SA wines outpace competitors in UK/Irish markets

Ray Smuts
THE IRISH love their
tipple, to be sure, but it's rather more than malt and stout tantalising their tastebuds these days, which accounts partially for South Africa's steady growth in UK wine markets.
South African wines have outpaced all competitors by showing the highest growth at 6,5 million cases as consumers discover South African is Super.
Sophie Waggett, marketing manager for Wines
of South Africa (Wosa), reports that South Africa enjoys a British/Irish market share of 7,9%
and has shown a growth rate of 32% compared with the United States' 23%, Australia's 10%, Spain's 8% and Italy's 7%.
Netherlands
Wosa says the second most important market is the Netherlands with 17%
of exports followed by Scandinavia with 9%.
In the words of Lynne Sherriff, UK marketing consultant to Wosa: "South Africa has become a very sexy country to drink wine from.
"Many of the countries showing strong growth in consumption of South African wines were the biggest boycotters of South African goods before 1994 and are now the largest supporters."
The Japanese, it would seem, are also cost-conscious these days. Even though South Africa's share of the wine market is still very small, 1,1% of
a trade dominated by France for more than a century, economic realities account for the awakening to quality and value for money in liquid grape from the Cape.