Viticulture
At present, 104 179 hectares are under
vines in South Africa. Although ranking 19th in the world in terms of area under
vines, South Africa is the sixth-largest wine producer, producing 3,3% of the
world's wine.
The wine industry is labour intensive and
provides a living to approximately 345 000 farm workers, including dependants,
and 3 300 wine cellar personnel. Primary wine producers in South Africa are
estimated at 4 515. Wine is mainly produced in the Western Cape and along
the Orange River in the Northern Cape.
Wine production for 1995 to 1999 is as
follows:
|
Year |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 Million
gross litres |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Wine
production |
845 |
899 |
881 |
816 |
914 |
The growth in production coincided with a
shift from white to red wine varieties. Production of red wine varieties,
namely Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Merlot and Shiraz, dramatically increased
during the past four years. The variety distribution for 1999 is depicted in the
following graphical presentation:
Producer
prices of wine products for the past five years are as follows:
|
Year |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 c/ℓ
@ 10% A/V |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Average
price of all Good-wine Rebate
wine Distilling
wine |
143,3 97,1 58,9 |
172,3 115,2 92,4 |
204,0 126,8 80,0 |
222,9 132,8 85,3 |
214,7 127,4 73,1 |
The
production of wine grapes and income of producers from 1995 to1999, are as
follows:
|
Year |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Grape
production (‘000 tons) Income
of producers (R million) |
1
064 963 |
1
148 1
233 |
1
121 1
463 |
1
041 1
413 |
1
174 1
436 |
Although
the grape production increased by 12,8% during 1999, the producers’ income
increased by only 1,6%, mainly due to a decrease of 4,8% in prices.
Total
quantity of wine exported for the past five years is as follows:
|
Year |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 Litres |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Natural
wine Fortified
wine Sparkling
wine |
71
207 264 793
035 806
708 |
– – – |
108
489 119 1 265 310 1 805 064 |
116
766 480 116
781 524
687 |
127
687 979 695
710 809
625 |
|
Total |
72
807 007 |
99
900 000* |
110
559 493 |
118
407 948 |
129
193 314 |
*
Estimate—figures not available
Exports as a percentage of the good wine crop
increased from 12% in 1994 to 21,7% in 1999.
The following graph depicts wine export
destinations during 1999:
The
per capita consumption of wine
products on the domestic market from 1995 to 1999 is as follows:
|
Year |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 ℓ
per capita |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Natural
wine Fortified
wine Sparkling
wine |
8,11 0,85 0,19 |
8,67 0,87 0,19 |
9,00 0,91 0,19 |
8,37 0,79 0,20 |
8,56 0,74 0,21 |
|
Total |
9,15 |
9,73 |
10,10 |
9,36 |
9,51 |
Indications
are that the 2000 wine production may be around 850 million litres,
approximately 7% lower than the 1999 production. It is expected that the
producers’ income will be much the same as in 1999.