Bulk wine exports have become the backbone of South Africa’s international wine trade. But to increase profitability and ensure financial sustainability, Riebeek Cellars is instead investing in a rebranding exercise aimed at increasing bottled wine sales. Cellar master Zakkie Bester shared some wine, and insights, with Denene Erasmus.

The town of Riebeek- Kasteel rests in the fertile Riebeek Valley just beyond the Bothmanskloof Pass. It is here that you will find Riebeek Cellars, a wholly producer-owned cellar with 30 shareholders. This medium-size winery sources its grapes from the valley as well as the Swartland region, where the climate is very similar to the Mediterranean.

“When the cellar was first opened in 1941 it had a capacity of 3 000t. These days, we process about 17 500t of grapes every year and produce roughly 10 million litres of wine,” says cellar master and CEO Zakkie Bester. About 20% of the wine produced by Riebeek Cellars is sold in bottles both locally and abroad under the Riebeek Cellars label. The remainder is sold in bulk, with 60% of this being exported.