Business and Marketing
Know your customers
Customers and wine merchants are locked in an intricate dance where trends set the tune and brands keep the rhythm. But who leads and who follows? The digital world has empowered shoppers to make more informed – and more impulsive – purchases. Wine buyers and...
An insider’s guide to the West Coast wine route
It’s an area where the place names are as diverse and unpretentious as its people and the wines they grow. Gifberg, Maskam, Kobee, Koekenaap, Knersvlakte, Bamboesbaai … these names describe the mountains and villages of the Olifants River, the Western Cape’s...
Big data for bigger tourism
Wine tourists in the Western Cape are increasingly opting for guided tours with a growing preference for tailor-made itineraries to suit their specific interests, says Margi Biggs, convenor of the annual Business of Wine and Food Tourism Conference that takes place in...
Top Cab Francs announced in Challenge 2018
Nine wineries celebrated their achievements in the Cabernet Franc Challenge on Wednesday, 18 April at Avontuur Estate at this year’s Awards ceremony. Over and above the Top 6, awards were also given for the Top 3 Blends, the Top Vintage wine and a special award for...
Rise of the CHATBOTS
Artificial Intelligence in the form of bots has invaded our homes and offices. Now, they’re after our wine supply as well. Should we be panicking? Quick! Which locally produced wine goes with sushi, costs less than R300 a bottle and is in stock at your nearest wine...
Changing of the GUARD
A winemaking legacy passed on from one generation to the next is not only a great tradition but also ensures the transfer of knowledge. You need look no further than South Africa’s rich and diverse winelands for proud winemaking legacies. Over the years the South...
A day in the life of a cellar worker
A wine cellar is a hive of activity and a critical component of a successful winery. It’s often said wine is made in the vineyard and terroir, topography, soil and climate are critical for the production of outstanding wine. However the work that’s done in the cellar...
Going, going, GONE!
While charity auctions are usually fun events abuzz with excitement, one should never forget their purpose – to raise much-needed funds for the beneficiaries It’s quite common for first-time visitors to Hemel-en-Aarde with its three spectacular wards – Hemel-en-Aarde...
King Solomon’s mine
South African wines dominate the Zimbabwean consumer market and nearly all market segments above the low-income groups are interested in wine, making opportunities for brand activations and wine education plentiful. South Africa currently exports 1 291 516 litres...
An insider’s guide to the Northern Cape
With hot summer days, chilly nights and very little rainfall, the Green Kalahari is not exactly traditional wine country, is it? Situated about 800 km from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, this region is the gateway to the Kalahari and the rest of Africa. In this...
Working alongside winemakers
Reputable oenological products firm Lamothe-Abiet of Bordeaux, France, has appointed Pellenc as its distributor in South Africa. Based in Paarl since 2014, Pellenc specialises in the design of harvest machines, winery equipment and tools for vineyard operations, and...
