People & Lifestyle
CapeWine 2022 highlights the sustainability drive and humanity in South Africa’s wine industry
South Africa’s biggest wine trade event, CapeWine returned with a bang, and I was happy to experience it for the third time!
The CapeWine 2022 platform, as per usual, conducted numerous events related to the South African wine industry, in addition to the main trade show held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from October 5-7!
According to organizers, this year’s edition witnessed visitors from 60 different countries, and a record-breaking 417 exhibiting producers, showcasing their wines.
‘Sustainability 360’
The ‘Sustainability 360’ theme of CapeWine 2022 was adequately expressed and realized throughout my stay in Cape Town. Creating a sustainable future for the wine industry, its people, and the lands, and focusing on future generations was a big part of this year’s event!
Each element of CapeWine was meticulously crafted to ensure that the most sustainable practices were followed; from recyclable stands to minimal waste, carbon offsetting, and sustainable packaging, the producers were inspired to tell individual stories of their sustainability journeys.
For Amani Bay, which together with Nalu Wine, has a campaign to save sea turtles, it is important to give back to nature. Clive Bedford, CEO of Amani bay comments: ‘We like to put something back into nature. For example, you can raise a turtle or adopt a turtle with us. The wine industry has evolved quite a lot so sustainability is definitely where we need to be. To be sustainable, you need to invent new things and be relevant. People are going green, they are looking after the climate, etc which helps you to differentiate between the competition. We all sell wine at the end of the day but what do you do to support and sustain not only the wine environment but the environment as a whole?”
For Journey’s End Vineyard, the bottle for their Interpunkt range is not just funky but very sustainable. “It is a cardboard bottle made from 100 percent recycled cardboard. The production uses four times less water than glass and it is six times more sustainable than a glass bottle. They are lightweight and easy to move around. We are first-to-market with this little charm,” comments Rollo Gabb Managing Director at the Journeys End Vineyards, and Chairman of Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa (PIWOSA).
New Opportunities
CapeWine is also an avenue for wine producers to showcase what makes them different from everyone else, and sometimes an avenue to introduce the market to something new. For Overhex Wines, it was an opportunity to introduce its new cheeky new range, ‘Get Lost’.
Sales Executive, Saskia Lesch explains: “This is the launch of ‘Get Lost’. What the brand actually stands for, is to get lost in your own mind, leave your norm, leave the traditional things and break free! It is a juxtaposition between what is traditional and what we are supposed to be. We don’t do boring wine at Overhex; we choose not to go the classical route. We want to be forward-thinking and translate the freedom to express ourselves on our bottles.”
The Parties….
And of course, what is CapeWine without the fun themed parties? Check out some of my highlights below:
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During the closing ceremony, Wines of South Africa (WoSA) CEO, Siobhan Thompson described CapeWine 2022 as a great opportunity for international trade, as they return with renewed excitement about the South African wine industry, which has positioned itself as a major player in the international wine market.
