At the heart of SA wine – the strain shows

Tuesday, 29 July, 2014
Cassie du Plessis
SA Wine Industry Directory 2014/15

The facts and figures and general feedback from the SA wine industry reflect a story of continued pressure and the need to think smartly and innovatively in order to realise profits, says Wanda Augustyn, editor of the latest edition of the SA Wine Industry Directory.

Comprising 520 pages of tightly packed vital industry information, this reference guide is now in its 16th annual edition and has popularly became known by its acronym, “The Sawid”, now also available in electronic format.

Comprehensive research over four months, she said, had revealed that there are now fewer production houses of wine since the previous year – in other words businesses which bottle and distribute wine. This while the number of their wine brands has grown from 1 683 - 1 772 as reflected in the 141 page producers’ listing section. Interestingly, this section includes six pages listing 36 producers of organic wines and grapes, obviously a growing trend.

With regard to producers’ statistics, the 40-page concluding section with the latest Sawis (SA Wine Industry Information and Systems) figures, shows that there are altogether 564 wine cellars that actually crush grapes – down from 582 last year.

This, said Ms Augustyn in an interview, reflects a trend of consolidation in the industry and also wine businesses switching to other pursuits or even closing down.

The latest breakdown of wine cellar categories is: producer (previously co-op) cellars 50 (unchanged), private wine cellars 493 (509 last year) and 21 producing wholesalers (previously 23).

Production shows a gradual upward trend, exceeding 1 million litres since 2004 with the exception of 2005 and 2010 and peaking at 1156.9 million litres last year. In a chapter on the 2014 harvest, this year’s final harvest figure is predicted at 1 130.5 million litres, 2.6% smaller than last year.

The so-called “carry-over stock” at the end of last year – i e the total amount of wine unsold or under maturation in cellars – amounted to 401.9 million litres, down 7.2% despite the record crop. One supposes this is thanks to the growth of bulk wine sales, about which the Sawid contains comprehensive figures.

Incidentally, although the notion of “small is beautiful” often applies in the wine game, the vast majority (73.3%) of South African wine production comes from the producer cellars, and of the total 2013 wine grape harvest altogether 915 451 775 litres went for wine production, 41 987 289 litres for brandy,140 730 471 distilling wine and 58 738 100 litres to grape juice concentrate.

Grape distribution by cultivar shows that Chenin Blanc still rules the roost at 18% of total area under vines, followed by Colombard and Cabernet Sauvignon both at 11.7%, Shiraz at 10.5 and Sauvignon Blanc at 9.4%.

Meanwhile domestic wine consumption at 1.8% is still lagging way behind export growth which in 2013 grew by 26% and domestic per capita consumption is 7 litres compared with Portugal’s ‘leading’ 43 litres.

On the face of if, the industry has caught up with government in terms of revenue derived from wine business. While the industry provides 275 606 employment opportunities, the total producers’ income has for the first time since 2005 exceeded the government’s share from VAT and excise duties – at R4.82 and R4.80 billion respectively, but, explained Wanda Augustyn, the relevant information from government is updated less regularly and only due to be provided to Sawis next year.

In her foreword she emphasised the need for innovation and creativity by the industry’s new and youthful leadership, “but the government needs to seriously catch-up for the good of all”.

Sawis is but one of no less than 58 industry organisations listed in this book, with background and contact details.

The SA Wine Industry Directory 2014/15 also includes information about:

Vital info on ethical trade

Wine and industry writers

Leading international media

30 local and 13 international wine competitions

Production cost control

Suppliers of services and products to the industry

Grape vine cultivars and clones

Maps of wine growing areas

The 2014/15 Sawid is now also available as an e-book, for computer or smart device at a cost of R100 per subscription. The SA Wine Industry Directory 2014/15 is published by WineLand Media under the auspices of VinPro. Books are available at R220 a copy from leading bookstores, or by mail order (postage included). See www.wineland.co.za

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Wanda Augustyn, editor of the latest Sawid
Wanda Augustyn, editor of the latest Sawid

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