Race against time

Any race normally spells pressure, compromises, tension, but above all complete focus on the task at hand. This all goes with the territory and when you’re on a tight wine tasting schedule with clients that flies in and out on the same day, you had better have your act together.

Actually it started four days earlier when the visit was confirmed. I felt up to the challenge as I’ve twice before arranged similar visits for a client from Shanghai with one even set up on a Sunday to visit five cellars the next day.

The day starts at two o’clock the morning when the rain wakes me. Dressed in my best and with my Navy rain coat I don’t feel the 14°Celsius outside. It’s perfect weather for tasting red wines, our mission for the day. Meeting Austin and Gwen 15 minutes after arriving, we move out in pelting rain, arriving at Cavalli 30 minutes behind schedule - miss-timing on my part. On top of that I lose the sole of my brand new leather shoe before we even step into this very classy complex.

arra barrel maturation cellar

Next stop is Arra and now we are 50 minutes late while I lose my second sole when stepping out into the mud. The smartly packaged cheese and mini-compotes help still the hunger of our guests. By the time we reach Slent the car looks like we’re doing the Dakar rally. Taking off our shoes the wooden floor is warm underneath, with a fire and several heaters creating comfort.  My first words to Michela are “We’ve only got 45 minutes.” Despite tasting through five wines and having lots of laughs about the antics of the baboons in the vineyards we move out on time, but not before Attilio gives me a bunch of his prized artichokes, freshly harvested.

artichokes & moon cookies

When we stop at Mont Rochelle for lunch with Dustin we’re only 15 minutes late. This is crucial as he has an executive meeting at three. So skipping everything we settle down at the table in front of a cosy fire, with rain coming down hard on the roof. At ten to three Dustin tells me "No, it's been cancelled." A really great atmosphere and finally we have time to relax. All of us are hungry and when Austin sees the braised brisket he mentions “We got up at four and this looks good.” It was!  

Mont Rochelle cellar

Our last stop is De Zoete Inval in Paarl which I only set up the night before. On the farm I stop next to a roofless house on a muddy dirt road and call Robert “Where’s your house?” “Turn back, it’s the big one that you passed first.” Immediately when he sees the state of my shoes he says, “Take them off, I’ll fix it just now.”  When a guy takes a big Leatherman out of his pocket you know he can fix anything. So while I present the Kudu biltong and dry wors that Robert puts in front of me, he gets to work on my shoes.

De Zoete Inval vines

Having clawed back to our original time schedule, the biggest challenge is yet to come – getting our guests onto the plane on time. Gwen is somewhat anxious, but we’ve been travelling against the traffic all day and I’m confident. There is still a small hurdle, the samples are packed, but the cartons need to be sealed and labelled. This happens at the airport after a super-fast journey on the N1. Seven minutes before the boarding gate opens they pass through security and my job is done.

Back home I don’t sit down else I’ll fall asleep. Almost in automatic mode I shower and jump into bed. This total focus on the job does come at a price though. Gwen tried her best to take photos while I was driving, but here I should have stopped.  En route from Franschhoek to Paarl we see the most amazing waterfall – it must’ve been 100m high with another one of 20m a little above that. Two long, thin white streams of water glistening white against the green mountain. A minute later we see the most incredible rainbow on the right, a widespread band of lights shimmering in the late afternoon sun against the mountain.

Photo credits:

Arra barrel maturation cellar, Gwen Huang

Artichokes & moon cookies, Anton Blignault

Mont Rochelle cellar, Gwen Huang

De Zoete Inval vines, Gwen Huang

© Anton Blignault, Cape Town

What really matters

Can you recall the last moment when you’ve suddenly experienced total bliss? When it feels like time is standing still and you want to stay in this moment forever? It normally happens few and far in between – for me at least.

What really matters to you? Is it the next promotion and that corner office, getting that big order, signing the deed of purchase for your own house, driving a sports car? The Porsche will come, but what really matters to me are those intimate moments with someone very special that I share a lot of time with every day.

You need to pay the rent and having wine on the table every day is a given, but what makes life exciting is discovering, pursuing and creating new things – be it clients, deals, ideas, products, places, trips and relationships. And all of this happens through interaction with people that you really like to spend time with.

With a client from China who is notorious for only letting you know he is in Cape Town once he has arrived and expects you to arrange a winelands visit to several cellars over the weekend, it certainly creates an adrenaline rush.  Fortunately the wineries are very accommodating, especially when Dollars are involved.

Then comes help from France in the person of Juliette, beautiful, poised, quiet and soft-spoken – so much so that when she talks everyone listens. It took me a full month, and asking nicely, before getting her to talk more freely. But was that absolutely worth it, tantamount to conquering a mountain.

After a boring week of month-end, export and logistics documentation for me and clients prospection for her comes a hectic Friday to fix an incorrect export certificate for a shipment that has already sailed to Japan when another such moment arises unexpectedly with no words necessary. It happened when stepping out of a blistery cold wind into the warmth of Villiera’s tasting room. No one is there except for the tasting room manager and a warm inviting fireplace. We edge onto a bench facing the heat, and I suddenly experience an inner calmness. Nothing else matters except us and these moments we share together, talking about what’s in the glass and other trivial stuff. It feels like a reward in itself, altogether worth as much or more as the financial success of the major deal concluded the week before.

