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The total South African surface planted to vines is bigger than ever during the previous century, but it seems as though the feverish planting of the past five years is now over, at least for the time being.
Producers are concentrating more and more on red wine. The past year plantings of red varieties exceeded the whites by almost two and a half times, Shiraz being the most popular by far and Worcester and Olifants River among the biggest planters thereof.
With regard to overall plantings, the Orange River takes the lead, especially with Sultana, Colombar and Chenin blanc. Although a lot of Sultana has been planted, more was taken out, and it seems as though this variety with its fickle yield in this fast-growing wine region may soon play second fiddle to Colombar and Chenin.
Of the total South African plantings Chenin at 23,8% still constitutes the biggest percentage. Second is Colombar at less than half that figure, but it is a fact that each year the Chenin is less and the Colombar slightly more. If this is such a wise pattern, time will tell, for it may be that the Colombar is still being planted with a view to brandy production. If this is indeed the case, the mistake is surely being felt, for in 1999 cellars earned less than half from rebate compared to 1998, and it will be interesting to see the 2000 figure. On the other hand, they also started earning considerably more from non-alcoholic products (such as juice for concentrate) and this compensates largely for the decline in rebate purchases.
Income slightly lower
Although the total producer income of R1 436 million was slightly more (1,6%) than in 1998, it was still below the 1997 record of R1 462 million. In 1999, therefore, wine farmers did not fare as well as two years ago, but economists predict that the 2000 figure may be a lot better again.
Last year there were 337 cellars, of which 69 were co-ops, 92 estates, 168 private cellars (not estates) and 8 producing wholesalers. According to the figures, 29 private cellars and 13 estates came into being; an almost incredible total of 42 new cellars.
Of the 4 515 primary producers, 4 266 (94%) produce less than 1 000 tons. Of the 337 cellars, 223 press less than 1 000 tons, compared to the 185 who pressed less than 1 000 tons in 1997.This may be ascribed to the fact that the new cellars, with a few exceptions only, handle small volumes.
First by far of the white wine volumes were Chenin blanc (28,7%) and Colombar (19,3%), while the biggest volume of red wine was made from Cabernet (2,7%).
Co-ops handled almost 85% of the white grapes pressed in 1999, but the producing wholesalers and private cellars made most of the red wine, 34% and 32,6% respectively.
Glass (just over 35%) was the most popular packaging, followed by plastic (26%), bag-in-box (19%), foil bags (15%) and others.
With regard to glass packaging, more 750 ml bottles were used than the previous two years and fewer 4,5 litre jugs, but there was also an increase in the use of foil bags, possibly to work away the large surplus volumes.
In 1999 the wholesale price for Chardonnay in 750 ml glass bottles was 16% more than the previous year. Sauvignon blanc was 18% more expensive, dry white 11% and semi-sweet 9%. Cap Classique also cost the retailer 16% more.
Pinotage showed the biggest wholesale increase, namely 27%, Cabernet cost 11% more, Shiraz 13%, Merlot 12% and the other reds 16% more on average.
Best prices paid
In 1999 Shiraz fetched the highest average price, namely R5 208 per ton - 5« times more than in 1991.
For Pinotage, producers earned R4 865 per ton, almost six times more than in 1991. Pinotage is therefore the variety which experienced the biggest price increase in the past decade.
Cabernet earned R4 793 per ton and Merlot R4 907.
The highest price for white grapes was R3 190 per ton for Sauvignon blanc, followed by Chardonnay at R3 088.
With the exception of Chardonnay, all these prices were considerably higher than in 1998.
Fewer grafted vines
Total South African vineyards now amount to 104 179 hectares, of which 92 000 are in production, i.e. planted to vineyards older than three years. In 1999 there were 312 million vines in the soil, compared to the 305 million of the previous year. This represents a growth in surface of approximately 4 000 hectares. The number of grafted vines available are fewer, however, which may indicate that nurseries are reading signs of a reduction in plantings.
During the period 1 December 1998 to 30 November 1999 more Shiraz was planted than any other cultivar and Worcester and Olifants River were leading the pack, followed by Malmesbury, Robertson, Stellenbosch and Paarl.
Cabernet Sauvignon was almost equally popular and here Stellenbosch and Paarl were the biggest planters. Merlot (especially in the Worcester, Stellenbosch and Olifants River regions) was third on the list of plantings and Pinotage fourth (Worcester being the clear leader).
As mentioned, the fastest growing region overall was the Orange River, with no fewer than 308 hectares of Sultana, 260 hectares of Colombar and 94 hectares of Chenin blanc being added. (Also bear in mind that slightly more Sultana was uprooted than planted.)
Olifants River planted more Chardonnay than the other regions, Robertson planted the most Sauvignon blanc and Worcester the most Sémillon.
With regard to the total amount of established vines, Chenin remains the leader with 23,8%, followed by Colombar and Sultana, but then Cabernet Sauvignon moves up to 6,7% as the biggest red grape cultivar amongst the leaders. Next comes Chardonnay, then Pinotage, Sauvignon blanc and Hanepoot. Merlot has started overtaking Cinsaut and both varieties now stand at 3,6%. Shiraz is also increasing rapidly and already amounts to 3,3%. Weisser Riesling - which was popular for a while in the mid-1980s - is fading in popularity. It now represents 0,6% of plantings and is still decreasing.
Most popular in the regions
With regard to strength of regions measured in hectares planted to specific cultivars, Worcester, Paarl and Malmesbury run neck-and-neck with Chenin blanc. If you are looking for Colombar, Worcester, Robertson and the Orange River are the best places; the Orange is also Sultana country; Chardonnay is mostly planted in the vicinity of Robertson; Stellenbosch is Sauvignon blanc world; for Hanepoot one must go to Worcester; Cape Riesling is popular in Paarl; White French grows mostly in Malmesbury; Clairette blanche (do you still remember it?) is to be found in Worcester; Sémillon too; also Raisin blanc; while most of the little remaining Weisser Riesling is in Paarl.
The reds: Stellenbosch remains the Cabernet district par excellence; Malmesbury is Pinotage country; if you are looking for Merlot, Stellenbosch is a good call; Cinsaut likes Paarl and most Shiraz is in Stellenbosch (but watch out for Worcester and the Orange River who are now planting huge amounts of Shiraz!)
Exports
Of the total good wine crop in 1999, 127,6 million litres were exported. Chardonnay was the biggest single variety of the 81 million litres of natural wine exported, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc and Pinotage. "Other white wine" represented the biggest volume, however, namely almost 29 million litres, while 22,1 million litres of "other red wine" were exported.
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Visit our sister sites:
 2009/10 Directory Now Available! Facts, figures, contact details and much more...
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The new South African Wine Directory was recently published by WynLand (third edition) and contains comprehensive statistics just released by SAWIS. HENRY HOPKINS considers the figures and comes to some interesting conclusions.
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