The Tribune

THERE has been so much publicity about the Israeli-Gaza war that most people will be aware that it has moved to another deadly phase as the Israeli bombardment of Gaza intensifies and tanks and troops have also now crossed into the territory. The humanitarian situation has worsened and, in reaction, pro-Palestinian rallies are being held around the world.

As this terrible conflict develops and conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, the media coverage will doubtless remain comprehensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is quoted as saying that “this will be a long war”. So it might be helpful to comment about specific aspects of the crisis as the situation demands.

However, having written about the subject in my last two columns, today I should like to change direction and look at something completely different which I hope will be of interest locally; namely, “English Wine Week” which has come to The Bahamas to celebrate the world’s best wines, some of which are now produced in the UK.

At this year’s 25th International Cultural Wine and Food Festival held last weekend, which has returned after a three-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the British High Commission hosted the “Great British Wine Bar”. By all accounts, this proved very popular with participants at the festival and was rapidly sold out as many visitors to it were surprised at just how good the wines were.

In writing about this today - in the face of scepticism amongst some people concerning the quality of English wines - I found it interesting to do a little research into the background, since, although the UK reportedly ranks as high as fifth in the world for overall wine consumption, it is nowhere near that in terms of wine production. Nonetheless, according to one wine historian I came across, wine making in the country goes back a very long time – in fact, to the Romans who introduced viticulture during their conquest and occupation of Britain and established vineyards there as early as 43BC.

History shows that, for a host of reasons, there was subsequently a gap in wine making of several centuries until the 1950s, with the first commercial English vineyard opening in 1955. Later, vineyards have become a common sight in counties in the south of England due to the drier and warmer climate there than elsewhere in the country and, more recently, as a result of climate change and global warming. As viticulture has developed, it is now claimed that England has become a significant new force in the wine world, producing world-class sparkling wines and exciting dry wines, winning awards and earning well-deserved recognition across the world.

English Wine Week at the Wine and Food Festival was organised by the British High Commission’s wine and spirits adviser, Steven Boon (Wine and Spirits Guys) who is a Bahamian. It was preceded by a week of tasting events with the “Who’s Who” of the Bahamian hospitality business, including Atlantis, Baha Mar, Graycliff, the Ocean Club, the Lyford Cay Club, Albany Luxury Resort, Caribbean Wines and Spirits, Jimmy’s Wines and Spirits and Commonwealth Brewery.

It appears to have been a considerable achievement to have gathered together at these events some of the most important buyers in the Caribbean – and it was reported that these experts were surprised at the high quality of, in particular, the English sparkling wines now available.

To impress on them how good English wine now is, Steven Boon arranged for Giles Cooper, who is one of the world’s most influential wine buyers, to lead a wine tasting event. It is said that, while winning international awards, English wines have beaten similar French wines in blind tastings.  Furthermore, some of them are now served at Buckingham Palace as the wine of choice for royal events.

In the words of Steven Boon: “What a successful week. I have had the most amazing response from all whom we invited to taste English wine. I really feel that this event was the moment the food and beverage trade was introduced to English sparkling wine – in ten years’ time when English wine is on every menu in every hotel, we will all remember this moment.”

For his part, High Commissioner Thomas Hartley said: “Hot on the heels of the first Bahamian rum being sold in London, I am very excited we’re seeing the first English sparkling wines in Nassau! The response from some of the Caribbean’s biggest and best buyers was overwhelming – none could believe how good the English wines are, and it won’t be long until we see these wines in every hotel, every bar and every home. I am glad so many people have been surprised; and now see things differently about English wine.”

Thus, overall this was clearly a most interesting and successful occasion and series of events. Many will wish those concerned the best of luck in consolidating such a good start by ensuring these high quality English wines become widely recognised and sought after in such a lucrative local market.

A time to reflect and take stock

Each year by the end of October, many feel confident that The Bahamas has been spared a hurricane – if that is indeed already the case – because by November the season to all intents and purposes is over. However, people say “don’t put mouth on it” because fate may just intervene.

Living in The Bahamas, one soon learns that the official hurricane season is the beginning of June to the end of November. While not pretending to be any sort of expert, my wife and I have also learnt that the peak period is August to October. Our experience of more than 20 years here is that nothing much happens in November even though officially the season extends to the end of next month.

The only major one we recall in that last month of the season was Hurricane Michelle which hit New Providence as a Category 4 storm on November 4, 2001 while “Noel” also moved through the archipelago on November 1, 2007. Of course, with abnormal weather conditions around the world in the midst of climate change and global warming, no one can be sure. But a check of the National Hurricane Centre’s website shows that at the time of writing there is nothing serious lurking in the Atlantic apart from some areas of low pressure that are unlikely to form into anything threatening. So, here’s hoping that this year we have, indeed, been spared!

