INDUSTRY NEWS

SA’S FIRST SULPHITE-FREE WINE RANGE

Neil Patterson Wines has launched a range of sulphitefree premium wines, made possible with the use of SurePure’s patented photo purification technology, that cleans liquids with ultra violet light, providing a ‘green’ alternative to traditional preservative methods. This method ensures less harmful chemical intervention for the consumer.

Winemaker Neil Patterson, who has 11 years experiences in wine-making both locally and abroad, says that wine is his passion. “I now get to offer my own wines under my name, that are healthier for consumers, with no added sulphites, which is a dream come true,” he explains.

The range, which will be available at specialty wine merchants and at select restaurants, includes fresh, young wines and older, more matured wines, under the Neil Patterson brand including: a 2013 Sauvignon Blanc from the Helderberg Mountain area in Stellenbosh; a 2009 Merlot from the Constantia area; and a 2012 Chenin Blanc and 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Franschhoek Valley.

He says that he believes there is market demand for a premium range that offers high quality, sulphite free wines, for discerning wine drinkers who are searching for the unpreserved ‘green’ alternative.

“I personally get an allergic reaction to wines that have high sulphite content, therefore I have always strived to make wines with lower sulphite content and SurePure has given me the tools to achieve my ultimate goal of making wines completely preservative free with no added sulphite,” he adds. “Now consumers can be assured that the wine is microbial stable without the negative effects of preservatives.” According to Patterson, the range has under 10 parts Sulphite per million, that is produced naturally during fermentation, compared to the average of 80 to 120 normally found in wines. Putting it into perspective he says that the legal limit of total sulphite levels in dry wines is 150 parts per million or milligrams per litre in red wines and 160 total parts per million in white wines.

“My wines have more or less 2% of this potentially harmful chemical, compared to other premium wines on offer highlighting how much healthier Neil Patterson Wines are for the consumer,” he says.

According to Steve Miller, VP Sales & Marketing at SurePure, the launch of the Neil Patterson Wine range marks the first time a full range of premium wines has been specifically tailored using the SurePure technology.

“It is very exciting for us because it shows how a talented winemaker can use the SurePure technology, which was developed in South Africa, as part of his wine crafting skillset to extract the very best out of each varietal and still deliver the benefits of extraordinarily low sulphite levels to the consumer,” he says.

“We believe it has pushed new boundaries for the technology and its oenological applications and with both fresh young wines and older, more matured wines under the same brand it demonstrates both the efficacy and safety of the technology,” he adds. “This launch paves the way for broader acceptance and use of the technology in the wine industry not just as a ‘problemsolver’ but also as a useful creative tool to help unlock the best in wine.”

ABOUT SUREPURE

Government legalised the use of ultra violet light energy for liquid purification in oenological practice in 2010, paving the way for SA’s winemakers to replace traditional wine filtration systems with photo purification technology, resulting in less harmful chemical intervention.

“Focusing on reducing sulphur content serves to ensure impeccable cellar and vineyard practice, resulting in a more sustainable and less environmentally invasive approach to wine-making in totality,” says Miller.

Italy is already using the SurePure technology for oenology consumer trials, and wine trials are currently underway in Australia, Chile and the USA.

“The SurePure technology is already being used by other industries for photo purification of sugar syrups and fruit juices and we see great potential for our technology in the wine industry,” he concludes.

FAREWELL SIR SAB MILLER GRAHAM MACKAY 1949-2013

Graham Mackay spent his life creating one of the world’s most admired businesses: SABMiller.

Born on 26 July 1949, Macky was raised in Swaziland, Natal and Zimbabwe. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1972 with a BSc in Engineering and gained a BCom from the University of South Africa in 1977. He joined South African Breweries Limited in 1978 and quickly ascended through the business, holding a number of senior positions in the group, including his appointment as Executive Chairman of the beer business in South Africa in 1992.

He was appointed Group Managing Director in 1997 and Chief Executive of South African Breweries upon its listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1999. In July 2012 he was appointed Executive Chairman of SABMiller, becoming nonexecutive Chairman in April 2013.

Macky led SABMiller’s rapid global expansion and was instrumental in several ground-breaking initiatives including the acquisition of the Miller Brewing Company in the USA in 2002, and the subsequent re-naming of the business as SABMiller; the acquisition of Bavaria in Latin America in 2005; the formation of the MillerCoors joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors in the USA in 2008; and the acquisition of Foster’s in Australia in 2011.

Under his leadership SABMiller made rapid inroads across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. The business also successfully integrated beer and soft drinks operations in many parts of the world through bottling contracts with The Coca Cola Company as well as its own proprietary brands. In addition to his responsibilities at SABMiller, he held a number of external directorships, including positions on the board of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, where he was Senior Independent Non-executive Director, and Philip Morris International Inc.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2013 and after a brave battle against the disease he passed away peacefully on 18 December 2013, in Hampshire. Graham is survived by his wife and six sons.

The board has appointed acting chairman John Manser as Chairman with immediate effect, and has appointed Guy Elliott as Senior Independent Director in succession to John Manser.

On behalf of the board of SABMiller, John Manser said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Graham’s wife and family. Graham was one of the most inspirational and successful leaders in international business by any measure. Everyone in the SABMiller family has been blessed by his vision, his loyalty, and his friendship during his 35 years with the group. “He will be deeply missed.”

