THE CEO of Wines of South Africa (WOSA), Su Birch, believes exports of South African bottled wines for 2002 will grow by at least 20% on 2001 and that this year they will more than double the 93 million litre volume achieved for 2000, maybe even reaching the 200 million litre mark.

In her view, a growing visibility in key markets abroad, the recognition by foreign trade and consumers of the value South African wines offer across price points and the rise in South African wine tourism are all contributing to the aggressive growth.

Opportunities

"Although the UK is an intensely competitive market and the single largest destination for South African wines, this market continues to offer extraordinary opportunities. 

"For the first ten months of 2002, sales were 33% up on the same period last year. 

"In the Netherlands, where South Africa with 14% of the market sells more wine than any other New World producing country, sales continue to climb in what many observers consider a static market. 

"Bottled sales are 22% higher for the first ten months of this year compared with 2001. In fact, sales have been growing annually by over 20% over the past four years."

According to Birch, other countries showing excellent potential include Sweden, where WOSA has just opened an office run by Swedish national Madeleine Stamwreth; Denmark, where the South African embassy is playing a key role in promoting local wines; and Germany, the world's single biggest market for imported wines.

Sales to Germany were 17% higher for the first ten months and should rise sharply given new opportunities identified by recent research and as increasing numbers of local producers team up with distributors in Germany, adds Birch. 

South Africa ranks 13th on the German market, which is dominated by Old World producers, and has a 1% share of the market. The US, for example, enjoys a 2,1% share of this market.

DURR ESTATES, one of the leaders in the Western Cape property market, opened its doors to Paarl and Wellington customers recently.

Two local entrepreneurs, Tyree van Wyk and Janine Kearley have acquired the licence and are determined to impress with their first-class service and excellent knowledge and skill.

"We really want to make a difference," says Durr Estates Paarl partner, Tyree van Wyk.

"So many estate agents fall short of home-buyers' expectations - we want to apply our knowledge and do something great."

"Moving into the Boland will open up a host of new opportunities for the company," says Keith Wakefield, Chairman of Durr Holdings.

"We believe that Tyree and Janine, with their drive to provide excellent service are the ideal partners to the Durr family."

This is the first Durr licence for Tyree and Janine.

For the past six years, Tyree operated her own estate agency in Port Elizabeth before moving to Paarl. She has several years' experience in the Real Estate Business and worked as a bond consultant for two years.

Janine is an accountant by profession, with a wide range of knowledge in many facets of consumer law. She moved into the property market one year ago. 

While they will be employing more staff members in the near future, this dynamic team plans to be very selective. "We want to train our staff so that they are knowledgeable in every aspect of estate agency work, including the crucial aspects of qualifying clients and valuating property," says Janine.

Durr Estates in Paarl will be aiming to build a real estate monopoly in Paarl through their professional services. They will be able to cover all estate buyers' needs due to their backgrounds in the bond industry and extensive knowledge of income and personal tax.

In the early part of 2003, Kearley and van Wyk see excellent growth in the homeowner market.

"It is so expensive to rent, and of course much better to pay off your own bond than someone else's. Banks really accommodate first time homeowners and as the Rand is looking strong, and bond-rates are stable, our property market forecast is very positive," concludes van Wyk.

SIMONSVLEI se aandeelhouers het op 'n aandeelhouersvergadering met 'n oorweldigende meerderheid besluit om te breek met die laaste van die koöperatiewe-beginsels.

Produsente sal voortaan, beginnende met die 2003 oes, druiwe aan die maatskappy lewer op 'n individuele kontrakbasis.

Daar sal dus geen verdere poelrekeninge of kollektiewe leweringsooreenkomste by Simonsvlei bedryf word nie.

Francois de Manielle, die nuutverkose voorsitter van die direksie, meen dat hierdie innoverende stap Simonsvlei in staat sal stel om in 'n nog groter mate in kliënte se behoeftes te voorsien, internasionale mededingendheid te verhoog en Simonsvlei se markaandeel te vergroot tot voordeel van sy aandeelhouers en produsente.

SUIWELPRODUSENTE het net tot Maandag 3 Maart tyd om hul voortreflike produkte vir die 2003 Nasionale Suiwelkampioenskappe in te skryf.

Agri-Expo bied die Suiwelkampioenskappe weer eens vanjaar as 'n voorloper vir die SA Kaasfees aan, sodat produsente met hul uitblinker suiwelprodukte by die Agri-Expo se tweede SA Kaasfees by Bien Donné kan spog.

Suiwelprodusente, van plaaskaasmakers tot nasionale suiwelvervaardigers, kan hul produkte in ses kategorieë inskryf: botter, kaas, maaskaas, aangesuurde en gegeurde melk, roomys/bevrore nagereg en joghurt.

Die ingeskrewe produkte ding op 18 en 19 Maart tydens beoordeling by die Suiwellaboratorium op Elsenburg om titels, trofeë en toekennings mee.

Elke suiwelproduk word blind deur 'n spesialispaneel van vyf beoordelaars op voorkoms, kleur, bou, tekstuur en smaak volgens die internasionaal-aanvaarde 20-punt stelsel beoordeel.

Slegs dié suiwelprodukte wat 'n bepaalde hoë punt behaal, sal met 'n Qualité Toekenning vereer word.

'n Qualité Toekenning verteenwoordig die land se hoogste eer vir voortreflikheid in die vervaardiging van suiwelprodukte. Terselfdertyd dien die toekenning ook as 'n gehaltegids vir die verbruiker.

SA Suiwelkampioene, wenners van gesogte Qualité Toekennings en die 2003 SA Suiwelproduk van die Jaar word op 23 April tydens die Qualité Toekenningsdinee in die Paarl bekroon.

Kase wat by hierdie geleentheid skitter, kan van 25 tot 28 April by die SA Kaasfees geproe word.

Kontak Memory Kalis by Agri-Expo, tel 975-4440/1/2/3, faks 975-4446 of e-pos cheese@agriexpo.co.za vir meer besonderhede oor die 2003 Nasionale Suiwelkampioenskappe en Qualité Toekennings.

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