Following
a few very tough years, the South African wine industry is being buoyed by a new
sense of optimism on the back of record export levels, the likelihood of one of
the best harvests this year, the penetration of new markets and growing praise
from some of the wine world's most influential opinion
formers.
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| WOSA CEO Su Birch |
Su
Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa (WOSA), confirmed that exports for 2012 had
reached 417 million litres, 10 million litres more than the previous record of
407 million litres achieved in 2008 and a 17% increase on volumes in 2011. "The
record levels are the result of a more favourable currency, as well as the
global shortage of wines, stemming from a significant drop in the recent
harvests of competitor wine-producing nations in Europe, Latin America,
Australia and New Zealand.
"At
this stage, all indications are that this year's local crop could be the third
biggest in recorded history. This is assuming that good weather conditions
continue, there is a speedy and peaceful resolution to the farmworker strikes
and harvests come in on time. The anticipated crop size is despite a decrease in
total plantings, thanks to one of the best winter seasons in the Western Cape
for many years."
