 New World of Wines from the Cape of Good Hope | Phyllis Hands Allways Farm PO Box 34 Vlottenburg 7604 Telephone/Fax: 021 881 3240 |
Wine consultant, buyer, judge and wine taster of repute
Principal of the Cape Wine Academy, 1979 - 1995
Phyllis Lucy-Ann Hands grew up on a farm near Blakwane, then Pietersburg.
The romance and challenge which make up the essence of the story of wine
entered Phyllis Hand's life at 19 when she married and came to live in
Stellenbosch District in the early 1950's. After four years Phyllis found
herself mistress of a vinyard which her husband, a Cape Town businessman, had
inherited. In time she became a wine authority of considerable repute. She was the
first South African woman to judge and write about wine and contributed
numerous articles to both international and local magazines.
In the early 1970's Phyllis was asked to help organize the Lanzerac Hotel wine
list and wines. At that time the Argus newspaper held the first wine tasting competition and Phyllis decided to enter.
Over a thousand entrants took part in the competition and after three
elimination tastings nine reached the finals. In the final tasting Phyllis tied
for first place with Billy Hofmeyer, a reputed wine taster. In a male
controlled wine world this caused quite a stir! In the taste-off Billy tasted Phyllis into
second place.
Phyllis was subsequently asked to write a wine
page for The Argus and her articles were eventually published as a book. She later wrote a wine
column, "Corkscrew" in which wines were given star ratings.
Phyllis became a wine consultant for Lanzerac and subsequently started the
Lanzerac
Cellars Club, the first wine mail-order club in South Africa.
In 1979 Phyllis was offered the position of first Principal of the newly
founded Cape Wine Academy. She retired in 1995, but remained a consultant and
lecturer.
Phyllis has travelled the wine routes of Europe and the Americas and has
conducted wine study tours through many wine producing countries of the world.
She was Baillage (Chairman) of the Cape chapter of La Chaine des Rôtisseurs from 1985 until 1995.
She ran her own business, Phyllis Hands & Associates, until 2000 and, besides
consulting, she also gave presentations on the South African Wine Industry to
international groups of eminent wine personalities here and abroad.
Phyllis is married to Harry Hands and they have a daughter and a son, who have
farms next to their own. After her retirement Phyllis concentrated on the
farm and the planting of 4 hectares of vinyards and 200 olive trees.
Hobbies:
Riding (was involved in competitive riding), reading, gardening, cooking
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