South Africa was the international flavour month (or the year) with the hosting of Africa’s first and an immensely successful World Cup.

This ‘flavour of the month’ tag gave rise to greater wine  exports, especially to counties with strong soccer interests. This is according to Su Birch , CEO of WOSA.

She indicated that exports of South African wines  have been boosted by the international spotlight on South Africa as a result of hosting the World Cup.
She added that there had been “a marked increase in sales” in countries with a strong interest in soccer even before the event began. “For the six months to the end of June the volumes of packaged wines exported to Germany rose by an impressive 50 percent,”she said.

“Wine exports to the US, which bought more tickets to attend the games than any other country, increased by 32 percent. Sales in Canada, Finland, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland all achieved double-digit growth.”

She said other developments had been a 33 percent growth in exports to Japan and a more than doubling of sales to the United Arab Emirates and China, although from a smaller base.

I think it is great that the world is beginning to realise that SA is producing excellent wines and that iconic SA wines brands like Kumkani is getting the praise it deserves. 

Source: busrep.co.za