Had an excellent tasting at lunch at High Timber today, focusing on older South African Chenin Blanc and Pinotage.
Spent an enjoyable few hours at today’s South African tasting, held in the rather dimly lit great hall at Vinopolis.
Just got these latest stats through on the performance of South Africa in the UK market.
- South African wine achieved the largest increase in UK market share during 2009 (10.4% of market to 12.3%, off-trade by volume)
- South African category grew by 24% in value and 23% in volume for the same period
- South Africa’s market share is now only 0.1% behind France, which is in decline
- Exports to the UK were up 14% by volume, maintaining the UK’s position as the leading export market for the South African wine industry (so perhaps South African journalist Neil Pendock should cease his mean-spirited crusades against WOSA and UK journalists in general?), accounting for 32% of total global exports
- Success from South Africa’s top brands helped to drive the category: FirstCape, Kumala, Arniston Bay, Two Oceans and KWV all grew significantly
- But it’s not just cheap wines doing well. There was an uplift of 15% by value above £5, a 27% increase above £7, and a 43% increase above £10