Media Release: Cape Wine provides an opportunity to market Cape excellence

Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, welcomes visitors to this year’s  Cape Wine expo- the leading wine trade show in the Southern Hemisphere.

The three day show hosted by Wines of South Africa (WOSA), which kicked off at the CTICC yesterday, is held in Cape Town every three years and attracts members of the wine trade ranging from importers and buyers to sommeliers, and the media from around the world.

Visitors to this year’s event will have the opportunity to interact with over 300 South African wine brands, the majority of which hail from the Western Cape.

“The wine industry in this province contributes significantly to our economy through exports, wine tourism and job creation, and Cape Wine is a showcase of the quality, and variety of wines available here” Minister Winde said.

The wine industry also ties in with two of the pillars of the Western Cape Government’s Project Khulisa strategy to grow the economy and create jobs- agri-processing and tourism.

Among the goals identified under Khulisa, is doubling wine exports to China and to Angola.

“We have already achieved this goal in both these markets, and continue to focus on promoting our wines across the globe. We would love to see Western Cape wines, and particularly bottled Western Cape wines, featuring on wine lists and in markets across the world. Cape Wine presents an opportunity for the world’s wine buyers and the Western Cape’s wine makers to come together to make that happen,” Minister Winde said.

“The Western Cape’s 2018 harvest was about 15% smaller as a result of the drought, but we also saw exceptional quality coming off of the vine, so we hope that visitors to Cape Wine have the opportunity to experience some of this excellence during their visit,” Minister Winde said.

Bianca Capazorio

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Opportunities

(Responsible for the Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development and Tourism)

Tel: 021 483 3550

Cell: 072 372 7044

Email: bianca.capazorio@westerncape.gov.za