Stellenzicht | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

South African bottled wine sales into China have increased by 50 %, albeit off a low base, and this market is estimated to be worth $6 billion by 2014, and about 34 million Chinese could be drinking wine by 2015, reports the Weekend Argus.

A number of leading South African wine brands will be exported into China via Cape Legends, a Distell-owned company, after the signing of an export contract. The exported wine brands are Alto, Jacobsdal, Neethlingshof, Plaisir de Merle, and Stellenzicht, using Chinese distributor Guangzhou South Africa Valley. One wonders how the Chinese market will cope in pronouncing these wine brand names, with the exception of Alto.

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) spokesperson Andre Morgenthal said that China is a huge market due to the size of its population, but the population’s knowledge of South African wines is ‘limited’. France and Australia have the edge on wine awareness and sales in China. Hein Koegelenberg, who exports his Leopard’s Leap to China, echoes this, in saying that the Chinese market buys on perceived brand value, and the Pétrus, Lafayette and Mouton Rothschild brands are the best selling wines in China, he says, as the French were the first to recognise the potential size of the Chinese market. Leopard’s Leap has the dubious honour of having been faked, non-certified wine from Stellenbosch having been seen with a similar Leopard’s Leap label at a recent wine show in China.

The move to marketing wine in China is one way of countering the 20% decline in sales of wine to the UK, says Neil Pendock, reports the Cape Times. “The future of South African wines is in the East” he says. Michael Fridjhon added that the weak Rand is causing export sales at a loss, and that British supermarkets “are absolutely calling the shots to South African wine producers. In short, the guys are stuffed”. A further threat to local wine producers is that supermarkets are increasingly stocking inexpensive imported wines, helped by the weak Rand.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage

A number of wine competition results announced last week were recorded on www.wine.co.za on Thursday, and South Africa’s good performance in these, and that of Spier in particular, was noted. Spier was the only local wine estate to have won Gold medal awards in each of the four competitions.

In London, the International Wine Challenge 2011 results were announced at the London International Wine Fair. South Africa won 13 out of 406 Gold Medals (3%), and two of these went to Spier, for its Creative Block 3 2009 and Landmark 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2009. The other Gold medal winners were Backsberg Family Reserve White 2009, Edgebaston Berry Box 2009, Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2005, Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Semillon 2010 and its Unfiltered Viognier 2010, Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2008 and its Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Kaapzicht Steytler Pentagon 2007, Nederburg Winemasters Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2010, Oldenburg Chenin Blanc 2010, and Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2009.

The Decanter World Wine Awards 2011 were also announced at the London International Wine Fair, and attracted 12252 entries. South Africa won 26 out of 237 Gold Medals awarded (11%), and these included Spier Mitchells Pass Malbec 2010. Other gold medal winning producers were Asda, Beaumont, Cape Point Vineyards (Chardonnay 2009, Isliedh 2010), Dieu Donné, Drostdy Hof, Fleur du Cap, Holden Manz, Jordan, Kleine Zalze, KWV, Lomond, Longridge (Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Chenin Blanc 2010), Nederburg (Private Bin Edelkeur 2007, Winemasters Reserve Chenin Blanc 2009), Quoin Rock, Rickety Bridge, Rijk’s, Saronsberg, Saxenburg, Steenberg, Stellenzicht, Thelema, and Waterkloof. KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2008 was the category winner for ‘South African Red Bordeaux Varietal over £10’, while Klein Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 won the ‘South African Red Bordeaux Varietal under £10’.

The Syrah du Monde 2011 evaluated 383 Syrah/Shiraz wines from 24 countries, and South Africa won 6 gold medals out of a total of 34 (18%). Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2008 won a Gold medal, as did Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Shiraz 2008, Franschhoek Cellar Baker Station Shiraz 2009, Groot Constantia Shiraz 2008, Number One Constitution Road Shiraz 2008, and Oldenburg Vineyards Shiraz 2008.

At the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2011 7386 wines from 49 countries were evaluated, and South Africa won 45 out of 683 gold medals (6%). Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2008 was one of only three South African wines to be awarded the highest honour, the Grand Gold Medal, as were The Grande Provence 2006, and Dieu Donné Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. Gold medals went to Spier’s Creative Block 3 2009, Creative Block 3 2008, and Creative Block 5 2009.

Our congratulations go to all the award winners, and a special toast to Spier for winning gold in each of the four competitions, a unique achievement.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage