Sparkling wine without sparkle

2003-12-01 09:27

Philip de Bruin

Johannesburg - Sparkling wine that failed to sparkle has moved a winemaker to take a bottle manufacturer to court.

Twee Jonge Gezellen director Nic Krone jun took Consol to court after he bottled Krone Borealis 1994 in bottles treated with Freon 124A gas.

In 1996, Twee Jonge Gezellen ordered 29 720 bottles from Consol to bottle Krone Borealis.

This is no ordinary sparkling wine, as it is manufactured according to a method called "cap classique" or "m&ecute;thode champenoise", which means a second fermentation process inside the bottle following initial fermentation in tanks.

Twee Jonge Gezellen was not aware of it that Consol had treated the bottles with Freon 134A, a preventive measure for bottles stored over a long period.

When Twee Jong Gezellen put the wine in the bottles for the second fermentation process, the sparkle disappeared. The winery lost R10m due to Freon 134A, it was alleged in the Cape High Court.

The court ruled principally in favour of Twee Jonge Gezellen. Consol lodged an appeal, which was granted.

The case will continue in the High Court, which will also decide for whose account the costs would be.

- Beeld