RAINBOW VIDEO CAPTURES
20 YEARS OF SA WINE PROGRESS UNDER DEMOCRACY
ISSUED BY DKC (DE KOCK
COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF WOSA (WINES
OF SOUTH AFRICA)
View from Neethlingshof vineyards
To view the video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrS86UfUEBI
Wines of South Africa
(WOSA) is celebrating 20 years of South African democracy, a record year of
wine exports in 2013 and massive strides in quality and sustainability, with a
bright and refreshing animated video.
Using the metaphor of
the rainbow nation, the term used by Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu to
describe South Africa's diversity, the 105-second clip links each of the
rainbow's colours to an advance in the industry. These range from the growing
international acclaim for the country’s top wines to a huge drive to promote
fair labour conditions and ongoing leadership in sustainability.
The upbeat video that
encapsulates with entertaining simplicity just how far South African wine has
come, is being sent to international media, the wine trade, wine and tourism
organisations and to South African embassies globally.
In 1993, South Africa
exported close to 24.5 million litres of wine. The following year, with the
opening of international trade, volumes sold off-shore doubled to almost 50
million litres. In the two decades since then, exports have risen more
than tenfold to 525,7m litres in 2013, reaching around 140 countries.
A trailblazer in
environmental sustainability, the country has also managed to set aside more
than 130 000 hectares in the Cape Winelands for restoration to indigenous
habitat. The combined area devoted to conservation is already significantly
more than the national vineyard that measures just over 100 000 hectares.
The focus on
eco-friendly production that in 2010 led to the introduction of South Africa's
sustainability seal, the world's first industry-wide, fully traceable guarantee
of production integrity, is now being extended to include certification for
ethical labour practices.
By 2016, the plan is
for all the country's exporting producers to be independently certified for
following fair labour practices, as well as for subscribing to environmentally
sustainable wine-growing and production. This will result in one, combined sustainability
seal that guarantees both environmental and social sustainability.
At present, the
sustainability and ethical seals are independent of each another.
To view the video, go
to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrS86UfUEBI
