Article: A World Class African Vineyard

Tshepang Molisana
A recent New York Times article headline declared: eating something really good has a
humbling effect.
South Africa has been alive with possibility since the dawn of democracy. The lifting of
trade restrictions and sanctions post 1990 had twofold repercussions.
Firstly, international brands entered the local market and vied for the affections of South
Africas wine-loving public. Secondly, South African wine found its way back onto the
vast seas that brought it home in the 1600s in a bold attempt to find its way into
international homes and cellars.
The entry of international wine varietals and brands into local homes in 1994 encouraged
South African winemakers to travel to international markets and gumboot dance tanninfor-tannin with their counterparts abroad.
As a result, over 420 million litres of South African wine was exported in 2015.
In order to play on the same field as competing emerging market producers - such as
Argentinian Malbec and Australian Riesling - South Africas winemakers have had to
find their own flair.
Respected connoisseurs like Will Lyons and Tim Atkins have labelled wines grown,
harvested and bottled in South Africa great value, and the quality of local libations is
near impossible to question.
South African winemakers field a star team on a deep bench, however, at the current
exchange rate and trade price, the high quality export product continues to be perceived
as cheap and cheerful to the Northern hemisphere.
Analjit Singh, the founder Chairman of Max India Limited and the Chairman of the Leeu
Collection and Mullineux Wines imparted: we cannot do everything well, so we have to
focus on what we do best.
The South African wine industrys growth in contribution to the countrys GDP has been
over 10% annually since 2003. In an attempt to do its best, the South African wine
industry has often overachieved.
The industry has successfully seduced gourmands, created over 300 000 jobs and has
consistently won international prizes during blind tastings. The effect of the South
African wine industrys sublime and consistent growth has been humbling to spectate.
The long walk to international relevance has been a tightrope of nervous steps.

From the pioneering attempts of individual winemakers, to the collective contributions of

regions and organisations - South Africa is walking into a fierce new era in global wine.
At the 2016 unveiling of Prescients Cabernet Sauvignon Report, Wine Mags Jacqueline
Lahoud proffered: its an exciting time to be in wine right now.
Chardonnay pioneer, Peter Finlayson achieved an award-winning 90 points in the 2016
Wine Mag Prescient Chardonnay for Bouchard Finlaysons Missionvale 2014.
South African wine has leaned on both the wisdom of experience as well as the
rambunctious nature of youth.
The Cape Wine Makers Guild raised over R1,2 million in their 2016 auction for the
Protegee Program. Funds raised go towards the training and education of young
winemakers, who are often from previously underprivileged backgrounds. Praisy
Dhlamini, who currently firsts as the assistant red winemaker at Zonnebloem graduated at
Elsenburg before working under the tutelage of some of the Guilds esteemed members.
South African wines are making inroads both in Africa and abroad. Emerging winemaker
Duncan Savage revealed his prowess in Savage Red, a namesake that wowed and wooed
many a Londoner at the 2016 Intrepid wine show. Young Winemaker, Natasha Boks was
among the winemaking team that won Nederburg the coveted Platters 2017 Winery of
the Year. Their counterpart, Francois Haasbroeks sublime wine was recently enjoyed at
a dinner attended by some of Ghana and Nigerias most influential bloggers and media
personalities at a private dinner at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg.
Hartenberg, a South African marvel manned by winemaker Carl Schultz produces exportquality Shiraz that is warmly welcomed into homes and restaurants throughout Europe. In
1987, proprietor, Ken McKenzies vision was to produce exceptional red wines at
Hartenberg and his humble vision has been achieved by replanting to specific sites of
premium varietals, developing the farms production facilities, and uplifting the farms
employees through knowledge and skills.
Bosman Family wines, produced in Wellington as well as the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
encapsulate the intrepid heart of South African Wines. Many of the 260 workers at
Bosman are 5th generation families who have an endearing passion for South African
wine. 26% of the business is owned by the Adama Workers Trust, which consists of these
workers.
South African wines are more than merely cheap and cheerful South Africa is Africas
provocative vineyard, and the world is our oyster.