can be overrated. A bottle that perfectly expresses a lousy site is destined to give very little pleasure, no matter how good the wine-making.

Johnathan Grieve

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