South Africa

South African vineyards have the potential to become an even bigger success in the next  20 years. The days of the super-Tuscans, over-concentrated Bordeaux and wines made from strange local varieties are almost over and more attention is paid to traditional wines, Rioja, Burgundy, Chianti etc.
The better viticulture techniques, better grape selection, strategies in both the vineyards and the wineries to bring in more homogeneous ripe grapes has led in South Africa to more focused and pure wines, especially reds with less of the so called “savoury” character that a lot of international wine and culinary journalists are still looking down upon.This quality increase in production is fast leading towards a competitively structured South African wine industry producing quality wines in all price segments. Watch out Chile!

Today South-Africa exports to 134 countries and whilst the United Kingdom remains very important, it presently only accounts 22% of its exports, South Africa’s currently fastest growing export markets are Russia, Africa, Germany, China, Canada and the USA.
South African wines are winning international accolades 90+ ratings, awards and significant acclaim.

So where will the south African wine industry be in 20 years from now?

For South African vineyards water availability will be the major issue in the years ahead, this will surely restrict the expansion to a maximum of 50% our the present average yearly production.
Towards 2030 South Africa will have a healthy and profitable wine industry but it production in hectoliters will not be much larger than it is today.
On another positive and important side South Africa is without doubt going to have a booming tourist industry its overwhelming beautiful countryside and wildlife together with a wine industry producing premium quality and distinctive wines in an environment sensitive and ethically responsive manner in one of the World’s most beautiful countries.

Premium vineyards together and/or brought together with already existing and ever expanding South African Trump card: The international first class tourists visiting in ever increasing quantities.
The observant reader will distill the following from above analysis; total quantity of South African wine production will stay restricted due to another nature, water, soil, weather, viruses etc.
However quality will rise without a shred of doubt and consequently so will prices.

M.J. San Martin

p.s. I took some material from the “Tongo” quarterly magazine no.14 and made it readable for non-oenologists.