Wine industry in South Africa - statistics & facts
South Africa ranks eighth in wine production out of the top 10 traditional wine-producing countries globally. The country has six wine regions, predominantly situated in the Western Cape province. Paarl is the largest town in the Cape Winelands and has almost 14,300 hectares dedicated to wine grape vineyards. The Breedekloof district had the third largest area. However, it was the country’s largest producer of grapes and has a high recognition value with a full-bodied, fruity, and refreshing taste.
Worldwide wine consumption has been steadily decreasing since 2018. This is mostly due to supply chain disruptions, which necessitated price increases to cover production and distribution costs and resulted in a change in consumer behavior. However, this has not dissuaded South African consumers as they are evidently drinking more wine. Nevertheless, the amount is still low compared to other major wine consuming countries.
Consumption of wine in South Africa
In 2022, the preliminary consumption of wine in South Africa reached its highest volume ever recorded, with more than 4.5 million hectoliters consumed. The South African wine industry welcomed this increase, given that exports have declined. Local wine sales surpassed those of exports by 54 percent. This was due to various factors, some of which include inflation and unfavorable weather conditions affecting the Cape Town shipping port in April.Worldwide wine consumption has been steadily decreasing since 2018. This is mostly due to supply chain disruptions, which necessitated price increases to cover production and distribution costs and resulted in a change in consumer behavior. However, this has not dissuaded South African consumers as they are evidently drinking more wine. Nevertheless, the amount is still low compared to other major wine consuming countries.
