Probe into wine export cheats gets underway

Ray Smuts
AS THE 2004 grape harvest gets underway, the South African wine industry has initiated an extensive probe covering all Cape wine growing districts to monitor the possible use of added flavourants in Sauvignon blanc.
While no estate has yet been fingered for adding flavourants to its Sauvignon blanc, and even though these do not in any way pose a health risk to consumers, it is illegal to use them to enhance the flavour of wines, says Jakob Deist, SA Wine and Spirits Board management committee chairman.
If found guilty of introducing additives, producers are liable to criminal prosecution under South African law and prevented from having their wine certified. (Certification is required before any wine can be labelled for variety, vintage year or origin).