The late SAB Miller Chairman Graham Mackay

SA WINERIES MUST CAPITALISE ON GROWTH IN CHINESE TOURISTS

With China now the fourthbiggest source of foreign tourists to South Africa, domestic wineries should not be underestimating their buying power, according to Bradley Brouwer, South African Tourism regional manager for Asia Pacific. Last year, more than 130 000 Chinese travellers visited the country, a growth of more than 50% on 2011. Numbers are expected to rise significantly after Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Jacob Zuma jointly declared 2014 the “Year of South Africa” in China, at this year’s BRICS summit. Already new visa application centres have been opened in Beijing and Shanghai. “Research shows that China is set to become the biggest market in the world for wine after the US. With the preference still very much for imported wines, now is the time for more South African producers to start capitalising on the growth in travel and the interest in wine.”, said Brouwer.

Brouwer, who has worked for South African Tourism in Asia since 2007 and is currently responsible for the markets in China, Japan and Korea, was at Vergelegen in Helderberg to address guests attending the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards in November. Vergelegen was judged South Africa’s outright winner at the international Great Wine Capitals annual general meeting in California in November.

He said local wineries should capitalise more on the benefits flowing from the growing Chinese affluence and interest in world travel by becoming more attuned to the needs of these tourists.

“The same holds for Japanese and Korean travellers, who are increasing in number to South Africa. Last year the Japanese travel to South Africa rose by 31% on 2011.” Currently, China is number 14 on the list of South Africa’s wine export destinations. Japan is in 16th place. Sales to both are rising, with sales to China up 8% for the 12 months to September 2013, and to Japan by 31%. He said that just because tourists were on a tight schedule and didn’t necessarily spend much time at each winery they visited did not mean they were not interested in purchasing wine and other memorabilia.

“Visitors from Mainland China, for example, will generally travel for eight to 14 days. They come to South Africa for the scenic beauty, the culture, the history, the wildlife and, increasingly, for the wine and opportunity to play golf. They can accommodate no more than two wineries and they want to be hosted with efficiency and cultural respect. They want to taste, take pictures and buy wine with the facilities readily available to courier their purchases back home. They are not interested in long narratives or being kept waiting.” He stressed the importance of gearing up for large groups. “In the first quarter of 2014, for example, we have a group of 5 000 visitors to the Winelands within the space of a week. This is just the tip of the iceberg, if the potential is managed correctly.” Wineries could enhance their relationships with Asian visitors by

The late MEC of Gauteng Economic Development with the Chinese delegates at Gallagher Convention Centre

providing take-away information in Mandarin for the Chinese, and translating such information into Japanese and Korean for consumers from these markets. “Giving tourism offices information in these languages would also help them in raising the media profile of South Africa and its wineries.”

Mainland China’s interest in celebrities and icons had prompted SA Tourism to regularly host high-profile personalities on visits to South Africa, ensuring they visited iconic spots like Table Mountain, Robben Island, Boulders Beach (to see the penguins), and the V&A Waterfront. “Local wineries have not yet acquired iconic status but by raising their media profile, especially through social media, this is possible.”

He urged wineries to focus not just on large-scale groups but on the increasing number of Asian tourists coming as family units. “Most Chinese couples have one child. Provide activities for the children and show them educational audio-visual material so they can learn about South African wine. They are your future consumers.”

He said the potential growth of the conferencing market was also significant. “Wineries may not be hosting the conferences but delegates will definitely be visiting wine farms as part of their itineraries.”

HILDA HAS THE “RIGHT STUFF”

Hilda from Klerksdorp is one of the first two winners of Windhoek’s lifechanging “The Right Stuff Challenge” and she got her share of R1 million.

In February 2013, consumers were invited to purchase a Windhoek beer and SMS the 12-digit batch code to 32329. Entrants were then placed into a draw to stand a chance to be one of two winners who can kick-start their passion with R500 000 cash. As part of their prize they will be given access to a mentor to assist them with planning towards their goals. “I never knew that a single phone call could change my Winner Hilda Sophia Voges and Brand House Sales Representative Radeen Mongalo life,” says Hilda, who purchased her winning bottle from the unemployed at the time, she bought a Overland Bottle Store in Klerksdorp. Toyota Venture taxi. She also bought her Hilda, who has a keen interest in parents a house, so they could retire in gardening, will be given access to a peace, as well as put aside a portion of mentor as part of her prize. The mentor the cash for her children’s education. will help her to create the garden of her dreams. Wikus Visser Pretoria used his winnings to benefit others. Along with donating Alan Roberts, Windhoek Marketing some funds to a mission organisation, Manager, says; “We’re delighted that he helped his domestic worker complete we’ve managed to help Hilda pursue her the building of her house. He also kept gardening interest. We hope that this campaign will inspire others to follow their passion.” aside some money to allow him to follow two of his passions – food and photography. He bought new camera Earlier last year, Windhoek ran a similar equipment, and wrote and shot a coffee competition, the “Follow Your Passion” table style cookbook. promotion, where three fans won R500 000 each. The third winner Juan-Pierre Smit from Cape Town will be using his winnings Adelaide Hlongwane from Pretoria used to invest in his future. He has always the cash prize to make her ambition dreamed of becoming a lawyer, and the to start her own transport business a winnings have allowed him to enrol for a reality. Along with her husband, who was law degree through UNISA.