South Africa - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Cape Winemakers Guild Auction achieves record takings

Published: 16 October, 2012

The 28th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction has set record-breaking figures with the highest turnover and a complete sellout of all wines.

Jordan Wine Estate to help women enter wine industry

Published: 11 October, 2012

South Africa's Jordan Wine Estate has launched an initiative to help young women, both in the UK and at home, get into the wine industry.

Boosting wine tourism: Geoffrey Dean blogs from Cape Town

Published: 09 October, 2012

While the biennial Cape Wine trade fair in South Africa last month was another big success, a new exhibition that ran alongside it in the Cape Town Convention Centre enjoyed a sparkling debut. Vindaba, part of a long-term strategy to boost wine tourism, derives from the South African government's aim to gain promotion by 2020 to the travellers' Premier League - the top 20 global destinations.

South Africa all set to gain more share

Published: 05 October, 2012

South Africa is "very well positioned" to take market share from countries like Australia as it now claims to be able to supply quality wine at all price levels.

Geoffrey Dean blog: tasting highlights from Cape Wine

Published: 28 September, 2012

After a four rather than customary two-year gap on account of the football World Cup in South Africa in 2010, the Cape Wine trade fair returned to Cape Town this week. A huge number of interesting and high quality South African wines were available for tasting, in the presence of a phalanx of winemakers at the Cape Town Convention Centre. Harpers sampled scores of the wines, and here are some of the highlights, all of which should be available in the UK.

South Africa must not 'copycat' other wine regions

Published: 25 September, 2012

South Africa must not look to "copycat" other wine regions around the world, but follow its own path to grow, according to a leading US wine investor in the country.

Nelson Mandela's family unveil Fairtrade range

Published: 25 September, 2012

The daughter and grandaughter of former South African president, Nelson Mandela, are introducing a new Fairltrade wine range to the UK from South Africa.

Wineries need to build brand South Africa around world, says Accolade boss

Published: 25 September, 2012

South African wineries need to concentrate on building brand South Africa around the world if they are going to reach their full potential, according to Troy Christensen, chief executive of Accolade Wines.

South Africa at forefront of environmental winemaking

Published: 25 September, 2012

South Africa is on track to be the world's leading wine country for its environmental, sustainable and ethical practices, according to Su Birch, chief executive of Wines of South Africa.

First South African wineries to show new ethical seal at Cape Wine

Published: 19 September, 2012

The first 26 wines to be receive the new, traceable ethical seal in South Africa will be on show at next week's Cape Wine trade exhibition in Cape Town.

First South African wines to carry 'ethical seal' announced

Published: 13 September, 2012

The first wines to carry South Africa's new, fully traceable, ethical seal that protects employers against unfair discrimination, are to be showcased at Cape Wine 2012.

South African wines growing at premium price points

Published: 09 August, 2012

South African wines are growing at more premium price points - those over £5 have grown 25% in last 12 months while the £7+ market has has grown 34%.

SITT Autumn announces exhibitor line-up

Published: 07 August, 2012

SITT Autumn, incorporating the Boutique Wineries Tasting, has announced the line-up of wineries, winemakers and exhibitors attending its tasting next month.

Ross Sleet takes up marketing role at DGB in South Africa

Published: 01 August, 2012

Ross Sleet, formerly of Kleine Zalze, is the new marketing manager of DGB wineries Boschendal and Brampton Wines in South Africa.

Mike Matthews: behind the scenes at "Braaiday" at High Timber

Published: 26 July, 2012

High Timber in London, a South African based restaurant with a wine cellar containing 40,000 bottles for your pleasure, played host to a motley crew of wine writers and bloggers recently as Wines of South Africa fired up the barbie for a good old South African Braai.

South African wine needs to rejuvenate image, says top winemaker

Published: 14 June, 2012

We need to "jack up brand South Africa" in the UK, says Vergelegen's winemaker, who believes Cabernet Sauvignon should be the country's flagship grape.

Pieter Walser: BLANKBottle winery, South Africa on worldwide impact of competing in Wine-Stars at LIWF

Published: 29 May, 2012

I heard about Wine-Stars through the www.wine.co.za newsletter, entered online and started following Wine-Stars on Twitter.

Peter Lehmann Wines switches distribution to Hallgarten

Published: 01 May, 2012

Australia's Peter Lehmann Wines have switched distribution from Enotria to Hallgarten Druitt.

Justin Keay: a tour of South African wineries

Published: 25 March, 2012

Justin Keay reports back on a recent visit to 12 South African wineries.

Claire Hu: South African Classic Wine awards with a French twist

Published: 20 March, 2012

What do you get when you fly a group of French bigwigs to South Africa to judge wines made by their antipodean colleagues? An entente cordiale or a guerre froide (cold war)?