OVERVIEW Grapes and wine
OVERVIEW Grapes and wine Getting grapes on ships is proving difficult. The difference between the volume of grapes inspected and the volume of grapes exported through the Port of Cape Town in the first weeks of January 2024 reached an all-time high. While 33.8-million cartons (4.5kg equivalent) were inspected, a total of 17.3-million cartons were exported. These figures were respectively 17% up and 10% down on the previous year’s totals. (South African Table Grape Industry, SATI). The reason for the discrepancy is that ships are not being loaded and unloaded quickly enough. Port authorities, agricultural associations and the provincial government have been working on initiatives to overcome these problems, but they are proving difficult to solve. Better news for the grape-growing sector in early 2024 came in reports of good weather, good berry sizes and excellent colouring and quality. Farmers are proving innovative in focussing on crop-load management and quality to overcome logistical issues. Some regions are growing more white seedless grapes and producers are paying attention to the quality of grapes, both on-farm and during the coldchain process. Exports of South African grapes and wine to China are on an upward trend. The imposition in 2020 of prohibitive tariffs on Australian imports by China helped to boost that trend. Both wine and grape production are supported by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture which offers technology, research and development, agricultural training and analytical services at plant pathology and water and soil laboratories. There are over 3 500 wine producers in South Africa, with the large majority located in the Western Cape. Wine is produced by estates, independent cellars and producer cellars or co-operatives. The Distell group runs five distilleries and seven wineries in the Western Cape and produces about a third of the country’s natural and sparkling wine. South Africa is the eighth-biggest wine producer globally and produces about 4.2% of the world’s wine. The wine and brandy industry has set about creating a new ONLINE RESOURCES Cape Winemakers Guild: www.capewinemakersguild.com SA Wine Industry Information & Systems: www.sawis.co.za South African Table Grape Industry: www.satgi.co.za Vinpro: www.vinpro.co.za SECTOR INSIGHT 21 of South Africa’s 23 wine routes are in the Western Cape. strategic framework in response to the various economic and geopolitical shocks. With wine tourism disappearing during Covid-19 lockdowns and input costs rising, the industry has chosen to strategise for a more sustainable future. Membership of the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) is by invitation and includes some of the best winemakers in the country. Members get together to taste wines from around the world and share their knowledge and ideas. The Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction is one of the great events in the wine calendar. In 2022, two of the top four wines were white wines and both were produced by female winemakers – Samantha O’Keefe of Lismore Estate Vineyards and Andrea Mullineux (Mullineux & Leeu). ■ WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024 20 PHOTO: Vinpro
