SA wine records 9% growth to September

WINES OF South Africa
(Wosa) has succeeded in
its primary role of building
a positive image for South
African wines and creating
a unique and competitive
point of difference on global
markets.
That’s the finding of a
strategic review undertaken
by respected wine economist
James Herrick on behalf of
Wosa to give greater clarity to
the parameters of its role as a
generic marketing body.
Stressing that Wosa’s role is
not to sell wine but maintain
a positive reputation for the
country as a wine producer,
Herrick praises the support of
the country’s major producers
for coming to the aid of the
organisation, despite tough
times for some of them.
The study comes on the
back of rising exports, South
Africa once again reporting a
growth in sales volumes after
a temporary setback last year,
when sales dipped 5%.
For the 12 months to
September 2007, total wine
export volumes were up 9%,
with the industry diversifying
into new markets and
achieving significant success in
Sweden, Germany, Denmark
and Canada.
“Premium wines are
doing very well in the US and
several big companies are now
tackling the American mass
market.
Sales to the UK are on
track with record export levels
in October when volumes
reached 36 million litres,
5 million litres more than the
previous record set in May
2007,” says Wosa CE Su Birch.