Vinpro, a tourism body that represents close to 2 600 South African wine producers, cellars and industry stakeholders, has launched an urgent interim interdict application to lift the ban on the sale of wine in the Western Cape in a bid to seek relief for wine businesses.
“The latest ban of two weeks that has now been imposed follows on 19 weeks of revenue loss over the past 15 months, which has had a devastating effect on the wine and tourism sector that employs more than 269 000 people,” says Rico Basson, Vinpro MD.
“A large number of our wine producers and wineries are small – more than 80% of the 529 wineries are small and medium enterprises and are reliant on direct sales to customers. Although wine exports may continue, the industry exports less than 50% of annual production, with the other half sold on home soil. With no financial support from Government for these businesses, their prospects, and that of employees, are extremely bleak.”
Meanwhile Minister Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Provincial Minister for Agriculture, has called on government to allow for the transport of wine by tourists, and the transport of wine to bottling plants and storage.
Meyer also requested government allow wine and liquor to be sold online and delivered to consumers’ residences via transport/courier services.
“Section 29 of the regulations published on 27 June 2021 prohibits the transportation of liquor, except when destined for specific purposes (such as for export or the production of hand sanitisers, industrial use and others,” Meyer said.
“There are, however, some other areas for which it is of the utmost importance that the transport of wine should be allowed. These include:
- Transport to storage or bottling plants.
- Transport of samples to laboratories or potential buyers.
- Transport to certification bodies as per legislation.
- Transport of wine samples to venues where tasting for domestic and international competitions will take place.
- Transport of wine samples to training venues for students (e.g. registered viticulture students at Elsenburg College or the University of Stellenbosch).
- Bonafide international tourists, returning to their countries of origin, who have already bought wine in South Africa.
I am urgently requesting that the regulations also be amended to allow for:
- As mentioned above, the transport of wine samples, the transport of wine by tourists, and the transport of wine to bottling plants and storage.
- Allow wine and liquor to be sold online and delivered to consumers’ residences via transport/courier services.
Wine is the third biggest export product of the Western Cape economy and contributes 6,5% to the province’s exports.
Picture: Getaway gallery