In such an optimistic frame of mind, this time of year also induces a mood of quiet reflection as the calmness of autumn takes over and nature prepares for the hibernation of winter while in the Fall the rich colours of the native trees in North America are said to be unsurpassed elsewhere in the world.

In the Northern Hemisphere, as the leaves begin to drop and cooler weather takes over, the fireside begins to beckon and the clocks go back an hour, I was tempted to look at the history books to discover what of importance happened in the world in the past which might have shaped its future, during the month of October. But the list was far too long to single out any apart from three that caught my eye; namely, Columbus made his first landfall in the New World in The Bahamas in October, 1492, the Cuban missile crisis, which nearly resulted in another world war, was in October, 1962, and – interestingly, given what is now happening in the Middle East - the Yom Kippur War, when Egypt and Syria launched an attack on Israel, started in October, 1973.

So perhaps the month of October is not really a time of quiet and reflection as the end of another year approaches with Halloween around the corner, followed by Remembrance Day and the annual Thanksgiving celebrations while Germany is famous for its annual festival in celebration of Bavarian culture known as Oktoberfest – an occasion with a well-known emphasis on consuming beer in vast quantities.

All that said, for so many people the month of October is still surely a time for appreciation and thanksgiving for the blessings of life and, with another year soon upon us, a realisation of the importance of living in the present – carpe diem or seize the moment. In mentioning this, perhaps I could refer to the inspiration said to have been derived by many people over the years from the teachings of Sir William Osler which have been widely admired and followed over the years. A Canadian who was one of the four founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the US, he was lauded at the time as one of the leading physicians in the English-speaking world.

He famously advised his medical students at Yale University in 1913 to live neither in the past nor in the future but to ‘let each day’s work absorb all your interest, energy and enthusiasm. The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well’. It is said that his ‘Way of Life’ address was one of the most inspiring ever heard at Yale, and interest in it was so great that it was published in essay form and widely distributed so that the basic idea of living in ‘day-tight compartments’ is familiar to many. It is said that his advice has helped people over the years to do their day’s work with confidence, using their experience wisely without letting the mistakes of the past paralyze the efforts of today and without letting needless anxieties about the future waste their energies or destroy their peace of mind.

A Rugby World Cup to relish

Without attempting any sort of informed analysis of the men’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) in France which ended last weekend with the narrowest of victories in the final for the holders, South Africa, over the New Zealand All Blacks, it is safe to say that the whole event was an enormous success. Amidst what was apparently impressive organization, there was so much play of high quality which demonstrated the skills of players across-the-board that it would be invidious to pick out specific examples. Suffice it to say that the tournament constituted a wonderful showcase for the sport of rugby.

Commentators are saying that the RWC is now regarded as the world’s third biggest sporting event behind the FIFA football World Cup and the Olympic Games. The tournament attracted record attendances in super-sized stadiums and it will be interesting to learn in due course of the financial impact after the RWC in Japan in 2019 was said to be the most economically successful in World Cup history.

South Africa’s back-to-back victory, after defeating England in the final in 2019, means the Springboks have emerged triumphant in the RWC for the fourth time which is more than any other country. But on Saturday they beat New Zealand by only 13-12 which was the thinnest of margins - and this was the third time they won in this tournament by a single point. So their matches have been very tight and could have gone either way – not least, of course, their wonderful match against the hosts, France. Most people agree that the key to South Africa’s success is their physicality and reliance on a tight defence, discipline and mastery of the set-pieces (scrums and line outs), together with flawless goal kicking by the ever reliable Handre Pollard.

Last Saturday’s final was packed with drama as the match went right down to the wire. It seemed to me that the commentators did not emphasize sufficiently that for much of the match the All Blacks were down to 14 men. In the 27th minute, their captain, Sam Cane, was given a yellow card for a high tackle. On review, this was increased to a red card so he took no further part in the match and the All Blacks were a man short for the rest of it. For the last quarter, in particular, they were faced with the herculean task of keeping the Springboks at bay and even had a chance of victory through a penalty opportunity that slid just wide of the posts.

My own view is that the original decision of a yellow card for New Zealand’s captain was unnecessarily harsh since his action looked to be over-eager rather than malicious and it was clearly unintended. So was the referee’s decision over-zealous, particularly in a World Cup final, since it spoilt the match as a genuine contest? But, the record books show that in the end South Africa won and quite rightly will be relishing their victory.

Overall, congratulations are surely due to France for staging such a successful event. There can be no doubt that the game of rugby is in good shape around the world and it is appreciated by more and more people as the fine sporting spectacle it undoubtedly provides. Meanwhile, matches at the international level will continue, not least the Six Nations tournament in Britain in the coming winter followed by various tours. The next RWC, due to take place in Australia in 2027, will soon beckon – and, without doubt, that is a prospect which more and more people in many different countries will look forward to with eager anticipation.