Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Excise duties hike latest blow to SA wine industry

Published: 24 February, 2021

The South African government has announced it will increase the excise duties on alcohol by 8%.

South Africa: The long road ahead

Published: 10 February, 2021

South Africa is by no means out of the woods, say allies following this week’s easing of a complete domestic alcohol ban, with ongoing ramifications for the agricultural sector and its workers. Jo Gilbert reports

Vinpro awaits confirmation of new court date

Published: 08 February, 2021

Vinpro has said it now awaits confirmation of a new expedited court date in its battle to avoid any future disruptions to the South African wine industry and its value-chain.

Bampfield-backed Love Wine initiative launches SA fundraising tasting

Published: 02 February, 2021

Love Wine, co-founded by Richard Bampfield MW, has announced it is gearing up to hold a virtual fundraising tasting to raise funds for the South African wine industry.

Vinpro pushes ahead with court case as SA alcohol ban lifted

Published: 02 February, 2021

Vinpro has welcomed last night’s announcement that the third alcohol ban on local liquor sales has been lifted, but said it would push ahead with the court application it launched in the Cape High Court last month to help save the beleaguered industry.

Vinpro: ‘Cellar capacity and financial viability remain a big concern”

Published: 01 February, 2021

Vinpro has announced that South African wine producers and viticulturists are optimistic about the quality of this year’s vintage following favourable weather conditions.

Kleine Zalze tops Platter’s gongs

Published: 13 November, 2020

Stellenbosch producer Kleine Zalze has been named Top Performing Winery of the Year in the latest annual Platter’s South African wine guide.

South Africa looks to higher ground

Published: 22 October, 2020

Hard hit by the pandemic, South Africa’s winemakers are proving their resilience and fighting back with an eye on higher quality and pricing. By Andrew Catchpole

SA wine prices predicted to recover again in ‘next few years’

Published: 19 October, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on wine-producing countries across the globe, not least South Africa.

SA online retailer launches ‘one stop shop’ in UK

Published: 15 October, 2020

South African online wine retailer Port2Port is launching a marketplace allowing UK trade to sell Cape wines direct to consumer.

Seckford expands SA range with Waterford Estate

Published: 08 October, 2020

Seckford Agencies has expanded its South African portfolio with Stellenbosch producer Waterford Estate.

Bancroft snaps up two SA producers from FMV

Published: 24 September, 2020

Bancroft Wines has expanded its South African portfolio with Anthonij Rupert Wines and Constantia Glen, both of which were previously represented in the UK by Field, Morris & Verdin (FMV).

Mullineux and Leeu Passant joins Liberty

Published: 03 September, 2020

Liberty Wines has strengthened its South African portfolio with the addition of Swartland-based Mullineux and Leeu Passant of Franschhoek.

Vinpro: “Still a long road to recovery”

Published: 17 August, 2020

Vinpro has “acknowledged” the announcement it can resume local trade and distribution of alcohol under alert level 2 from midnight 17 August 2020, but said the industry still has “a long road to recovery”.

Jeroboams adds New World agencies

Published: 03 August, 2020

Jeroboams has strengthened its New World offer with the addition of five family-owned wineries to its portfolio, four of which are fresh arrivals in the UK.

South African government retracts tweet over alcohol ban

Published: 22 July, 2020

The South African government has attempted to clarify confusion over a tweet from its official Twitter account that said the ban on the sale of alcohol would remain in place throughout the lockdown period.

Equality in the SA wine industry takes leap forward

Published: 20 July, 2020

Equality in the South African wine industry has taken a leap forward with 94 students from disadvantaged backgrounds having passed their exams to become qualified sommeliers.

Restaurant Rescue project launched by Cape winemakers

Published: 17 July, 2020

A new initiative urging wine estates to adopt a restaurant has been launched in Cape Town in response to the blow of the renewed government ban on drinking.

Woes mount as SA wine industry reacts to second drinking ban

Published: 14 July, 2020

South Africa’s already hard-pressed wine industry has greeted the renewed ban on alcohol sales with dismay, with Vinpro describing the government-imposed clamp down as a “devastating blow”.