HALF of traders wines were sold out at the Local Wine Expo powered by Proudly SA this past weekend in Midrand.
Entering second iteration, the expo affords emerging wine makers throughout South Africa to come under-roof and showcase their brands to media, retail buyers, and discerning consumers.
An array of talented winemakers, 70% of whom were women-owned brands, exhibited and interacted with visitors in the hope of creating awareness on their products, such as export and international exposure.
It also affords talented winemakers to present their unique offerings, enabling them to break through barriers and reach new heights in their entrepreneurial journeys, helping to tackle nation’s age-old challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
Albeit the three-day expo was a success, some demanded issues such as transformation, equity and empowerement charter to be adhered to.
It can’t be business as usual, says the excited but very worried Malcolm Green, winepreneur, who owns House of Laricmal, in Cape Town.
“We appreciate the work done by Proudly SA and the expo to showcase our brands, but the gist of the matter is how do we access more funding to deal with matters such as export and transformation is another itchy matter that has not been dealt. My hope is this gathering of emerging winepreneurs would try and deal with the void currently experienced by companies such as ours,” says Green during interview on the sidelines of the expo.
How many black owned wine farms do we claim to own, very few, if none, he continued.
“Its because the minority still control the economy; and how would transformation kick into gear when there is disparity?” asked Green, who indicated the only solution is to have regular contact with Government as a key stakeholder from legislation and policy directive and let those responsible be accountable.
Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, chief marketing officer at Proudly SA commented: “We are thrilled by the overwhelming success of the Local Wine Expo.
“By providing a platform for these talented winemakers, we are not only showcasing the unique flavours and diversity of our country but also creating opportunities for economic growth and job creation. We believe in the power of buying and supporting local brands for job creation, and we’re delighted by the distance this Expo has carried us towards reaching our goal.”
Lucky Ntimane from National Liquor Traders Council says, as a council they’re fully behind the expo as it unleashes new players within the wine industry.
Going forward they will engage with taverners and map a strategy to allow families to visit taverns in a very responsible manner, says Ntimane who is on a whirlwind tour from Africa to Europe.
Over 5000 patrons attended the three-day expo from July 13 to Saturday 15.
Image SLM (Happy but not…Malcolm Green, winepreneur, who owns House of Laricmal, in Cape Town)..
