Could the reason SA exports are plummeting faster than SA’s credit rating be they offer poor value for money in comparison to the competition? This is the message from the Wotwine app who conducted a survey among UK consumers asking their opinion of value for money. Sort of like our RECM Best Value ratings without the maths.

“The supermarket wine app (which has tasted 4,280 supermarket wines) has found… that 71% of all American and South African wines, 62% Australian and 64% New Zealand wines represent “poor value” for money.” California has the excuse of a strong dollar, but what exactly is the SA story?

On the other hand “65 per cent of Portuguese wines on sale on UK supermarket shelves offer ‘extra/fair value for money’. wotwine has singled out Lidl’s Torre de Ferro Dao at £4.99 (wotwine values this wine at £9) and Asda’s Extra Special Dao at £5.00 (wotwine’s value: £7) as just two red Portuguese wines with exceptional value. Wotwine has found that Port, which has been reviewed ahead of the important Christmas season, is the best value wine in the World. Wotwine cited Dow’s Trademark Finest Reserve Port which is on offer at Sainsbury’s for £6.75 as a complete steal, and most brands and own label Ports from simple Ruby through to aged Tawny and Vintage being really good wines and amazing value for money.”

Which was the message received from SA retailers at the tasting of wines from the Lisbon appellation at Adega Bedfordview and the Table Bay Hotel at the Waterfront.

Our weekly RECM Best Value tasting this week is niche cultivars and blends and 60 or so wines will be available for tasting at the Pendock Wine Gallery @ Taj from 5-7pm this evening. Perhaps these are the wines SA should be promoting overseas and not the ego brands of friends of WOSA.