Monday, July 19, is the 80th birthday of Delheim’s colourful patriarch. It should be a public holiday in the winelands.

There are many reasons for such a proclamation, but one is enough: his endeavours, in the early 1970s, for the establishment of a formal basis for wine classification, and the promotion of South African wine tourism.

He is the last of the greats of that pioneering generation, and his vivid and cheerful presence remains bold in the recent history and culture of the Cape’s wine industry. A leading, expressive and attention-grabbing actor on the vinous stage, he hardly ever left it since starting out way back in April 1951. Today, at a good age, he lingers only marginally off-stage as a new generation faces the limelight. Taking on the improvisations he loved; going for the difficult, but rewarding roles.

Michael ‘Spatz’ Sperling’s life can be traced in the accomplishments of the family business which made Delheim in Stellenbosch one of the classic names in local wine.(There is no need to record the many bottled achievements and firsts there.)

His career can be linked with just about everything vini and viticultural in the South African wine business.

His ebullient larger-than-life personality and upbeat energy have acted as the ideal bonding materials for popularity and business sense, customer interaction and promoting the pleasures of the product. Anyone who has met Spatz Sperling over the past 60 years, won’t forget him (and his hat!). Those of us with whom his has shared the Delheim delights (whether the cheeky Spatzendreck or the glorious Grand Reserve) know full well where his passion lies. (And, of course, there has always been the quiet gentle presence of wife Vera alongside.)

Happy birthday, Spatz!