The Old Diocesan Issue 13 - Magazine - Page 76
THE BISHOPS
WINE PROJECT
What began as a one-off toast to the Bishops 175 celebrations
has become something lasting, with Bruce Jack and Sir De Villiers
Graaff launching the dedicated Bishops Wine Project, from which
all profits will flow to the Bishops Trust
T
o help mark the Bishops
175-year celebration
in 2024, Joc Wrensch
had a bacchanalian
inspiration. Joc, one of the school’s
deputy heads, is also something
of a wine fan. What if he could
convince some of our finest OD
winemakers to craft a range
of wines that could be used
for celebrations during this
auspicious celebratory year?
Happily, he managed to convince
Gus Allen (1982F) of Constantia
Glen, John Loubser (1985F) of
Silverthorn, Sir De Villiers Graaff
(1988F) of De Grendel Wines
and Bruce Jack (1987G) of
Bruce and Benjamin Jack (2021G) (above left) and De Villiers and Berkeley Graaff (2021F) (above right)
are keeping it in the family and in the Bishops family. Both sons are part of their respective family wine
businesses, which see regular winemaking accolades coming their way. Shortly before this magazine went
to print, for example, Drinks International once again honoured Bruce Jack Wines as one of the World’s
Most Admired Wine Brands, while De Grendel’s Op Die Berg Syrah 2024 was named one of the Top 12
Shirazes in the country by Shiraz SA.
72 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
