New Cape Origin designation to boost tourism link

By Andrew Catchpole

Published: 05 June, 2017

South Africa’s Wine and Spirit Board has introduced a new Wine of Origin District for Cape Town, bringing 30 wineries together under the banner to boost international recognition.

The Wine of Origin Cape Town initiative is aimed at boosting the profile of South African wines generally through association with the city and its surrounds, drawing on the powerful tourism associations of The Cape.

Some of South Africa’s most respected wine estates, including Groot Constantia, Durbanville Hills, Diemersdal, Klein Constantia, Nitida, Meerendal, Buitenverwachting and Cape Point Vineyards, will be allowed to use the designation, bringing together several areas of production close to the city.

Rico Basson, CEO of Vinpro, the South African wine producers’ organisation, said: “The collaboration between the various wards and wineries in coming together to form the new wine district is a huge step forward for the South African wine industry,” adding, “South Africa is already well-known for our wine tourism offering and this new development will add to integrating our strategy of innovative marketing.”

South African government figures show that just under 10 million tourists visit South Africa each year, with some 450,000 British visitors and second home owners among that number, with The Cape a popular destination. Wine tourism is already well established on The Cape with many wineries within easy reach of Cape Town.

The rational for inclusion in the new District is that the wards under the new Origin are all close to the cooling effects of the Atlantic Ocean and as such offer certain climatic similarities, helping to stress the cooling effect of the Cape on the vines.

“As a destination, Cape Town has long been a firm favourite among international travellers and has a strong reputation for not only its beauty, but also its flavours, be it wine and food and, of course, its people,” said Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa. “This new appellation will not only hold positive rewards for the region, but also for South African wine as a whole, as it will surely draw instant recognition due to the popularity Cape Town enjoys abroad.”

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