Wine farming
More initiatives
needed to support
SA wine producers
D
espite a sluggish South African economy
the wine industry continues to prove
its resilience in the agricultural sector
through job creation and contribution
to economic growth.
Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB
Agriculture, says it is becoming evident that the wine industry
will not emerge unscathed from the tough economic conditions
affecting agribusinesses due to high input costs, power shortages,
labour issues and unpredictable weather conditions.
“However, looking beyond the headwinds, this sector promises a
lot of growth and potential as a local supplier and global exporter
of good quality wines. One of the reasons why the South African
wine sector has done well to counter slowing economic growth is
innovation and the ability to tap into new markets.”
Good quality
South Africa has a good opportunity to develop a competitive
edge in the global economy through the production of good
quality wines in the long term.
“Regardless of our industry’s potential, there are still many
hurdles to overcome in order to develop wine of the highest
quality possible, conquer financial constraints, gain better access
to local and global markets, improve marketing and get more
support from the government,” says Maree.
On the other hand, the significant progress made by the South
African wine industry in the past ten years should not go unnoticed.
Maree believes that corporates can contribute immensely to the
upliftment of the wine industry by developing platforms where
local producers can showcase and benchmark their wines. These
platforms will not only help us to set high standards for local wine
producers, but will unearth wine-making talent that is needed to
help South Africa compete on a global scale.
Intiatives
For example, FNB is already involved in a number of initiatives,
including the annual FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition
which aims to promote innovation and excellence in the industry.
He says Sauvignon Blanc has a significant market share and
potential for growth in South Africa. It is one of the most planted
vines, and has drawn attention from international markets due
to the new methods and new tastes that have emerged from the
different wine regions of South Africa. This experimentation of
South African producers has brought flavour and variety to the
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wine resulting in more being exported from South Africa than in
previous decades.
“Recently, we have seen a big drive to export South African
wines to the rest of the continent. This sustained improvement in
exports highlights the level of hard work and dedication amongst
local producers and makes it clear how [\ܝ[