SA wine sales continue to climb despite ongoing industry contraction
THE NUMBER of wine farms and cellars in South Africa is declining. The total area under vine has been shrinking. Yet turnover is up, domestically and on the export markets. Among the annual industry statistics released by SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS), total sales are now at nearly 900 million litres after three years of growth, despite prolonged drought conditions contributing to fluctuating figures as regards the size of the harvest and the volume of wine produced.
In the Robertson district, for example, the number of cellars in the winelands of Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson has reduced from 66 to 47 in just two years, and the area under vines is now less than in the Breedekloof, a smaller district spanning the Slanghoek Valley and Rawsonville areas. Nationally, though, the market trend is positive and, as the seventh biggest wine-producing country in the world (source: OIV), South Africa’s biggest export markets – especially the United Kingdom and Germany – are showing healthy growth year on year.
For highlights of the latest industry data and more regarding South Africa’s standing in the world of wine, see here.
