Cape Wine set for sell out show

Wines of South Africa has hailed “unprecedented” industry support for this year’s Cape Wine, with 95% of exhibitor space sold six months ahead of the trade show.

Taking place from 15-17 September 2015 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the now triennial exhibition is designed to connect South Africa’s wine producers with buyers, sommeliers, critics and journalists from around the world. This year’s event has also attracted high profile sponsors in the form of DHL Express and Nampak, Africa’s largest packaging company.

“We are thrilled by such affirmation from exhibitors so early on in the game,” said Siobhan Thompson, CEO of WOSA. “Cape Wine is always extremely well supported by local wine exporters but to have such extensive commitment already, as well as funding from two key industry players, is unprecedented. It bodes very well for this year’s event.”

She attributed the particularly strong enthusiasm among exhibitors to a growing focus on South Africa’s wine industry from investors and influential critics around the world.

As examined by the drinks business’ March issue, the last 12 months alone have seen several high profile purchases, including those by a Chinese businessman, US-based Jackson Family Wines and Sir Richard Branson’s company Virgin, which, together with trailblazing work from local producers, look set to have a transformative effect on the country’s wine industry.

“The reputation we are currently enjoying is the result of assiduous work over more than a decade across several fronts,” commented Thompson. “We have accelerated plant improvement programmes, we are engaged in world-class vineyard and winemaking research and we are collaborating across a broader international front than ever before. Cumulatively, these steps have helped to produce a new generation of dynamic, focused and often visionary people in the industry and curiosity from buyers and observers is rising.”

Among those speaking at Cape Wine 2015 will be Analjit Singh, founder of Max India, who owns vineyards in Franschhoek and a luxury hotel in the winelands, as well as holding a stake in Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines. Other speakers include WOSA chairman and venture capitalist Michael Jordaan and Western Cape minister for economic opportunities Alan Winde.

For more information about Cape Wine 2015, click here.