Some things just fit perfectly together. Like a good quality cork into the neck of an elegant wine bottle, some people also match perfectly from the outset. So finally, what really matters for you? For me it is relationships with the special people in my life, as this is the stepping stone to build the future on…

 Photo credits: Cape Point, Franschhoek – Anton Blignault

© Anton Blignault, Cape Town

Rules to ride by # 1

This story goes back some years over three exciting episodes engaging on horseback. Everyone learns by experience, some a little quicker than others. Carve out your own destiny by paying attention to the rules of the game. Enjoy part 1 now.

Go it alone

“Your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.” Abraham Lincoln

At the start not everyone close to you will believe you. They all know you too well. Create a distance if you must, to be able to sustain your belief in yourself, but always protect and take care of your loved ones first.

We’re in Durban on holiday and when aunt Sienie tells me she would like to go to the Wild Coast Sun, I have a vision of horse riding again in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland. Before setting off for my first outride in many years I drop her off at reception, telling her to enjoy a waffle and cream on me.

Life happens

“When your foot is in the stirrup, you must ride.” Johan Kriegler

No one will give you carte blanche at first. Respect their concerns and live with it. Trust is earned.

It’s only me and the instructor riding on the beach at the Wild Coast. The horses go into a canter on the wet hard sand, but he insists on holding my horse’s reins. I’m happy just to have the experience of the horse under my bum, the surf in my ears, and the sea spray in my face.

Tell everyone about it

“You must engage in order to advance.”

When you’re stoked up about a great new venture, talk about it. Putting your dream out there puts you on the line, committing yourself to action and to reaching your goal.

Shortly before Caroline returns to France we talk about horse riding and I say that would’ve been nice. She says, “Sure, I can ride horses, it’s on my CV.”

Search for the fire inside you

“You can, because you think you can.”

Know your own strengths; but as important, know and use the strengths of everyone in your team. Not only learn from them, but champion them when they excel.

“This smells so good!” Anne-Sophie says when we walk into the stables. With the horses walking down the mountain trail at Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards in Franschhoek she rides with her feet out of the stirrups, totally at ease in the saddle.

Dress the part

“…stay in sync with the event, with a sense of style and occasion.” Lungile Kunene, Izembetho

Be aware of the occasion and your part in the show. If unsure, rather be overdressed. You can always dress down. What’s more, you’ll be certain to make an impression. Let it be the right one though.

I’m dressed in shorts and sandals, but my tog bag is in the boot. Anne-Sophie remarks “Oh, I wondered how you would ride in that outfit,” when I re-enter the stables in jeans and takkies.

Hold on tight

“The magic lies within you.”

When the team moves, stay in the bus. You’ve got to pick up speed when the project starts, else you’re going to stay behind, or fall off.

I’m last in the queue and Ray, the instructor, goes into a gallop up the mountain. My horse follows suit, and not ever having galloped before I grit my teeth and grip the reins tightly.

Fake it

“When you stop being afraid you feel good! Move with the cheese!” Dr Spencer Johnson

Display courage and do your best to stay on top of things. Even when you’re not sure what’s going to happen next, anticipate and go with the flow.

When the horses get to the last stretch before the stables, mine breaks out into a gallop and passes everyone. I’m petrified but hold on tight. When Ray asks me “Were you in control there?”, I say “Sure, I enjoyed this sprint.”

Take the chance

 “Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” Coco Chanel

At first, a totally new opportunity is daunting. Weigh up the risks and the consequences, but once your gut instinct tells you it’s ok, embrace it without serious concern for the challenges.

Perchance I see a Filmmakers Guide SA post on Facebook to do a film shoot requiring a man who rides “English” well. Acting I can do, horse riding is another matter entirely; but one can learn, not so? 

“I’m an adventure girl!” Caroline tells me with pride before she embarks on a scuba diving course.

See the final result

“Expect to succeed.”

You will never succeed in any major project if you don’t at first see the final result in your mind. Believe this to be true before you start. After that it’s easy – you simply follow the blueprint in your mind.

At the audition Barry Armitage and Joe Dawson, the two directors of The Ride tell me, “You’re perfect for the part, absolutely the right build, exactly like Sir Harry Smith.” Ignoring that I can’t ride, I’m super charged to be the star of the movie.

Try it out

“Being offered chances is one thing; taking them another.” Angus Powers

Not all things work out at first, unless you’re naturally gifted in what you do. When trying something completely new it gets much more complicated, but never hesitate to give it a full go.

Joe phones me ½ hour later to arrange an outride with their horses at DelVera outside of Stellenbosch, that same afternoon. “Sure” I say, “I’ll be there.” He saddles up both horses and I’m happy to stand by. Once we’re on the hill my horse veers off in-between the vines. Embarrassed, I manage to turn him around. Next we go on a gallop, but I hop around in the saddle. Looking back, Joe remarks “Find the rhythm of the horse and go up and down with the flow.”

Savour those small victories and let-downs with a chuckle, a glass of good wine, and a few great friends.