Maturing like a fine wine

Canadian-born Norma Ratcliffe did not know much about winemaking before she and her husband purchased the Warwick wine estate when they moved to Capetown, South Africa, in 1964.

It took another 20 years before the first Warwick vintage, a Cabernet Sauvignon, was released in 1984. But her growing interest in wine making led her to not just give wine away to appreciative friends, but also to become South Africa's first woman winemaker.

The energetic, charming woman made her first visit to Beijing recently to promote Warwick wines, which have started to become popular in China, with her son Mike, now the winery's managing director.

"I just love wine," says Ratcliffe. "I'll never have a BBQ or dinner without drinking wine."

The winery not only holds wine parties for people, but also blind tasting at home and at Christmas parties - especially after Ratcliffe's daughter Jenny became a Master of Wine. At 29, she is the youngest to earn that distinction in South Africa.

Ratcliffe does not share the commonly held view that women make better wine tasters than men. She says that idea gained ground only because more women work in the kitchen. Women winemakers compete with everyone, not just other women, she says.

Since 1986, The Trilogy, a Bordeaux-style blend, has emerged as one of the flagship wines of the South African wine industry. Tom Stevenson, wine author, holds Warwick Estate in high regard: "Rich, complex wines make Warwick one of the youngest, smallest, and most exciting boutique wineries on the Cape winemaking scene." Warwick 2005 Trilogy was awarded 93 points by Wine Spectator magazine.

The wine sells "really well", according to Selina Tian with EMW, Warwick's representative in China. The most popular wines are those priced from 100-300 yuan ($15-45), and those priced around 600 yuan.

Ratcliffe has stepped down after 20 years as Warwick's winemaker, and is succeeded by Louis Nel, widely considered to be one of the most talented winemakers in South Africa. Ratcliffe also served as the first chairwoman of the Cape Independent Winemakers' Guild.

"Nothing is harsh when you are passionate, young and energetic," she says. "I never felt it was hard work. It was demanding, but I never felt tired."

She has learned to play bridge and golf in her spare time. But she is still involved with style management and quality control at the winery.