Spear-heading South African wine

It’s one of South Africa’s top 10 tourist destinations, attracting 600,000 visitors a year. But it’s not a game park, a beach, even a city – it’s the Spier Estate, in the heart of the Stellenbosch Winelands.

The cellar, which dates from 1767, is reckoned to be South Africa’s oldest, and today some of the country’s finest premium wines carry the Spier Estate label.  The winery is part of a global empire built up over 100 years by the Enthoven family.

From modest beginnings in insurance, the dynasty’s interests now include the UK-based Pizza Express chain, plus a number of food and leisure companies in South Africa and beyond – with founder Robert Enthoven’s three grandsons in the top jobs.

Now, the family is using its financial muscle to put something back into South African society.  Through a pioneering programme of construction, agricultural and cultural projects, the Estate is balancing the needs of both local people and the environment.

Eventually it aims to create sustainable jobs for 2,000 people, complete with housing, schools, medical, sports and performing arts facilities.  This commitment to its community gives you some idea of the care and dedication that goes into its wines.

The Spier Private Collection, Longridge, Naledi and Sejana wines that make up its ‘Elite’ range are all international awardwinners:  Longridge Pinotage won a Gold at the IWC 2003, and Spier Private Collection Sauvignon Blanc took Gold at the South African Young Wine Show 2003.

Spier Private Collection comprises selected singlevineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage wines, which are intense, complex, and have excellent maturation potential.

Now, building on its reputation and heritage as a premium winemaker, Spier Estate is looking to make serious inroads into the mainstream wine market. It already has a UK and European market presence with its high-quality but affordable Dumisani brand.

In November, Dumisani will become the first wine brand to sponsor a jazz tour, when Ubizo, made up of members of Nelson Mandela’s favourite band and sax legend Alan Skidmore, play 12 gigs around the UK.

But this is only the start: in 2004, the winery will be launching a major new range of mid-priced wines, designed to introduce a whole new generation of consumers to premium-quality South African wine.

Which should be good news for the winery’s visitor figures – and UK retailers!