Death of Ross Gower
Submitted by Open space on 26 March, 2010 - 10:25
It is with sadness that we learnt of the death of Ross Gower after a long and brave struggle with cancer. Ross's place in the modern history of Cape wine is assured. He will no doubt be best remembered, as a winemaker, as the man who built the reputation of Klein Constantia after its revival in the 1980s. He created Vin de Constance in tribute to the great old Constantia wines, and it appropriately enough became the first internationally successful modern Cape wine. Ross left Klein Constantia in 2003 to establish his own brand, and eventually found a farm on which to base it, in Elgin.
Ross leaves his wife Sally and three sons, James, Robb and Douglas. As well as numerous friends and admirers.
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Re: Death of Ross Gower
I was very sad to hear about the death of Ross. I first met him in 1989 when I was a student working at Klein Constantia. At the time Ross was pioneering the renaissance of the Constantia Valley making beautifull Sauvignons, Riesling and of course VDC and reds. At the time I was studying law, but Ross inspired and mentored me to go and study winemaking and I have remained in his debt ever since then.
It is hard to believe that Ross got sick, he was always an energetic, powerfull and physically vital person with his compact yet agile physique, big hands and barrel chest, always ready with a smile and wry (sometimes risque) comment.
He was a great practical joker, full of fun and mischeviousness, but this outward appearance belied his deep thoughtfullness, especially about viticulture and winemaking. He was a great cook, a charming entertainer and host and of course a devoted family man. How sad then that he has been lost just when he has started to establish his own wine venture in Elgin.
Ross is a hero to my generation of winemakers. His white wines from the 80's and 90's are legendary, he was instrumental in the development of Vin de Constance and he was one of the first S A winemakers to work in New Zealand when he was Cellarmaster at Corbans. He started off his career at Nederburg, under Gunther Brozel but was lured to Klein Constantia by Dougie Jooste in 1986. He was responsible for (legally) importing the Schliep clone of Cabernet Sauvignon into South Africa and was a pioneer of using mid size (500 litre) oak casks in South Africa, long before it became fashionable.He was a consumate technician, but more importantly, he had a gut feel for making fine wines based on his razor-sharp palate.
Ross Gowers death is a loss to the SA wine industry, but more importantly, it is a personal loss to many of us who knew him.
Chris Williams
Re: Death of Ross Gower
As to Dana's opening gambit about winewriters not being nice about anywhere except Swartand and Paardeberg, I presume that's also directed at me. Quite apart from this being generally more petulant than accurate, I wrote in the same article that "Franschhoek's also a place where the wine has been improving at least as much as anywhere else in the Cape in the last decade or so", making it surely a particularly unfair shot. I have written a good deal favourable about Franschhoek, in fact, though there are some things that do annoy me - including the fact, of course, that the Vignerons de Franschhoek allows membership to Dana's Vrede en Lust property (which is firmly in Simonsberg-Paarl), and doesn't seem to object to his suggestion that his wines are "Franschhoek wines", to quote the website
Re: Death of Ross Gower
Ross is a hero to my generation of winemakers. His white wines from the 80's and 90's are legendary, he was instrumental in the development of Vin de Constance and he was one of the first S A winemakers to work in New Zealand when he was Cellarmaster at Corbans. He started off his career at Nederburg, under Gunther Brozel but was lured to Klein Constantia by Dougie Jooste in 1986. He was responsible for (legally) importing the Schliep clone of Cabernet Sauvignon into South Africa and was a pioneer of using mid size (500 litre) oak casks in South Africa, long before it became fashionable.He was a consumate technician, but more importantly, he had a gut feel for making fine wines based on his razor-sharp palate.
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Re: Death of Ross Gower
He started off his career at Nederburg, under Gunther Brozel but was lured to Klein Constantia by Dougie Jooste in 1986. He was responsible for (legally) importing the Schliep clone of Cabernet Sauvignon into South Africa and was a pioneer of using mid size (500 litre) oak casks in South Africa, long before it became fashionable.
Re: Death of Ross Gower
Did you also know that his favorite shoes were Roxy Shoes? He had over 50 different pairs in all colors. May he Rest in Peace.
Wine World has lost
Wine World has lost a very special, talented man. Sally and their children will no doubt continue the fine family tradition he established.
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Re: Death of Ross Gower
We knew each other when we were teenagers. I always thought you were special and named my son Ross too, after you. Clearly your adult years appear to also have been special and I am sorry that we never met again. Rest in peace old friend. Gale